The latest power rankings following their Week 17 obliteration of the Houston Texans.
Most national pundits haven’t changed their views or opinions much on the Baltimore Ravens who notched a dominant 31-2 win over the Houston Texans on Christmas to move into pole position in the AFC North race with one more game left to play. The consensus belief is that they are a fringe top-five team in the league with most moving them up slightly a spot or two while others didn’t move them at all on their respective lists. Now, it’s time to see where the team lands in the NFL landscape of power rankings heading into Week 18.
The Ringer: 2 (Last week: 3)
Quarterback Lamar Jackson has never been better in his career, and his presence has never been more valuable for his teammates. The greatest quarterbacks play with an air of inevitability in every dropback, and Jackson has reached that echelon in 2024. Even though he had just 15 passing attempts against the Texans on Christmas, there was never a doubt about who was the most valuable player on the field, even on a day when his teammate Derrick Henry ran for nearly 150 yards. I believe this defense is turning a corner, and this week cemented the idea that the Ravens have multiple ways to beat the best teams in the NFL. All that’s left to do is prove it on the biggest stage.
The Athletic: 6 (Last week: 7)
If Mahomes didn’t exist, this would be the scariest team in the NFL, even though it has five losses. The Ravens are 5-2 against the current AFC playoff field (if the season ended today) and their point margin in those games is a staggering plus-100. They are third in the league in scoring (30.2) and since Kyle Hamilton was moved to a more traditional safety role in Week 11, they are third in defensive expected points added (11.3 per 100 snaps), according to TruMedia.
NFL.com: 6 (Last week: 7)
If the Ravens are the sixth best team in the NFL, as my ranking here indicates, we should be headed for a heck of a Divisional Round of the playoffs. Baltimore is as dangerous as anyone, and you don’t need me explaining that. The Ravens haven’t lost a bad game since before Halloween, and the late Week 14 bye seemed to give them a lift; they’ve topped the 31-point mark in all three games while allowing a total of 33 points over that span. Their special teams haven’t been great this season, the defense is improved but flawed and penalties have been a weekly bugaboo. But Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry are the ultimate quicker picker-uppers for whatever spills they might make along the way, most often leading the team to victory. Baltimore has also already vanquished each of its three likely first-round opponents in the playoffs, so anything short of reaching the second round would feel like a profound letdown.
ESPN: 6 (Last week: 6)
Biggest offseason contract situation to watch: Offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley
Stanley is scheduled to become a free agent after a solid rebound season. He ranks 12th in pass block win rate among tackles (92.8%), protecting the blind side of reigning MVP Lamar Jackson. He has shown he can be durable — this is the first season of Stanley’s nine-year career that he will play every game. After taking a pay cut last offseason, he should get an increase from his $7.5 million payout in 2024. The question for the Ravens is whether they feel the need to pay Stanley, considering Jackson’s elusiveness.
USA Today: 7 (Last week: 8)
Lamar Jackson’s immediate priority might be Queen Bey. Otherwise, he and his teammates very much seem to be rounding into championship form at the right time … and 12 years after they won the last Super Bowl staged in New Orleans.
Yahoo Sports: 6 (Last week 7)
Mark Andrews had a slow start to the season and maybe that was due to a car accident in August. Since Week 5, he has 554 yards and 10 touchdowns, catching 45 of 52 targets. That’s not peak Andrews production in terms of volume (other than the TDs) but he’s still a top tight end.
CBS Sports: 6 (Last Week 7)
They went to Houston and crushed the Texans as Lamar Jackson continued to roll. He is squarely in the MVP race with an outstanding season.
Sports Illustrated: 6 (Last week 7)
Just look at this thread below and ask yourself: how are we going to coach our defensive line against the Ravens in the postseason? If we’re hyper aggressive, we’ll get trapped at every turn. If we sit back, Derrick Henry is going to run all over us anyway. Todd Monken can be so demoralizing to play against with this personnel.
33rd Team: 6 (Last week: 6)
The Baltimore Ravens have now put together three straight impressive victories, scoring 31 or more points in each game. The defense has really stepped up, as it has not allowed more than 24 points in any of its last six games. Baltimore can now win the AFC North with a victory against the Browns in Week 18, which means it would be the No. 3 seed in the AFC and would host at least one playoff game.
Sporting News: 6 (Last week 7)
From Vinnie Iyer
The Ravens have Lamar Jackson playing even better than his previous best MVP levels, and now the defense is starting to finally come through as a complementary factor for John Harbaugh.
New York Post: 7 (Last Week 8)
Lamar Jackson’s 48-yard rushing touchdown was the highlight of a memorable day in which he set the NFL’s career rushing record for quarterbacks during a 31-2 blowout of the Texans. Jackson also threw a touchdown pass to both of his top two tight ends (Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely). A win this week will clinch the AFC North title.
Bleacher Report: 6 (Last week: 6)
The Texans may not be on the same level as teams like the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs—the Ravens have already defeated the former and lost to the latter. But the ease with which the Ravens dispatched Houston on the road should terrify the rest of the AFC. For much of the season, the Ravens have had one glaring weakness—the secondary. But Baltimore gave up just 153 passing yards to Houston. If the Ravens play like that defensively in the postseason, this team is absolutely capable of making it all the way to New Orleans and Super Bowl LIX.
Fox Sports: 6 (Last week: 7)
The most-feared team in the league is beginning to play like a title contender down the stretch. Lamar Jackson & Co. are cooking on offense, with the two-time MVP teaming with Derrick Henry to give the Ravens an unstoppable rushing attack. As Zay Flowers, Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely settle into their roles as complementary playmakers on the perimeter, Baltimore’s offense could spark a deep postseason run that ends with an appearance in Super Bowl LIX.
Pro Football Talk: 6 (Last week: 7)
Lamar Jackson gets to make his closing argument for MVP on Saturday.
Sharp Football Analysis: 4 (Last week: 4)
The Ravens have clinched their third straight playoff berth and their sixth in the last seven seasons. This marks the 12th playoff appearance under head coach John Harbaugh in his 17-season tenure. The offense has been on a historic run, averaging 6.86 yards per play this season, the third-most in a single season in NFL history. Lamar Jackson has set a new franchise record with 37 touchdown passes this season. Derrick Henry‘s fourth 1,500-yard rushing season puts him in elite company, trailing only Barry Sanders in that category.