\n Pundits Express Concerns About Ravens’ Offense<\/p>\n
The Ravens’ red zone struggles and inconsistent passing attack have some pundits wondering if there is cause for concern for an offense that was expected to be elite again this season.<\/p>\n
Baltimore was No. 1 in red zone offense last season, scoring touchdowns 74.2% of the time. Over the past two games, the Ravens have scored just three touchdowns in nine red zone trips (33.3%). Against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, the Ravens settled for field goals on two possessions in which they had first-and-goal inside the 10-yard line. For the season, the Ravens rank 28th in red-zone offense, scoring touchdowns 47.2% of the time.<\/p>\n
“Their inefficiency in the cramped space near the goal line made sense when Lamar Jackson was injured, but now that he’s back, they’re operating with essentially the same playmakers who made them so deadly in 2024,” The Baltimore Banner\u2019s Childs Walker wrote<\/a>. “And still defenses keep stuffing Derrick Henry and blanketing Jackson’s targets at a puzzling rate.<\/p>\n “Have the Ravens become too predictable? Is it that Jackson’s mobility is diminished in the wake of the hamstring injury that sidelined him for three games? It’s easier for defenses to key on Henry if they don’t fear a Jackson keeper or rollout. Or perhaps we should blame an offensive line that can’t move bodies when the defense knows a run is coming and can’t keep an elite pass rusher \u2014 they don’t come more elite than the Browns’ Myles Garrett, who finished with four sacks and five tackles for loss \u2014 from destroying Jackson’s pocket.”<\/p>\n As for the passing game, the Ravens are 29th in yards after being seventh last season. The Ravens have had 200+ passing yards in a game just once this season (223 against the Detroit Lions in Week 3).<\/p>\n Jackson was sharp in his first game back from injury, going 18-for-23 (78.3%) for 204 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions against the Miami Dolphins in Week 9. Over the past two games against the Minnesota Vikings and Browns, Jackson was 31-for-54 (57.4%) for 369 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.<\/p>\n Jackson, who missed last Wednesday’s practice due to knee soreness, isn’t running as frequently or productively as he has in the past. The all-time and single-season leader in rushing yards for a quarterback, Jackson has run for 60 yards on 18 carries (3.3 yards per carry) in the three games since his return.<\/p>\n