What the Ravens Need To Do to Win the Super Bowl

It’s the prize that every single team in the NFL would dearly love to claim. But it takes blood, sweat and maybe even a few tears to carry off the Vince Lombardi trophy, as many teams have discovered in the past. Winning a Super Bowl is never easy.

For those who get oh so close but who fall at the final hurdle it’s an even more painful experience – as the Baltimore Ravens discovered last season.

Reaching all the way to the AFC Championship game, it was the Kansas City Chiefs who proved to be the immovable roadblock between then and the coveted Super Bowl berth. In reaching the 17-10 final score mistakes were made that potentially cost them the game. Even Lamar Jackson was guilty of this when his throw was intercepted by the Chiefs’ Deon Bush in the end zone.

Add to this Zay Flowers’ fumble deep into the third quarter and critics of the team might say that the loss was largely self-inflicted, especially after such a successful season that left them with a 13-4 win/loss record. Standing at the top of the AFC Conference some way ahead of both the Bills and the Chiefs with NFL odds heavily in their favor, many were predicting that 2023 would be their season.

No Regrets

But it wasn’t to be. However considerable momentum had been built up over the season and it’s this factor that some believe, in accordance with the NFL picks today, that they sit with a real shot at the title for Super Bowl LIX.

If the road to Caesars Superdome on February 9 2025 is going to be a smooth one, they will have to put the disappointment of the playoffs well behind them.

It’s also going to be a question of overcoming certain factors that hampered them last season.

Keep Fit, Stay Fit

One of the most significant of these factors was the number of injuries that affected the squad. Perhaps the most crucial of these was the Achilles injury that struck down JK Dobbins in the very first week of the season. This then piled the pressure on Justice Hill and Gus Edwards for most of the games that followed.

Another victim to injury was the tight end Mark Andrews in the eleventh week. He, at least, was able to recover in time for the playoffs.

So it all adds up to the fact that John Harbaugh is going to do all he can to keep as many players as possible ready to dress each week.

The Not-So-Secret Weapon

To be chosen as the MVP once is an honor, but to achieve it twice is a true statement of class. So there is no doubt that the one player who must be protected from injury, come what may, is superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson. He had a phenomenal season in 2023-24 and has only half-jokingly stated that he could throw 6,000 yards over the coming one.

The offense in general does seem to be in pretty good shape to take on the challenge ahead. This is especially true now that it has been bolstered by the arrival of Derrick Henry from the Tennessee Titans. The fact that he’s led the league in carries for the last four out of five seasons explains his appeal to the team.

But to get true value from him offensive coordinator Todd Monken is going to have to work out the best way for Henry to work with Jackson thanks to their own particular strength and playing styles.

Zay Flowers is another talent who will be looking to develop further at wide receiver now he’s no longer a rookie, and the offensive line will also be looking to players like Patrick Mekari, Daniel Faalele and Josh Jones to bolster it.

That said, there’s a lot of figuring out to do during summer training camp to settle upon the best combinations.

Defend at All Costs 

Last season the Ravens’ defense was a source of awe and beauty. So, surprise, surprise, other teams came to poach the coaching talent. Mike Macdonald flew off to the Seahawks, Dennard Wilson took off to the Titans and Anthony Weaver now swims with the Dolphins.

This means that Zach Orr has been promoted from being the inside linebackers coach to the defense co-ordinator.

On the plus side, he does have some fine players to work with including Justin Madubuike, linebacker Roquan Smith and safety Kyle Hamilton.

For the superstitious there is another very good reason to suppose that the NFL odds are right in placing the Ravens as third favorites for Super Bowl LIX. They won in 2001 and again in 2013. So, following the 12 year rule, 2025 should be a shoo-in!

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