When the Baltimore Ravens paired running back Derrick Henry with quarterback Lamar Jackson, the last thing they envisioned was an 0-2 start.
Contrary to head coach John Harbaugh’s assertion that Henry — a first-ballot Hall of Fame lock and the fifth player in NFL history with 10,000-plus rushing yards and more than 100 touchdowns in his first 125 games — wasn’t brought in to “be the guy that gets the ball 30 times a game,” it’s clear after ripping off four straight wins that Henry is the fulcrum of this offense.
Henry has racked up 575 total scrimmage yards throughout this winning streak, averaging 132 yards per game en route to solidifying himself as the NFL’s leading rusher. He’s currently on pace for around 2,000 total yards and 25 touchdowns, which would likely make him the NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
Some pundits have even made the case that Henry is the league MVP, but those watching games know Jackson is the key to making this offense hum.
Since Baltimore’s consecutive losses to open the season, Jackson has posted 1,245 total yards and 10 touchdowns. Over that stretch, he completed 70% of his passes while rushing for five yards a carry.
It’s not rocket science that when defenses are loading the box to stop Henry, wide receivers Rashod Bateman and Zay Flowers have more room to work with downfield — giving Jackson larger throwing windows.
And when opposing coordinators key in on those threats out on the perimeter, Jackson can feed tight ends Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, and Charlie Kolar off of run fakes.
This versatility has helped the Ravens finish drives at a supremely high level this season, as they are tied for the NFL lead with a 75% red zone touchdown rate — scoring on three out of every four trips inside the 20.
There’s no question this is the most multiple offense Jackson has played in so far in his career. He no longer is required to lead Baltimore in rushing while operating an underdeveloped passing attack.
Now, Jackson is the ultimate facilitator for the Ravens.
He spreads the ball to myriad receivers and has been more shrewd than ever with the use of his legs, only pulling out his Superman cape when necessary for the most part in 2024.
For a franchise whose roots are associated with hardnosed defense, having two MVP-worthy players on offense has to be a surreal feeling for general manager Eric DeCosta — who famously attempted to acquire Henry at last year’s trade deadline.
But the Ravens brass may not fully be able to relish in boasting the NFL’s fourth-ranked scoring offense considering how the side of the ball they’re used to dominating on is looking…
How much is Baltimore’s defense holding it back?
Baltimore knew a drop-off was coming in 2024 when former defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald left in the offseason to become head coach for the Seattle Seahawks.
It was inevitable after last year’s team finished the season with a triple crown NFL record as the first defensive unit in history to lead the league in points allowed, sacks, and takeaways.
The Ravens appointed former player and inside linebackers coach Zach Orr as Macdonald’s successor immediately upon his departure. It’s entirely too early to start questioning that decision.
But even Orr wouldn’t deny he’s struggling to find his way right now. That’s why he recently added former defensive coordinator Dean Pees onto his staff as a senior adviser — who coached Orr during his three-year career as a linebacker.
It’s unreasonable to expect the same level of consistency as the 2023 team, but Baltimore shouldn’t be the eighth-worst scoring defense in the NFL with the amount of talent it retained on that side of the ball.
What’s alarming isn’t just that the defense looks porous for long stretches in the second half many times, but the way it’s playing out.
Many teams have been unable to match with the firepower of Jackson and Henry, allowing the Ravens to build a decent cushion and get the opposing offense in obvious passing situations.
Forcing a team to be one dimensional is a defensive coordinator’s dream, but Orr has struggled to force stops at times when everyone knows a pass is coming.
That the Ravens are the second-worst passing defense in the NFL so far in 2024 is a short-term problem that could become a huge one when compounded with Orr’s warts as a play caller.
He has taken unnecessary risks with nearly all-out blitzes late in games a few times this season.
Those instances didn’t backfire, but this validates what Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said about Baltimore’s propensity to “burn the house down” when all the chips are pushed to the middle of the table. It’s certainly something to pay attention to when this defense is called upon in a big moment.
What’s important right now is these issues haven’t prevented the team from winning games. But rectifying these deficiences could make the difference between another AFC Championship game appearance and a chance to compete in the Super Bowl.
So while it’s tempting to revel in Jackson and Henry creating too many problems for defenses to solve, the Ravens can’t be crowned as the undisputed top team in the AFC until they address the side of the ball they pour the vast majority of resources into.
The addition of Pees could help Orr find his rhythm quicker as the season progresses. And the Ravens will have to hope major injuries don’t start piling up in order for this defense to gel over the long term.
It’s unclear how this will play out, and the truth is I hesitate to use any other word to describe this defense other than suspect right now. You can win a lot of games with a shaky defense, but “defense wins championships” isn’t one of the oldest saying in sports for no reason.
It’s not impossible for Baltimore to win a championship with this defense playing at or near this level for the rest of 2024, but that would heap pressure on Jackson and Henry to play at MVP-level heights for the whole season.
That also opens the door for another vintage offensive implosion come January, which is what Henry was brought in to prevent in the first place.
It’s not time to start going over doom-and-gloom scenarios yet, but Baltimore’s front office will be seething if another high-octane offense is shut down or outscored in the playoffs.
With three out of their next four matchups being being divisional games, it’s time for the Ravens to start proving their defensive mettle. That’s not something Baltimore typically lacks, but it remains to be seen whether this team has it or not.
