Despite Threatening Patrick Mahomes’ Chiefs Dominance, Lamar Jackson’s Ravens Questioned Following Defensive Exits

After a heartbreaking Super Bowl loss to Patrick Mahomes‘ Kansas City Chiefs, the Baltimore Ravens are determined to rebound. However, significant defensive departures have analyst Nick Wright questioning their ability to maintain that fearsome defensive prowess.

Wright emphasized the challenges Baltimore faces, highlighting the loss of defensive mastermind Mike Macdonald and other key personnel. “They had massive departures on the defensive side of the ball,” he stated on the latest podcast of First Things First, casting doubt on the Ravens’ defensive future.

The Ravens have been synonymous with stifling defense for years, consistently ranking among the league’s elite units. However, critical mistakes in the Super Bowl loss, including a costly fumble and interception, underscored the need for a strong defensive performance.

“I think you are underplaying the defensive losses from a personnel perspective…one of the reasons you like the Jets is because they got the Ravens’ good offensive linemen, so they had departures there,” Nick responded to Chris Broussard’s support for the Ravens.

Against the Chiefs, the Ravens’ defense initially contained Patrick Mahomes, holding Kansas City scoreless in the second half. However, untimely turnovers by Lamar Jackson proved costly, ultimately leading to the Ravens’ 17-10 defeat. While defensive uncertainties loom, the Ravens’ offensive firepower remains a formidable threat, bolstered by the addition of bruising running back Derrick Henry to complement Lamar Jackson’s dynamic playmaking abilities.

The Lamar-Henry duo is primed to torture Patrick Mahomes offense

Jackson’s dual-threat capabilities continue to be a nightmare for opposing defenses. His ability to execute aggressive downfield throws and his elusiveness on the ground present a unique challenge. With Henry’s power-running style, defenses will be forced to commit more resources to stop the run, potentially creating better opportunities for Jackson to exploit through the air.

According to advanced metrics from Sharp Football Analysis, when defenses deployed seven or more defenders in the box against Jackson last season, he excelled and was ranked first in EPA/dropback (+0.27), first in success rate (56%), third in completion rate (72%), and fourth in yards per attempt (9.1). Derrick Henry’s presence could lead to more favorable defensive alignments for Jackson to thrive.

The anticipated rematch between Jackson’s Ravens and Mahomes’ Chiefs could be a clash of titans. While Baltimore’s offense has the potential to light up the scoreboard, their restructured defense will face the ultimate test against Mahomes’ high-powered attack.

While the Ravens’ defensive departures raise legitimate concerns, their offensive prowess, led by the dynamic Lamar Jackson and the powerful Derrick Henry with his  2023 performance (1167 rushing yards and 12 TDs on 4.2 yards per carry), cannot be overlooked. As Baltimore navigates these changes, their ability to maintain defensive excellence will be crucial in their pursuit of dethroning the Chiefs’ reign atop the NFL.