The Ravens after 5 games: Surprises, disappointments and what’s gone right and wrong?

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LONDON — The Baltimore Ravens certainly could make a case that they should be 5-0 and not 3-2 after passing the unofficial quarter mark of the regular season. However, that case would be weakened by the fact that in losses to the Indianapolis Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers, the Ravens weren’t victimized by bad luck. They had chance after chance to win both games. They just played bad football.

As they prepare for Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans in London, the Ravens are still in a relatively good position. They sit second in the AFC North behind the Steelers, who are also 3-2 but have a head-to-head win over Baltimore. The Ravens’ point differential is plus-34, the best in the division and fourth-best in the conference.

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There is plenty for the Ravens to feel good about but also significant causes for concern. Tight end Mark Andrews probably summed up the team’s challenge best after the loss to the Steelers.

“This team is dangerous. We’re good,” Andrews said. “It’s a matter of being efficient, playing good ball and, every time, just do your job. That’s all it is.”

In flashes, the Ravens have had the look of a team that could make a playoff run. At other times, they’ve looked sloppy and confused, destined for another late-season flameout.

Let’s take a closer look at the team through the first quarter:

What’s gone well on offense?

Even after Sunday’s drop fest in Pittsburgh, Lamar Jackson’s completion percentage stands at just under 70 percent. He’s on pace to set a career high in that category. Jackson hasn’t been perfect, but through much of the first five games, he’s thrown the ball well, made good decisions and stressed defenses with his arm and legs. Jackson has more rushing yards (265) than Pittsburgh’s Najee Harris, Las Vegas’ Josh Jacobs and Houston’s Dameon Pierce, so while he seems less aggressive as a runner this year, he’s still taking advantage of some opportunities.

You had to expect some growing pains for the Ravens in Todd Monken’s new offense, and there have been. Yet, aside from a hiccup in Pittsburgh, the Ravens have been good offensively on third downs and in the red zone. They are converting 45.1 percent of the time on third down, good for eighth in the NFL, and they are third in the red zone, scoring touchdowns at a 72.2 percent clip. If they continue to be strong in both areas and clean up a few other things, their overall offensive numbers will look a lot stronger than they do now.

Losing J.K. Dobbins to a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 1 has made the Ravens’ run game a little less dynamic, but they are still successfully running the football. Baltimore ranks fourth in the NFL in rushing yards per game (146.0), tied for seventh in yards per carry (4.5) and tied for third in rushing touchdowns (nine). There’s certainly enough support for Monken to run the ball more, particularly in the second half of games.

What has not?

The Ravens are far too often beating themselves. They’ve lost six fumbles in five games, and most of them have either taken away potential points or led to points for the opposition. Kenyan Drake’s fumble deep in Indianapolis territory and Justice Hill’s fumble at midfield in Pittsburgh were momentum killers. Jackson’s ball security has been an issue all year, too. You expect the occasional fumble on a blindside hit, but a few of Jackson’s fumbles are the result of carelessness more than anything else. The Ravens won’t progress as an offense until they stop giving the ball away.

There’s only one football, so the addition of Zay Flowers, Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor was surely going to impact how many targets the returning pass catchers were going to get. Still, Andrews and Flowers have been the only two pass catchers heavily involved week to week. Second-year tight ends Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar have combined for three total receptions on five targets, and Kolar is coming off a healthy scratch. Devin Duvernay has more carries (three) than catches (two). Only one of Rashod Bateman’s eight catches has gone for over nine yards. Beckham has battled an ankle injury, but he’s not been heavily involved either. Monken and Jackson need to find a way to spread the ball around on a more consistent basis.

Rashod Bateman has just eight receptions for 67 yards so far this season. (Rob Carr / Getty Images)

The offensive line returned four of five starters and was billed as a strength heading into the season. It’s played well at times, but this is one area where injuries have really hurt the team. By game’s end in Pittsburgh, the Ravens were down to their third-string right tackle — and it showed. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley’s inability to stay on the field and consistently practice appears to be impacting his form in games. He’s really struggled in the two games he’s played. Only five quarterbacks have been sacked more than Jackson, so protecting him better needs to be a priority.

Which offensive player has been better than expected?

The biggest position competition the Ravens had this summer was at left guard. That feels like a distant memory. John Simpson won the job with little fanfare. He hasn’t been great, but he’s been good enough that it doesn’t feel necessary to look for an upgrade elsewhere. Plus, he’s managed to remain healthy, which is a win in itself given the state of the team’s O-line.

