Every morning when they wake up and put their collective feet on the floor, the Baltimore Ravens know exactly who they are as an organization. No other NFL franchise arguably have a more entrenched identity than the Ravens.
There is a mindset and attitude that’s inherent in the Ravens: Tough, physical, prideful, and the belief that they can beat any team in the NFL. It’s been that way in Baltimore since Ray Lewis and Jonathan Ogden were drafted in 1996, culminating with two Super Bowl titles, five AFC Championship appearances and seven AFC North titles.
Even after an offseason of change, high expectations remain in Baltimore.
Can Lamar Jackson Get the Ravens Over the Hump This Season?
Lamar Jackson has accomplished a lot in his first six seasons as an NFL quarterback.
He’s not only has proven he can play the position at the highest level — remember when multiple teams requested he work out as a receiver at the NFL Combine — but he has also far and away exceed anybody’s expectations. Two MVPs and two first-team All-Pros later, Jackson is already in elite company among NFL quarterbacks with his individual accolades.
But the question with Jackson, until he proves otherwise, will always be if he can win in the playoffs. Even with the Ravens clinching home-field advantage twice in the last five seasons, Jackson has only taken the Ravens to one AFC Championship appearance and has yet to get them to the Super Bowl.
FREE: Subscribe to PFN’s NFL Newsletter
Now, with an offense that added running back Derrick Henry — who has three 1,500-yard rushing seasons and one 2,000-yard campaign — in free agency, Jackson has enough talent to finally get the Ravens over the hump and unseat the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Henry joins a Ravens offense that has All-Pro tight end Mark Andrews and an emerging second-year wide receiver in Zay Flowers. That offense complements a Ravens defense with great players on all three levels.
The Ravens are built to win the Super Bowl in 2024. They have the talent, led by Jackson, and the physicality to win the AFC North and succeed in the playoffs. But while Jackson has won 75 percent of his starts through his first six seasons, he’s just 2-4 in the playoffs, including two home defeats.
While there’s pressure on the Chiefs as they go for a Super Bowl three-peat, there’s just as much pressure, if not more, on Jackson to lead the Ravens to their first Super Bowl title since 2012.
Ravens’ Projected Depth Chart
Quarterback (3)
Starters: Lamar Jackson
Backups: Josh Johnson, Devin Leary
Running Backs (3)
Starter: Derrick Henry
Backups: Justice Hill, Keaton Mitchell
Fullback (1)
Starter: Patrick Ricard
Wide Receiver (6)
Starters: Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman
Backups: Nelson Agholor, Tylan Wallace, Devontez Walker, Anthony Miller
Tight End (3)
Starter: Mark Andrews
Backups: Isaiah Likely, Charlie Kolar
Offensive Line (9)
Starters: Ronnie Stanley, Andrew Vorhees, Tyler Linderbaum, Daniel Faalele, Patrick Mekari
Backups: Josh Jones, Ben Cleveland, Roger Rosengarten, Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu
Defensive Tackle (5)
Starters: Justin Madubuike, Michael Pierce
Backups: Broderick Washington, Deadrin Sweat, Josh Tupou
EDGE (2)
Starter: Travis Jones
Backups: Brent Urban
Linebackers (8)
Starters: Odafe Oweh, Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson, Kyle Van Noy
Backups: David Ojabo, Malik Harrison, Tavius Robinson, Chris Board
Secondary (10)
Starters: Brandon Stephens, Kyle Hamilton, Marcus Williams, Marlon Humphrey
Backups: Arthur Maulet, Eddie Jackson, Jalyn Armour-Davis, Ar’Darius Washington, Damarion Williams, Nate Wiggins
Specialist (3)
Kicker: Justin Tucker
Punter: Jordan Stout
Long Snapper: Nick Moore
Ravens’ Roster Changes
Henry is the best running back the Ravens have had since Jamal Lewis. That’s saying a lot, especially considering the Ravens have still been a run-first offense since Lewis left after the 2006 season.
Henry is going into his ninth season, but he is still running at a prolific level. His ability to run downhill is a perfect fit for the Ravens’ offense.
On defense, Baltimore lost linebacker Patrick Queen to their AFC North rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Queen had his best season in 2023, but the Ravens’ defense is still flush with great players at all three levels.
Players Added:
- QB Josh Johnson
- RB Derrick Henry
- WR/RET Deonte Hardy
- OT Josh Jones
Players Lost:
- QB Tyler Huntley
- RB J.K. Dobbins
- RB Gus Edwards
- WR Odell Beckham Jr.
- OT Morgan Moses
- OG John Simpson
- OG Kevin Zeitler
- EDGE Jadeveon Clowney
- LB Patrick Queen
- CB Ronald Darby
- CB Rock Ya-Sin
- S Geno Stone
2024 Draft Class:
- 1st round, 30th pick: CB Nate Wiggins
- 2nd round, 62nd pick: OT Roger Rosengarten
- 3rd round, 93rd pick: OLB Adisa Isaac
- 4th round, 113th pick: WR Devontez Walker
- 4th round, 130th pick: CB T.J. Tampa
- 5th round, 165th pick: RB Rasheen Ali
- 6th round, 218th pick: QB Devin Leary
- 7th round, 228th pick: C Nick Samac
- 7th round, 250th pick: S Sanoussi Kane
Ravens’ Coaching Staff
John Harbaugh is back for his 17th season as the Ravens’ head coach. The job he has done in Baltimore has been remarkable, leading the Ravens to a Super Bowl XLVII title, four AFC Championship appearances and five AFC North titles. He enters 2024 with another opportunity to return Baltimore to the Super Bowl, leading a talented, proven roster with experience and toughness.
