Ravens staring at another lost season after blowout loss to Bills

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Ravens staring at another lost season after blowout loss to Bills

By Paul White | Last updated Nov 1, 2026 5:05 PM ET

You always have a chance to compete for Super Bowls in the NFL when you have a superstar quarterback. That’s the exact position the Baltimore Ravens are in with two-time MVP Lamar Jackson.

He dazzled fans around the country with his electric running ability when he first entered the league, and now, he has become one of the best passers in the NFL. Arguably the only flaw that Jackson has is his ability to stay on the field.

He missed four games last season and the Ravens were never able to recover. They finished the season tied for the worst record in the Jackson era, 8-9, and missed the playoffs for the second time in his career.

The disappointing season led the team to fire head coach John Harbaugh and hire Jesse Minter to take his place. The former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator was expected to get the team over the hump, but it isn’t looking likely that it will happen this season.

Ravens facing an uphill battle after loss to Bills, injury to Lamar Jackson

Jackson has already missed three games in which the team went 1-2, and now he’s out again after after getting injured on his first play back against the Buffalo Bills. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported following Sunday's game that Jackson needs thumb surgery and will be placed on injured reserve.

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson needs thumb surgery and will be placed on injured reserve. https://t.co/TqrG6MlCJQ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 1, 2026

Baltimore is sitting at 4-4 on the periphery of the playoff picture after a 36-10 beatdown from Buffalo, and things could begin spiraling out of control if its quarterback doesn’t return quickly.

The offense is averaging a measly 11 points per game in the last three contests and the defense needed an inspiring talk from a franchise legend to get the unit motivated. There were already some troubling signs in Baltimore before Jackson went down, and they could be exacerbated by the quarterback’s absence.

The team has had a difficult time holding onto leads, with three of its four losses coming in games where the Ravens led by 10 or more. The defense has also been fairly underwhelming, surrendering at least 30 points in five of the first eight games this season.

All of these concerns combine to create an uncomfortable situation in Baltimore. The team was expected to be competing for a Super Bowl this season, and now, it feels like it will be an uphill battle to even get into the postseason.

Paul White

Paul White is a contract writer from Philadelphia who attended Penn State University. He has contributed hundreds of stories about the NFL and NBA over the years and now brings that experience over to Yardbarker. He is a lifelong Philadelphia sports fan looking to bring the same passion from his city to sports media.

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