Who needs to pick it up?

Take your pick. Bateman needs to get it going. Not being targeted much is one thing, but you lose the benefit of the doubt when you drop what should have been a routine touchdown. It sure would help if Likely and Duvernay joined the party, too. However, probably more than any other player, the Ravens really need Stanley to start playing like one of the league’s top tackles. It’s certainly possible that Stanley won’t be able to regain elite form after his devastating ankle injury in 2020. But Stanley played much better last season upon returning. Pittsburgh’s Alex Highsmith and Houston’s Jonathan Greenard are good young edge rushers, but it was still jarring to see them have their way with Stanley.

What’s gone well on defense?

The Ravens have been pretty good across the board. They rank second in overall defense, tied for second in points allowed per game, third against the pass, seventh against the run and first in the red zone. It’s probably helped that they’ve faced two backup quarterbacks, and another in Joe Burrow who wasn’t healthy when they played the Bengals. But Baltimore has been missing a ton of guys on the defensive side of the ball, too, and its level hasn’t dropped.

Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen talked to each other all offseason about a goal of leaving no doubt that they are the best inside linebacker duo in the league. They’ve arguably been the defense’s two best and most consistent players this season. They’ve combined for 97 tackles, four sacks, seven tackles for loss and six pass breakups. As Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said before Sunday’s game, Baltimore’s inside linebackers have been the “catalysts” for that unit.

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Cornerback was a primary concern heading into the season, especially with Marlon Humphrey sidelined with a foot injury. Yet, as a whole, the group has played extremely well. Before Humphrey returned and was beaten for the game-winning touchdown pass to George Pickens on Sunday, the corners had mostly succeeded in keeping the ball in front of them and not allowing big plays. Brandon Stephens and Ronald Darby, and to a lesser extent Rock Ya-Sin and Ar’Darius Washington, have more than held their own and kept several quality receivers in check.

What has not?

If there is one situational area that Baltimore’s defense needs to be better in, it’s on third down. The Ravens had chances to get off the field in numerous games and allowed the opposing offense to pick up too many third-and-mediums or third-and-longs. In the fourth quarter alone Sunday, the Ravens allowed Kenny Pickett and the Steelers to pick up a third-and-8, a third-and-9 and a third-and-4. They need to be better in that area.

The numbers will tell you that the Ravens rank a more than respectable second in the league with 18 sacks. But it still feels like beyond Jadeveon Clowney, they aren’t getting enough consistent pressure on the quarterback. And much of the pressure they’re getting is a result of defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald’s blitzing. Nine of the team’s 18 sacks are from either defensive backs or inside linebackers. If the Ravens make the playoffs and have to match up with guys like Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen, it’s imperative that they can get pressure with their front four, and without blitzing.

Jadeveon Clowney is one Ravens defensive player who has applied consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks this season. (Patrick Smith / Getty Images)

Ravens players will remind you that the goal isn’t just to be good against the run — it’s to dominate the opposing run game. That’s the standard Baltimore’s defenders embrace every year. Well, the Ravens haven’t met that standard in a few games this season. Their overall numbers against the run are decent — holding teams to 91.4 rushing yards per game — but particularly in the two losses, the defense is getting popped for big plays in the run game. That doesn’t traditionally happen to the best Ravens defenses.

Which defensive player has been better than expected?

If there was a breakout player at the quarter mark, it would be Stephens — without a doubt. For much of the offseason, the Ravens had him penciled in as a reserve safety. Stephens, though, was needed at corner when extensive summer injuries narrowed the Ravens’ options. He has barely left the field for Baltimore while playing like a quality starting-caliber cornerback. There are still times when Stephens reacts slowly to the ball, but he already has an interception, he’s tackled very physically and he’s kept in check a few very good receivers. Honorable mention goes to Clowney, who has been active in every game and very close to making a host of tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

Who needs to pick it up?

Humphrey didn’t play especially well against the Steelers, but he had just three days of practice since his Aug. 16 foot surgery. He deserves the benefit of the doubt. So does safety Marcus Williams, who is trying to play through a torn pectoral muscle but clearly looked compromised while trying to tackle in Pittsburgh. The easiest thing would be just to isolate the interior of the defensive line. That’s not to say the likes of Justin Madubuike, Broderick Washington, Michael Pierce, Brent Urban and Travis Jones have played poorly. They’ve been solid. It would take the unit to another level, though, if it was getting a few more game-altering plays from the defensive front.

(Top photo: Andy Lyons / Getty Images)