Baltimore Ravens dropped to 1-3 after a loss of 37-20 to Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. It was their worst start in 2015 and they looked out-of-place.
On multiple fronts, defensively, things look concerning. Roquan, Nate Wiggins and Marlon Huffrey were all injured in the Ravens’ loss on Sunday. Nnamdi madubuike, fullback Patrick Ricard and defensive tackle Travis Jones are all dealing with injuries.
But the problems don’t stop there. They’ve had one of the worst defensive performances in the league, giving up the most yards and points per game. Through four weeks, 53.3 percent (!) of opponents’ drives ended in a touchdown.
The red zone is a much more dangerous place. In the red zone, they have been one of those teams that has allowed opponents to score touchdowns in 75 percent of their trips. This has resulted in them ranking 30th out of 32 teams in the NFL for the average explosive play (EPA) allowed.
They allow 4.6 yards for every carry on the ground. The team is getting pressure but only has four sacks. This is the second worst in the NFL. They have also missed 23 tackles, and allowed a passer rate of 102.3.
Due to the injuries and money spent on defensive star players, the Ravens will be relying more on their inexperienced talent. They are also relying on backups who haven’t performed well so far.
Madubuike is one of the best pass rushers on the team, so his injury is particularly significant. The Ravens are left with few options in that area, especially with Kyle Van Noy currently injured. Rookie Mike Green has had a quiet start to the season.
The team has played some tough opponents, including the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions. They should be 2-2. There are some serious concerns about the Ravens’ defense. Both with regards to injuries and how replacements have performed so far.
If they are to be competitive in 2025, they will need healthy players but also some reinforcements through trade or free-agents to strengthen a weak pass-rush.
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