Without question, the Ravens need to find answers for their defense.
They lead the NFL in points allowed (35.4 per game) and are on pace to become the first team to allow 600 points in a season.
With Kyle Hamilton, Roquan Smith, Marlon Humphrey, and Chidobe Awuzie injured and inactive, Baltimore surrendered a season-high 44 points in Sunday’s loss to the Houston Texans. Regardless of who’s in the lineup, it will be difficult for Baltimore (1-4) to turn around its season without the defense turning it up.
The Ravens had major defensive issues early in 2024 and became a sound defensive team, giving Head Coach John Harbaugh more reason to believe they can find solutions again.
“I feel confident, a little bit because of that and also because I feel like we are in a better place than we were last year,” Harbaugh said. “Last year, there were some real challenges, and we were able to get those things turned around and fixed, and I talk about the defensive staff and [Defensive coordinator] Zach [Orr]; that was impressive, and I feel like these things that you’re seeing right now are more fixable even.”
Here are five areas of focus for the Ravens’ defense heading into their Week 6 home game against the Los Angeles Rams: