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The Baltimore Ravens are winning but winning ugly. They will head into Week 13 with a 6-5 record and a five-game winning streak. Still, they sit atop the AFC North and continue to lean on one of the NFL’s stingiest defenses. Yet beneath the surface, concern is growing. The Ravens’ offense has sputtered through consecutive uninspiring performances. This has prompted fans to wonder if Baltimore’s offensive slump is a temporary hiccup or a red flag for their playoff hopes.
The Ravens currently lead the AFC North with a 6-5 record heading into a crucial Thanksgiving night matchup with the Bengals. Baltimore’s season has been defined by a dominant defense carrying an inconsistent offense. They have held opponents under 20 points in six straight games. That has created the defensive backbone for their five-game surge up the standings.
While the defense has soared, though, the offense continues to underwhelm. Lamar Jackson, who missed games earlier in the season with a hamstring injury, hasn’t looked like himself since returning. His passing rhythm has disappeared and accuracy has dipped. Also, his overall command of the offense isn’t at the standard Baltimore has come to expect. This regression is becoming harder to ignore.
In Week 11, Baltimore beat the Cleveland Browns in a sluggish, grind-it-out victory. It highlighted both the defense’s suffocating play and the offense’s ongoing troubles. A week later in Week 12, the Ravens secured a 23–10 victory over the New York Jets. Once again, though, the performance felt hollow. The offense moved the ball inconsistently, and Jackson struggled to generate explosive plays.
Players have publicly acknowledged the need for sharper execution and improved consistency. Yes, winning five in a row is impressive in a league defined by parity. That said, the Ravens’ uneven performances have sparked legitimate concern as the team prepares for its toughest stretch of the season.
Here we’ll try to look at and discuss if it’s time to worry about the Ravens after uninspiring games against the Browns and Jets.
Since returning from his hamstring injury, Jackson’s passing efficiency has plummeted. He has posted a 62.8 passer rating over his last three games. His timing on intermediate routes has been off, and his completion rate has suffered as a result.
This slump is the biggest threat to Baltimore’s ceiling. The Ravens are built around Jackson’s ability to threaten defenses both through the air and on the ground. If one half of that equation is missing, the offense becomes predictable and easier to defend.
Jackson and Ronnie Stanley have both openly stated that the offense must execute better. That honesty is refreshing. However, the concerns are real. The offense has lacked the rhythm and aggressiveness needed to sustain success.
Some of the criticism has been directed at offensive coordinator Todd Monken. His red-zone play-calling has drawn scrutiny. Too often, Baltimore stalls inside the 20. They have had to rely on Justin Tucker’s...
