The Baltimore Ravens had many injuries. The Ravens lost more than two thirds of their games last season, according to PFF's WAR-adjusted Injuries Lost (WAIL) statistics. The team would be in the playoffs with either a 10-7 or 11/6 record. They could have been ahead of the Cincinnati team in the division. Who knows if Lamar Jackson makes the run or not. The point is that the Ravens are still a threat even though they are not expected to win the division. The Ravens have lost more than two games due to injury in each of the last four years. The other teams are the 2020 San Francisco 49ers, the 2020 Dallas Cowboys, the 2018 49ers, the 2017 Green Bay Packers, and the 2013 Packers. Do you remember what the teams did the next season? Let me tell you something. The Packers won 12 games and made their first conference championship appearance since 2010 when they won the Super Bowl. The 49ers lost in the Super Bowl. The Cowboys won their division for the first time in four years, but lost in the Wild Card Round if not for the officials getting in the way of the quarterback. The 49ers won that game and beat Rodgers to reach the playoffs, but if Jaquiski Tartt had not dropped the ball, the 49ers would have won that game. I think it's safe to say that John Harbaugh is a better coach than Mike McCarthy was, so I don't think the same fate will befall the Ravens in 2022.
The Ravens gained a lot of talent through the draft and free agency, and they are getting back a lot of it. The Ravens were able to avoid the loss of a power run scheme by drafting Tyler Linderbaum. The Ravens grabbed two of the best players at their positions, bolstering their offensive line and secondary, while only giving up a mediocre receiver. You might think that the absence of Marquise Brown will hurt their passing attack, but Rashod Bateman had a limited role in the offense last year due to injuries. If healthy, there is a good chance that he could slide into Brown's role in the offense. He brings other skills to the table that Brown couldn't. The passing attack will still run through Mark. The loss of Brown shouldn't change the team's offense much.
There is a chance that three or four teams will reach the playoffs next season. The Ravens have quietly built up one of the most complete rosters in the league, despite the attention being paid to the Cleveland and Cincinnati teams. They will contend that they won't just compete, they will have major injuries.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
