Nov 5, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) looks to throw on the run during the first half Seattle Seahawks at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
The Baltimore Ravens had another statement win on Sunday blowing out the Seattle Seahawks at home. The team sits at 7-2 on the year and in the driver’s seat for an AFC North crown as well as a shot at the number one overall seed in the conference. Baltimore is always in it but this year feels different. Their evolved offense is looking scary good at the halfway point of the season.
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Baltimore Ravens Evolved Offense
What a difference seven months make! Seven months ago, the Ravens didn’t know whether Lamar Jackson would be their quarterback. Now, he is leading one of the NFL’s best offensive attacks. New offensive coordinator Todd Monken came in and changed the offense. His goal was to spread it out more and focus more on the passing attack. While it took some time to get the offense going, that was expected. New coordinators often take a couple of weeks to get their system looking good on the field. At the midseason mark, the passing game has improved but the running game is as strong as ever.
The Old Offense Vs. Baltimore Ravens Evolved Offense
The philosophy of the old offense was to stack the box to devastate opponents in the running game. Fullbacks were brought in. Tight ends populated the field and extra offensive linemen were common. The issue was that the passing game was anemic. The new offense focused more on the passing game and some feared that it would take away from the dominant running game. It hasn’t one bit. Here are the numbers from last year versus this year.
2022 rushing stats: 526 attempts, 2,720 yards, and 14 touchdowns
2023 rushing stats: 300 attempts, 1,443 yards, and 17 touchdowns
The offense is on pace to do better than last year in the rushing department. Now let’s take a look at the passing stats.
2022 passing stats: 3.040 yards and 19 touchdowns
2023 passing stats: 1,992 yards and 10 touchdowns
Again, the Ravens are set to surpass last year. The new offense not only unlocked the passing game but also improved the running game.
Lamar Jackson Playing Like An MVP
The numbers haven’t jumped off the page but Jackson is running the offense to perfection. His completion percentage is north of 70% currently and while his touchdowns are below his MVP season, it is because the team has been so dominant. The running backs are getting the bulk of the late-game scores as they look to bleed the clock without putting Jackson in harm’s way. When the team is winning by 30 in the fourth quarter Jackson isn’t going to have as many stats as the team will take their foot off the gas.
It is awesome to see if Jackson’s passing statistics spike. He has always been a good passer but because his running is so dynamic, people don’t notice. The passing game was so rudimentary that it didn’t showcase his talents. Now, he has the weapons and is able to sling the ball around. He is on pace to shatter his passing yards record in a season.
Super Bowl?
The Baltimore Ravens evolved offense has them looking like a Super Bowl favorite. The Kansas City Chiefs have been underwhelming on offense though they keep winning games. The Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills seem like a tier below and the Jacksonville Jaguars seem to have settled into that tier as well. The Ravens are one of the few teams that have looked dominant on both sides of the ball and look to be the midseason favorite in the AFC. Can they finish off the season strong and get the number-one seed? If Jackson has the offense playing like this, they have a great shot.