The biggest change on Harbaugh’s coaching staff is at defensive coordinator. Zachary Orr takes over for Mike Macdonald, who left to become the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks. Orr was promoted from inside linebackers coach, a position he held for the Ravens over the last two seasons.
There’s continuity by promoting Orr to defensive coordinator. And with players like Smith, Madubuike, and Hamilton, the Ravens’ defense should still be one of the NFL’s best again in 2024.
- John Harbaugh, Head Coach
- Todd Monken, Offensive Coordinator
- Zachary Orr, Defensive Coordinator
- Chris Horton, Special Teams Coordinator
- Chris Hewitt, Assistant Head Coach/Pass Game Coordinator
- Joe D’Alessandris, Offensive Line Coach
- Mark DeLeone, Inside Linebackers Coach
- George Godsey, Tight Ends Coach
- Dennis Johnson, Defensive Line Coach
- Sam Koch, Assistant Special Teams Coach
- Greg Lewis, Wide Receivers Coach
- Doug Mallory, Secondary Coach
- Tee Martin, Quarterbacks Coach
- Matt Robinson, Assistant Defensive Line Coach/Outside Linebackers
- Adam Schrack, Offensive Quality Coach
- Chuck Smith, Pass Rush Coach
- Daniel Stern, Director of Football Strategy/Assistant Quarterbacks Coach
- Travis Switzer, Run Game Coordinator
- Wilie Taggart, Running Backs Coach
- George Warhop, Offensive Line Coach
- Travelle Wharton, Assistant Offensive Line Coach
- Danny Breyer, Offensive Assistant Coach
- Randy Brown, Senior Special Teams Coach
- Brendan Clark, Defensive Quality Control Coach
Ravens’ 2024 Season Schedule
The Ravens’ 2024 schedule is brutal. Pro Football Network’s Strength of Schedule rankings has the Ravens with the ninth-hardest schedule in the NFL this season.
To further illustrate how tough the journey will be for Harbaugh’s squad, there are tough stretches at the start, middle, and end of the regular season. And after their Week 14 bye, the Ravens play three games in 11 days, including two on the road.
MORE: Simulate the NFL Season With PFN’s Playoff Predictor
It’s a first-place schedule, which, by nature, is already difficult. In addition, the Ravens are also traveling just before Thanksgiving and will play a road game on Christmas. Don’t underestimate the impact that traveling for games during the holidays can have on an NFL team, even one built like the Ravens.
Get used to seeing a lot of the Ravens this season. Baltimore plays five games in prime time, a 4:25 p.m. ET game on both Fox and CBS, a Saturday afternoon game on Fox four days before Christmas, and a game on Christmas Day.
All times Eastern:
- Week 1: at Kansas City Chiefs (Thu. 9/5, 8:20 p.m. on NBC)
- Week 2: vs. Las Vegas Raiders (Sun. 9/15, 1 p.m. on CBS)
- Week 3: at Dallas Cowboys (Sun. 9/22, 4:25 p.m. on Fox)
- Week 4: vs. Buffalo Bills (Sun. 9/29, 8:20 p.m. on NBC)
- Week 5: at Cincinnati Bengals (Sun. 10/6, 1 p.m. on CBS)
- Week 6: vs. Washington Commanders (Sun. 10/13, 1 p.m. on CBS)
- Week 7: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Mon. 10/21, 8:15 p.m. on ESPN)
- Week 8: at Cleveland Browns (Sun. 10/27, 1 p.m. on CBS)
- Week 9: vs. Denver Broncos (Sun. 11/3, 1 p.m. on CBS)
- Week 10: vs. Cincinnati Bengals (Thu. 11/7, 8:15 p.m. on Prime Video)
- Week 11: at Pittsburgh Steelers (Sun. 11/17, 1 p.m. on CBS)
- Week 12: at Los Angeles Chargers (Mon. 11/25, 8:15 p.m. on ESPN)
- Week 13: vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Sun. 12/1, 4:25 p.m. on CBS)
- Week 14: Bye
- Week 15: at New York Giants (Sun. 12/15, 1 p.m. on CBS)
- Week 16: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Sat. 12/21, 4:30 p.m. on Fox)
- Week 17: at Houston Texans (Christmas Day, 4:30 p.m. on Netflix)
- Week 18: vs. Cleveland Browns (TBD)
2024 Season Prediction for the Ravens
The Ravens play in the toughest division in the NFL, the AFC North, but they are a hallmark in the division. With seven AFC North titles in 21 seasons and playoff appearances in six additional campaigns, the Ravens have established themselves as one of the NFL’s most consistent franchises since their inception in 1996.
The 2024 version of the Ravens should look very similar to past versions: Tough, running downhill on offense, physical on defense, and stellar on special teams. Even after an offseason of change, there are enforcers on both sides of the ball that will keep the Ravens’ identity prevalent in 2024.
The Ravens’ roster is talented enough to overcome their schedule challenges. Adding Henry at running back made so much sense in the offseason, and he makes the Ravens’ offense even more versatile. Despite losing Queen to Pittsburgh in free agency this offseason, the Ravens’ defense still has a Pro Bowler or first-team All-Pro at all three levels.
Baltimore is built to win the Super Bowl in 2024. Winning the Super Bowl starts with winning the AFC North. That is going to be difficult this season considering the schedule, Joe Burrow’s return to health for the Bengals, and Nick Chubb eventually coming back to make an already talented Browns roster stronger. But even if they don’t win the AFC North, the Ravens will be one of the seven best teams in the AFC and make the playoffs.
Record Prediction: 12-5 (2nd in the AFC North)
