Ravens biggest reason for optimism shouldn't come as a surprise

When you’re a team with as much talent and as many expectations as the Baltimore Ravens, losing a Divisional Round Game is a step in the wrong direction. One year prior, they hosted an AFC title game, and picked the wrong time to play their worst football. They, in essence, handed the Lamar Hunt Trophy to the eventual Super Bowl-champion Kansas City Chiefs.

Last January was supposed to provide a couple of makeup dates. There isn’t an NFL fan walking who doesn’t know what happened. Not only was there no AFC Title Game. Baltimore was upended in the preceding round.

Still, despite being sent home much too early and suffering through the pain again, Ravens fans are enjoying a familiar feeling: optimism.

Pro Football Focus tips its cap to the Ravens’ rushing attack

Of all the things that Baltimore can hang its hat on, something has to be the feather in that cap. What should everyone point to? Is it the improving defense? Is it the two-time Most Valuable Player? How about 11 Pro Bowlers who are returning? Could it be all of those things?

Pro Football Focus threw an alley-oop pass. They recently highlighted one reason why every NFL team should be optimistic.

Dalton Wasserman is the writer of this one. He throws a bone to the “return of an incredible rushing attack”, and frankly, that shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone.

“As long as Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry are standing in Baltimore’s backfield, they’ll have a chance to win a lot of games. Jackson led the NFL with a 94.9 PFF overall grade last season while becoming the first quarterback in PFF history to record 90.0-plus PFF passing and rushing grades in the same season.

Meanwhile, Henry, playing at the age of 30, led the NFL in PFF rushing grade and missed tackles forced as he continued his career-long assault on opposing defenses.”

Derrick Henry recently inked a two-year, $30 million contract extension. This comes after signing a two-year, $16 million deal worth up to $20 million in March of 2024. He rushed for 1,921 yards and 16 touchdowns in 17 regular-season games last season and added another 270 yards and three touchdowns in two postseason games.

Lamar ‘Action’ Jackson is seen by many as the game’s best dual-threat quarterback. He threw for 4,172 yards and 41 TDs and added another 915 yards with his legs. As scary as they are together, there are other weapons to think about.

CBS Sports mentioned Keaton Mitchell on a list of breakout stars. Justice Hill made the most of his opportunities.

There’s an old saying in football. Good running games travel well. The one belonging to Baltimore should help the cause when the temperature drops and bad weather comes.

Hope springs eternal that the Ravens will seal the deal this coming season. If they do, a strong rushing attack will have had a lot to do with them raising another Lombardi Trophy.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: No surprises as PFF reveals Ravens biggest reason for optimism

Ravens biggest reason for optimism shouldn’t come as a surprise

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