Climbing Out of the Hole is Great, but Ravens Dug it Themselves

The vibes are high.

After climbing to 3–5, the Ravens are right back in the playoff mix in arguably the weakest division in football. Two big wins in five days have completely flipped the mood, and it showed Thursday night.

Beyond the scoreboard, the difference in body language between the Ravens and Dolphins sidelines couldn’t have been clearer. Mike McDaniel looked like a man coaching on borrowed time, while the Ravens sideline was all smiles from players, coaches, and staff alike.

Just two weeks ago, the franchise felt like it had hit rock bottom after the worst start in team history. Now it’s a collective sigh of relief from fans everywhere, myself included.

But let’s not view this season entirely through recency bias.

Yes, it feels good to win two straight.

Yes, it feels good to know this won’t be a lost season.

Yes, it feels good to know the Ravens will be playing meaningful football in November and December.

But they shouldn’t be in a position where they’re digging themselves out of a hole in the first place.

When the Ravens were 1–5, they brought in motivational speaker Eric Thomas to speak at the Castle. If you haven’t seen the clip, it’s worth watching. He said it perfectly: “The reason you may not be 5–1 is because you told me you came in at the beginning of the season thinking this is going to be a phenomenal year. So that’s probably what messed you up. Not that you’re not talented, but you probably had a mindset that made some of y’all chill.”

It’s a coaching staff’s job to prepare a team both physically and mentally. And under John Harbaugh, the Ravens have repeatedly stumbled in the mental game, most often when it matters most in January.

Eric DeCosta isn’t off the hook either. The Jaire Alexander and Cooper Rush acquisitions have been disasters, and the lack of consistent pass rush forcing a reliance on stunts and disguises will haunt this team against elite offenses. Additionally, the offensive line has been underwhelming at best, particularly at both guard positions. The reason the Ravens can’t score from the one-yard line is the same reason Derrick Henry is struggling to break off big runs. The stubbornness, combined with mental lapses, has doomed this team over and over again.

Equally concerning is the staff’s inability to recognize and adjust defensive personnel. Last year, inserting Ar’Darius Washington turned a bottom-tier defense into a top-five unit almost overnight. Kyle Hamilton is clearly most impactful when he’s near the ball. And while the Alohi Gilman trade was a strong move, it came much too late.

The Ravens’ recurring failure to learn from their mistakes created a hole this season that didn’t have to exist, and it’s the same lack of adaptability that has doomed them in the playoffs.

3–5 and a mini-bye feels good, but let’s not forget how they got here. It’s the same pattern that too often ends their season.

Still, maybe this was the start they needed. Maybe the early adversity built the kind of resilience and grit this team has been missing when the lights get brightest. Time will tell whether this rough beginning becomes the foundation for a deeper playoff run in 2025, or just another lesson learned the hard way.

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Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2025/11/01/street-talk/climbing-out-of-the-hole-is-great-but-ravens-dug-it-themselves/