Getty Lamar Jackson runs away from the Browns.
The Baltimore Ravens have one of the best offenses in the league this season, but they do face some stiff competition even from within their own division.
Are the Ravens the best offense in the AFC North, though? That’s a complicated question considering the relative strength of the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers and the new Cincinnati Bengals attack. According to Good Morning Football analyst Peter Schrager, the Ravens are going to remain the top team.
Schrager said:
“Lamar Jackson is just getting started. The guy had 36 passing touchdowns and his wide receivers really look better this year. I’m just looking at production. When you run the ball like the Ravens run the ball, you open yourself up to big passing plays and explosive offensive potential. I’m going with the Ravens. They did it last year, they’re going to do it again. In this pandemic shortened season, I’d rather go with what I knew worked.”
Last season, the Ravens were great through the air and on the ground, and they could be poised to be just as solid this season. With the same ground game, an improved passing attack and new wideouts, it could be an even bigger year for the Ravens.
That won’t be music to the ears of folks in Pittsburgh or Cleveland.
Ravens Offense Potent During 2019
As Pro Football Focus explained, the Ravens scored on an absurd 52% of their drives last season. That was easily the highest total in the NFL, outpacing the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs by about 3%. The only other teams relatively close to that duo weren’t that close at all. The number means the Ravens scored over half of the times they had the ball in their hand in 2019.
Highest percentage of drives ending in a score last season:
1. Ravens – 52%
2. Chiefs – 49%
3. Saints – 46%
4. Cowboys – 45%
The Ravens carved up the league quickly and unlike many other teams had ever done before. They scored fast, they were efficient and they were powerful, routinely having scoring flurries much like an NBA team. To that end, it was one of the most exciting offenses in the league to take in.
More is planned and can be expected in 2020, but for now, it’s wise to remember just how potent the Ravens were last season.
Ravens 2019 Offense Voted One of NFL’s Best
Recently, Bleacher Report writer Kristopher Knox took a look at picking out the top offenses in the league since the year 2000. The Ravens only had but a single entry on the list, and it was the 2019 edition of the team, which put up some insane numbers.
Knox had the Ravens placing in the No. 8 spot in terms of top offenses the league has seen over the last few decades.
Ranking the top 10 offenses since 2000
🔟 2018 Rams
9️⃣ 2004 Colts
8️⃣ 2019 Ravens
7️⃣ 2011 Saints
6️⃣ 2011 Packers
5️⃣ 2016 Falcons
4️⃣ 2001 Rams
3️⃣ 2018 Chiefs
2️⃣ 2007 Patriots
1️⃣ 2013 Broncos
(via B/R’s @Kris_Knox)
As for what was written about why, Knox said in part the team’s innovative nature had them high on the list. He wrote:
“Though Baltimore’s offense wasn’t balanced yardage-wise, it is definitely worth noting that Jackson led the NFL with 36 passing touchdowns in 2019 and went on to win the MVP award. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh believes this squad’s rushing prowess will bring more balance to the offense moving forward.
“We should have guys more open and we should have bigger plays and we should create more opportunities in the passing game because of that run game,” Harbaugh said, per ESPN’s Jamison Hensley.
The 2019 Ravens’ average of 33.2 points per game ranks 12th on the all-time list, and Baltimore sent seven offensive players to the Pro Bowl—including Jackson, Ingram and tight end Mark Andrews.
This team gets a boost for its explosive and innovative scheme, but it might rank even higher if it hadn’t been ousted from the postseason one game in.”
Obviously, the Ravens offense had a statistically dominating season in 2019 on the way to their 14-2 record, but the team’s offense fizzled in the playoffs, putting up only 12 points against the Tennessee Titans in their eventual defeat. That loss still clouds much of what they accomplished in 2019. As a whole, though, the team’s offense finished No. 1 in points scored with 531, had the best rushing attack in the league and may have only improved that further for next year leading to more optimism.
There’s no doubt the future is bright for the Ravens considering this fact, and for now, they can still claim to have one of the best offenses in recent NFL history.
Dan Orlovsky Predicts Ravens Offense as One of NFL’s 2020 Best
According to Orlovsky, the Ravens are going to have a top 5 offense this season with Lamar Jackson at the helm. As a whole, Orlovsky had the Ravens place in the No. 3 spot just behind the Kansas City Chiefs (No. 1) and the San Francisco 49ers (No. 2).
The top 5 offenses in the NFL this coming season, according to @danorlovsky7.
Obviously, the Ravens offense had a statistically dominating season in 2019 on the way to their 14-2 record, but the team’s offense fizzled in the playoffs, putting up only 12 points against the Tennessee Titans in their eventual defeat. As a whole, though, the team’s offense finished No. 1 in points scored with 531, had the best rushing attack in the league and may have only improved that further for next year.
When all is said and done, the Ravens might have the best offense in the league, but for now, Orlovsky sees a top 3 team heading into the year.
He’d likely be in agreement with Schrager as it relates to the direction the team will take this year.
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