The 2023 Ravens are one of the best teams in the NFL, boasting the league’s best record (13-4) and owning the No. 1 seed in the AFC. But are they destined to win Super Bowl LVIII? History thinks so.
Baltimore is averaging 28.4 points per game while leading the NFL in rushing yards per game (156.5) and points allowed per game (16.5).
The only other teams in the Super Bowl era to lead the league in rushing offense & scoring defense while averaging at least 25 points per game were the 1985 Chicago Bears and 1972 Miami Dolphins, per NFL Media editorial researcher Dante Koplowitz-Fleming. Both won the Super Bowl in their respective years.
Those stats alone won’t win the Ravens a Super Bowl this season, but it certainly sets them up to if they can continue playing at a similar dominant level in the playoffs.
Baltimore will be one of the healthiest teams of the final eight remaining after having the opportunity to rest during the wild-card round thanks to its first-round bye.
“We’re pretty optimistic about everybody,” head coach John Harbaugh told reporters. “It’s just like any week. You just have to see it unfold. Some guys are good to go. Other guys are going to be more day-by-day.”
However, the postseason is a different animal and QB Lamar Jackson knows it as he is 1-3 in the playoffs.
The favorite to win this year’s NFL MVP will have the chance to add another notch to the win column on Saturday when the Ravens host the Texans. They previously beat Houston 25-9 in Week 1, but everyone would likely agree both teams are a lot different since then.
Rookie QB C.J. Stroud has really come into his own, throwing for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns and just five interceptions this season.
Baltimore must find a way to shut him down to prevent an upset and continue its path to hoisting the franchise’s third Vince Lombardi Trophy by season’s end.
