The 2015 NFL season will go down as one of the more successful years in the history of the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive unit.
Seriously, it’s true….Well, at least statistically.
This year’s squad has averaged 358.2 yards per game over their first 13 games, which would officially rank as the second highest ever in the 20 year history of the team. Last year’s Ravens averaged 364.9 yards per game on offense, which was the highest production output ever for a Ravens’ offense.
The chart below shows the final rankings for each the Ravens’ offenses over the course of their 20 year history:
The 2015 Ravens also rank as the 13th best offense in the NFL this year, which, if the season ended today, would be tied for the 4th highest ranking in team history. This is especially ironic given the circumstances and the adversity the team has had to face this year. Take a look at how the Ravens’ offense has shaped up over the course of the season:
Out of the 13 position players that “began” the season on the team, only five are currently active. But that number includes Crockett Gillmore, who will likely be placed on Injured Reserve soon. 10 of the 13 currently active players were not on the Ravens’ opening day active roster.
The current receiving corps came into this season with 115 career catches. For perspective, Steve Smith currently has 961 career catches. The Atlanta Falcons’ superstar wide receiver currently has 109 catches this season alone.
The current active tight ends entered the season with 16 career catches, all coming from Richard Gordon and Konrad Reuland. Neither cat has caught a pass for the Ravens this season.
As far as the quarterbacks are concerned, Matt Schaub has thrown a pick-six in three straight games and is one shy of tying the NFL record of four…which he set in 2013. Jimmy Clausen is 1-12 in his career, and this past Sunday was the first time in his NFL career he passed for more than 200 yards in a game.
But miraculously, this team is on pace to have the 2nd most offensive yards in team history.
This season is arguably the worst in the 20 years of the Ravens from an overall success standpoint, however. The team came into the season with the expectations of winning the division and possibly getting a first round bye in the playoffs. Remember that opening Thursday night game between the Steelers and Patriots? Remember there was a fundamental debate on whom to root for? Rooting for the Steelers meant “haha Brady lost. I trust the Ravens can still beat Pittsburgh twice to win the division.”* And now we’re talking about a top five draft pick just three months later.
To a degree, Marc Trestman deserves some credit for how much he’s gotten out of the offense despite the turmoil expressed above. Perhaps Marc Trestman should stick around next year.
*Author’s Note: It’s never okay to root for the Steelers. The only scenario would be if somehow, some way them winning in week 17 helped the Ravens get into the playoffs. Or they are playing the Yankees. Those are the only two scenarios.
