I know it can be disheartening when a team with one of the best seasons in franchise history –maybe even NFL history if you count all the records broken — suffers an unexpected and somewhat uncharacteristic loss at the hands of a seemingly lesser team. But for the Baltimore Ravens, all is certainly not lost after the 2019 season.
Sure, every season is a proverbial question mark before it eventually takes shape, even for the most successful NFL franchises when you account for all the variables. But the Ravens have a lot to be excited about heading into what is typically an uncertain future.
Let’s take a look at 10 reasons why spirits should be high in Baltimore and their tradition as one of the best franchises in football will continue.
Lamar Jackson
We have to start with the NFL’s most electric quarterback. It’s hard not to be excited about the future with the prospect of Jackson leading the offense in Baltimore for years to come.
In only his second year, Jackson seemingly defied all the odds, all the naysayers, and all the NFL records on his way to an unprecedented season and MVP honor.
Even though he has yet to win a playoff game, what Jackson accomplished this season — passing for over 3,000 yards, rushing for the new league record by a quarterback, and leading the league in touchdown passes — was nothing short of remarkable. His losses in the postseason are only fueling his desire to win and ultimately fulfill his promise of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in Baltimore.
Coaching
Is anyone still questioning whether Harbaugh is one of the best coaches in the NFL? The man just won the Coach of The Year award! I know Ravens fans were getting frustrated with the stretch of mediocre campaigns following the Super Bowl XLVII victory, but aside from one season doomed with injuries, Harbaugh has maintained an approach that has kept Baltimore in the playoff conversation through each December, getting the most out of his players and personnel year in, year out.
Because of this, few pundits ever fully doubt what the Ravens are capable of each season. And with Harbaugh running the show for the foreseeable future, I don’t see that really changing.
Front office
If Harbaugh is running the army, then general manager Eric DeCosta is providing the ammunition to succeed in battle. Picking up right where Ozzie Newsome left off, DeCosta has not only drafted successfully but also found gems in the dirt, digging in the free-agent market to find suitable talent both complements the team and elevates positions that seem lacking.
He’s also proven even savvier than expected with trades. The Marcus Peters maneuver may go down as one of the best trades in franchise history, let alone for the season. And keeping him in Baltimore on a relatively cheap deal is the icing on the cake.
With Decosta now comfortably in his position, the Ravens are in brilliant hands. You know they’ll fill any holes they have and come back next season even more prepared for a Super Bowl run.
Ownership
All of the previously mentioned men might not be household names if it weren’t for the Ravens current majority owner, Steve Bisciotti. After taking control of the majority stake in the Ravens franchise, Bisciotti has commanded an attitude of winning and success. When the team faltered toward the end of the Brian Billick era, Bisciotti made sure the Ravens were set in the proper new direction while also shocking fans along the way. Hiring John Harbaugh has worked out pretty well for everyone, I must admit.
When things started getting stale again, he oversaw the change in direction yet again, this time with the drafting of Lamar Jackson, all the while empowering his GM and Head Coach to act.
Ownership can be a gift or a burden in this league, just take a look around. For the Ravens, Bisciotti is nothing short of a blessing… one that fans should be thankful for again and again.
Youth
For all the success the Ravens had last season, it was done with a relatively young roster. For many pundits, Baltimore wasn’t even expected to really compete for a Super Bowl last season. Instead, it was the 2020 season where many saw the Ravens being their most complete.
Thanks to a core of players that are still on their rookie contracts, Baltimore’s success should be more easily sustainable. Guys like Mark Andrews, Marlon Humphrey, and Orlando Brown are set to hit free agency after the 2021 season, giving the Ravens two full seasons with cheap Pro Bowl talent. Though re-signing them all could prove easier said than done, Baltimore at least has a clearer path towards a more complete roster than many of the other teams in the league.
Having a young core led by Jackson at quarterback still on their rookie deals means the Ravens can be a little more aggressive in free agency if they wish. Through short-term deals, Baltimore could make a serious push for a Super Bowl over the next two years without having to completely explode their roster afterward.
Recruiting Power
Sustained success helps when it comes time to recruit players in free agency. As we’ve seen for so many years with the New England Patriots, productive players are willing to take a little less money to have a better shot at a Super Bowl ring. After posting a 14-2 season in 2019, Baltimore is firmly in that camp this offseason.
