Today’s topic is the 2025 Baltimore Ravens, who were, per most analysts:
- the most disappointing team in recent memory,
- the most underachieving team in recent memory, and
- the most dysfunctional team in recent memory.
I would also posit that this was (among) the most injured teams in recent memory, but that certainly doesn’t excuse their listless, lethargic 2025 output. The simple fact remains: the 2025 Ravens were earmarked by most to be participants in the Super Bowl, and they fell woefully short of that goal.
The narrative, such as it is, is below.
Baltimore Ravens (8-9)
There’s a percentage of Ravens fans (and haters, for that matter) who feel the team was doomed after their late fourth quarter collapse in Buffalo in week 1, when they surrendered 15 points in the final four minutes to somehow lose the game. Bizarre issues surfaced, such as RB Derrick Henry’s late lost fumble that gave the Bills excellent field position. That evening, the Ravens became the first team in NFL history to lose when scoring 40 or more points and rushing for 235 yards or more.
That might just be enough to sour any locker room for awhile.
The team stumbled to a 1-5 start, culminating in a 17-3 loss against the Rams while coping with the loss of starting QB Lamar Jackson and DT Nnamdi Madubuike to injury, among numerous others. As injured players slowly returned to the roster, it became more and more evident that a marked lack of quality depth was the team’s foremost issue, particularly along the offensive and defensive lines.
Starting guards Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele were consistently overmatched in nearly every game, requiring help in almost every scenario and subsequently weakening overall protection. LT Ronnie Stanley survived the year, but he’s not young (31) and it’s possible the Ravens look to draft his eventual replacement in April.
Few members of this Ravens team are worth mentioning offensively. Henry (1,595 rushing yards, 16 TDs) posted a typically-excellent year on the ground, but also contributed three lost fumbles. WR Zay Flowers (86 catches, 1,211 yards, 5 TDs) continued his ascent into the NFL’s upper tier of wideouts, and venerable TE Mark Andrews added 48 catches for 422 yards and five TDs in a bounce-back year of sorts.
There’s really nothing else noteworthy offensively. For all of Jackson’s previous accolades, he was simply limited all season by injury or poor play.
It’s safe to say the 2025 Ravens defense will not be remembered for much beyond futility. After the loss of Madubuike in week 2, the entire defense struggled, at one point surrendering 44 points to an average Texans offense in arguably their worst defensive performance all season. There was a bit of a rebound after the Ravens traded underperforming edge Odafe Oweh to the Chargers for S Alohi Gilman, which served to shore up the secondary, but did nothing to improve their woeful pass rush. Rookie MLB Teddye Buchanan was one of the few bright spots for the team until he suffered a torn ACL in week 14.
Statistical leaders for the defense include ILB Roquan Smith (130 tackles), S Kyle Hamilton (105 tackles, 1 sack, 2 FF) and ironically, CB Marlon Humphrey (68 tackles, 4 INTs, 2 FF).
Everyone’s now seen rookie PK Tyler Loop’s (30-34 FGA) season-ending miss in Pittsburgh in week 18, but that belies his solid pro debut overall. P Jordan Stout (50.1 PA) was excellent all season, earning him his first Pro Bowl berth.
Next week: Steelers
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