2025 AFC North Preview: Baltimore Ravens Football

BALTIMORE, Maryland (AP) — As the Baltimore Ravens kick off the 2025 NFL season, they’re poised for a serious Super Bowl run. With dynamic quarterback Lamar Jackson steering a loaded roster, a challenging early stretch, and star power on both sides of the ball, the Ravens are shaping up as legitimate sideline-to-sideline contenders.

Quarterback & Leadership

Lamar Jackson remains the heartbeat of Baltimore’s offense and is arguably the premier dual-threat quarterback in the league. Heading into 2025, analysts place him amongst t he top tier of quarterbacks, and ESPN’s future power rankings peg Baltimore’s quarterback spot in the top three league-wide.

Offensive Overview & Stars

The offense finished last year ranked at or near the top, and it returns largely intact.

• Running back Derrick Henry pairs with Jackson to give Baltimore one of the league’s most fearsome ground games. Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell provide complementary options, and Rasheen Ali brings an intriguing wild-card element.
• Tight ends deliver serious firepower. Mark Andrews is one of the best in the game when healthy. Behind him, Isaiah Likely is emerging, and Charlie Kolar offers utility and blocking prowess.
• Wide receivers are deeper than ever. Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman are coming off career-best seasons, and the offseason addition of DeAndre Hopkins adds a polished, high-caliber receiving threat. Bateman’s new three-year deal ($36.75 million) signals his growth into a vital offensive piece.
• Offensive line ambitions remain sturdy. Ronnie Stanley re-signs a strong left tackle presence, and center Tyler Linderbaum continues to anchor the trench. The only question marks lie at guard, where developmental depth remains in flux.

Defensive Overview & Stars

Defensively, Baltimore returns a stable, aggressive unit. Safety Kyle Hamilton, among the league’s best, will anchor the secondary after earning Pro Bowl nods and seeing his fifth-year option picked up. Marlon Humphrey, fresh off a Pro Bowl and All-Pro season, remains a lockdown presence at corner.

The edge rush group combines veteran savvy wi th rookie explosiveness. Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh bring reliable pressure, while second-round pick Mike Green has impressed with a diverse and advanced pass-rush repertoire.

Roster Depth & Preseason Notes

Baltimore continues to build depth across the roster. Corey Bullock, a UDFA from Maryland, has shown versatility on the interior line and is in the hunt for a backup role. Meanwhile, injuries have hit the rookie cornerback group hard: Bilhal Kone and Robert Longerbeam suffered season-ending knee injuries, prompting the Ravens to add veteran depth.

2025 Schedule & Key Matchups

The Ravens ope n on Sept. 7 at the Buffalo Bills , a high-stakes Sunday Night Football kickoff. That sets the tone for a stacked start: five games against playoff-caliber teams in the first six weeks.

Notable early tests include:

• Week 3 , Monday Night Football vs. the Detroit Lions
• Week 4 , a pivotal road date with the Kansas City Chiefs — widely seen as the season’s most anticipated matchup.

Baltimore enjoys a midseason stretch with extended home stands. But the season doesn’t let up—late-season divisional showdowns, including a coveted Thanksgiving prime-time game at home against Cincinnati, highlight the schedule’s pressure points.

Here’s the early slate:

• Week 1: at Buffalo Bills (SNF)
• Week 2: vs. Cleveland Browns
• Week 3: vs. Detroit Lions (MNF)
• Week 4: at Kansas City Chiefs
• Following: matchups with Houston, the Rams, then a midseason bye.

Why Baltimore Is Super Bowl-Ready

1. Elite quarterback-led offense — Jackson’s dual-threat dynamism, supported by Henry, Andrews, Bateman, Hopkins, and strong line play, creates a multidimensional attack tough to contain.
2. Top-tier defense — Hamilton and Humphrey command the back end, supported by a rising edge group with proven playmakers and promising rookies.
3. Depth and continuity — A largely intact core, blended with emerging depth like Bullock and Green, maintains organizational rhythm.
4. Coaching and front office consistency — Baltimore’s stable leadership, from John Harbaugh on the sideline to DeCosta’s roster-building, remains among the league’s best.
5. Schedule resilience — Handled well, the early gauntlet could yield resume-building wins; the team’s maturity and depth could carry them into January riding momentum.