Top teams in the NFL, like the Baltimore Ravens have experienced rare struggles to begin the season.
The Ravens are fielding one of the worst defenses they’ve had in franchise history.
Baltimore released safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, who just signed with the team last week.
The NFL standings are typically similar from year-to-year, but they have been completely flipped this season.
Teams who are usually dominant, like the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens, are closer to the bottom of their conference than normal, and teams who aren’t usually elite, like the Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, are near the top.
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The Ravens have been decimated by injuries this season on both sides of the ball, but defense is what has really been hurting them.
The team that normally has one of the best defenses in the league has been reduced to a unit that is near the bottom in nearly every major category.
To be fair, All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton, linebacker Roquan Smith and cornerback Jaire Alexander have all missed time during the team’s four-game losing streak.
Nov 7, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (14) reacts after tips a Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) pass during the first quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
Baltimore is greatly lacking on defense right now, which makes it surprising that they decided to release safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, one of the better defensive backs in the league who had only been with the team for a week.
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Adam Schefter of ESPN says it was a mutual decision between the Ravens and Gardner-Johnson, who is looking for a chance to get real playing time elsewhere.
Baltimore acquired safety Alohi Gilman from the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for edge rusher Odafe Oweh, so Gardner-Johnson felt like he may be buried on the depth chart.
The Ravens did get Hamilton back on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams, and their pass defense received a tremendous boost, holding quarterback Matthew Stafford under 200 passing yards.
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Still, Baltimore lost and now sits at 1-5 heading into the bye week, tied for their worst start to a season since 2015.
After the bye, quarterback Lamar Jackson is expected to return and the team will try to pull off the improbable feat of making the playoffs after their disastrous start.
They hope their defense can get stronger as the season progresses, much like it did last season, but that will be a bit more challenging without the luxury of having an elite talent like Gardner-Johnson as a depth piece.
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Related: Ravens Activate Fan Favorite QB After Lamar Jackson Injury Update
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Oct 14, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.