Ranking NFL Super Bowl Contenders After Bills Trade Stefon Diggs to Texans | News, Scores, Highlight

As long as Lamar Jackson remains healthy, the Baltimore Ravens should challenge for the Lombardi Trophy in 2024.

Jackson returned to MVP form last season, while the rest of the Ravens' offense took off under new coordinator Todd Monken. Meanwhile, the Ravens defense allowed a league-low 16.5 points per game, which resulted in an NFL-best 13-4 record and Jackson's first trip to the AFC Championship Game.

Baltimore should again be an elite team on both sides of the ball, though slight regression is possible. The Ravens lost defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, who became the Seattle Seahawks' new head coach, and he had a major impact over the past two years.

In 2021, the year before Macdonald took over, Baltimore ranked just 25th in total defense and 19th in points allowed. The Ravens jumped to ninth and third, respectively, in 2022, and they were sixth in total defense last season.

The Ravens also parted with some key contributors this offseason, including edge-rusher Jadeveon Clowney, safety Geno Stone, offensive tackle Morgan Moses and linebacker Patrick Queen. However, they also added star running back Derrick Henry, who should partner with Jackson to form the league's most lethal backfield.

Baltimore cannot be considered the favorite in the AFC since Kansas City still reigns supreme until proven otherwise. Additionally, a brutal AFC North will be a huge obstacle between the Ravens and the No. 1 seed.

Three of the Ravens' four regular-season losses last year came against divisional foes. If the rest of the AFC North can stay healthy, Baltimore might not even finish first in the division this season.

Still, the Ravens have all the necessary ingredients for another deep playoff run, including Jackson, Henry, a talent-laden defense and a proven head coach in John Harbaugh. Barring a critical injury, the Ravens should be dangerous playoff threats at worst.

If Baltimore does fall off, it likely won't be by much.

ncG1vNJzZmianJqupLTEq6meqJ%2BnwW%2BvzqZmmqqknrCtsdJoaGlpYWqBdnyMq5ino5mjtG66xaVkrK2gmr9urs6wo2abn6PBprrDnqmsZZGbwaa%2BjJugpaSjYsGzrcOeZKyslZu8r3nDop6gq12pvG7AxLGYp6s%3D