The Ravens have also been a world-class organization with a stellar reputation among the players as being a team that will be honest and takes care of their own. That’s caused some players to choose to retire with Baltimore over the other teams they played for.
But having Jackson is the Ravens’ ace up the sleeve. Free agents around the league, especially on offense, may be eager to play with the NFL MVP. That could mean elite players end up here in Baltimore for relative bargains simply to play with a guy they’re left in awe by.
Los Angeles Chargers running back Derrick Henry was like a little kid talking to Jackson at the Pro Bowl. Henry and Jackson talked about how he pulled off some of his impressive highlights.
You better believe that fandom will make a difference when two contract offers are sitting on a desk in front of a player.
With the likes of Amari Cooper and Emmanuel Sanders ready to hit the open market, Baltimore suddenly looks like the “place to be” for anyone who wants to ball out and have fun in the process.
Tradition and History
The Ravens may have only existed for a short time when compared to some of the other teams in the NFL. But in that short time, they’ve managed serious success.
The Ravens just wrapped up their 24th year in existence, yet they’ve made the playoffs 12 times, made it to four AFC Championship Games and won two Super Bowls. They have three players already enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame with likely at least one more that will get in when he eventually stops playing.
There are tons of teams that don’t have that level of success in twice as many years. Just look at the Kansas City Chiefs, who took 50 years between Super Bowl wins. 12 teams have yet to win a Super Bowl ever, including franchises, including the Minnesota Vikings who have existed for nearly 60 years.
Baltimore has established a history of being a winning franchise, both as the Colts and now the Ravens. They’ve been one of the most successful teams in the shortest time with one of the best runs over the last 25 years. No matter how they do in 2020, you can pretty much bet they’ll be in the running for the playoffs and the Super Bowl.
The State of the AFC North
One of the biggest reasons to be excited is thanks to how the rest of the division looks. Much of the AFC North is getting a later start at rebuilding and in turn, is taking a hit because of it. And the Cleveland Browns, who have been rebuilding non-stop since they got their team back in 1999.
The Cincinnati Bengals are eyeing up a quarterback with their No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft but there are no guarantees he’ll be the answer until he proves it on the field. With few offensive weapons and one of the worst defenses in the league last year, the Bengals have a lot of rebuilding to do even if they land a Hall of Fame quarterback this offseason.
The Browns are a disaster that is once again hoping their newest coaching hire is the one that will finally bring them from the basement of the division to just their second playoff appearance in 22 years. But as has been the case far too often for Cleveland, another disappointing season could see the entire roster get gutted to retry again.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a huge question mark. They lost their two best players last offseason and clearly couldn’t find suitable replacements for them. Add in the injury to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who has to be at the end of his career at this point, and you have a team that is trending down instead of up.
If the Ravens don’t win the AFC North next season, it’ll be because they choked it away. But if they do win it, they’re guaranteed a playoff spot which means another shot at the Super Bowl.
Cap Space
Though Baltimore still ranks in the bottom third of available cap space, they have more money to spend than in previous years. Thanks to their young and cheap roster, the Ravens are expected to have $30.7 million in cap space to spend this offseason to patch up the holes they have. But it’s 2021 that looks even more exciting, with Baltimore expected to have at least $93 million in cap space to spend, according to Over the Cap.
When teamed up with their recruiting power and great drafting with a bunch of cap space, it ultimately means the Ravens should be in the running for some of the top free agents over the next two offseasons at least. With a roster that already got them to 14-2 and a favorite to win the Super Bowl next season, signing elite players to improve upon the team even further is exciting.
The Kansas City Chiefs
Some of you may be scratching your heads at this one, but stick with me. Look at what the Chiefs accomplished this season — Super Bowl Champions. Facing adversity throughout the year, they managed to overcome and secure the ultimate prize behind a veteran coach, a front office that takes risks while allowing its team to do what’s needed to succeed, and a talented quarterback that is turning heads and changing mindsets in a rapidly evolving NFL atmosphere.
Sounds an awful lot like the Ravens, no? Well if Baltimore, built with a similar attitude as Kansas City, follows in the current Champions’ footsteps, Lamar Jackson and company will learn from their losses and continue to build momentum until they win at least one Super Bowl, and maybe more.
