Their Time is Now

It’s really all lining up, isn’t it?

The Ravens have the most complete team they’ve had in years. The defense is absolutely smothering. The offense is starting to click—putting up over 30 points in seven of their last nine. The AFC is weaker than usual, in large part due to the Chiefs looking uncharacteristically beatable.

Oh, and the Ravens moved to 12-3 after knocking off the best team in the NFC behind a ball-hawking secondary and MVP-level output from Lamar Jackson… a late Christmas present for the Flock.

Everyone in the locker room and front office knows it. The Ravens are absolutely in the prime of their Super Bowl window with multiple key players on expiring contracts. Those players, namely Pro Bowl-level guys in Patrick Queen and Justin Madubuike, are key cogs in the well-oiled machine that is this team.

It’s time to capitalize.

And, for the most part, the Ravens have taken care of business thus far. They now lay claim to the best record in the NFL (!), having knocked off three division leaders in the 49ers, Lions, and Jaguars. From the London trip on, John Harbaugh’s guys have posted a staggering 9-1 record. In their only loss, a frustrating performance against the pre-Joe Flacco Browns, they technically trailed for zero minutes and zero seconds.

Dominant, to say the least.

But, before they can turn their gaze to the playoffs, the Ravens must take care of a very explosive Dolphins team at the Bank this week. The good guys will be champing at the bit to avenge last year’s disastrous blown lead against Miami in Week 2—it’s safe to say they won’t need much pregame motivation. A win would lock up the #1 seed in the conference and a first-round bye, rendering the regular season finale against the Steelers essentially meaningless. Sounds eerily similar to 2019…

But I’m confident that the 2023 postseason will be resoundingly different from the abrupt end to that magical 2019 season. If you’ve watched any of Lamar’s press conferences in the past month, you know he’s playing with a massive chip on his shoulder. The loss to the Titans four years ago still stings and serves as a motivator to finally bring the Lombardi back to the Charm City. By dismantling the Niners, a team many considered to be the best team in the NFL heading into the game, the Ravens have assuaged most of the concerns I have heading into the playoffs. The offense started slow—really slow—and the defense looked rocky after giving up a huge catch and run to George Kittle on the first drive.

But both units recovered… and in a big way.

And the Ravens sent the 49ers home to stew on a double-digit loss.

I can’t emphasize enough the importance of the fact that this team can beat you in so many ways. That’s what makes them so scary heading into January. No matter what you throw at them, they just… win.

Look for them to keep it rolling when the playoffs come around.

After all, their time is now.