Four weeks into the 2025 NFL season, the Baltimore Ravens are 1-3 and have not looked like the Super Bowl contender many thought they would be. The defense has given up big plays, the offensive line is struggling, and running back Derrick Henry has not had the start that fans expected.
The Ravens defense has struggled badly through their first four games. They are allowing about 415 yards per game and 32 points per game. In Week 1, Baltimore blew a 40-25 fourth-quarter lead and lost 41-40 at Buffalo.
Ben Dominakus ‘27 has been disappointed with the Ravens’ defense this season.
“I thought the defense was supposed to be one of the best in the league, but they can’t get a stop when it matters. It’s frustrating because that’s not the kind of football Baltimore is known for,” Dominakus said.
In Week 3 against Detroit, the Ravens defense allowed 224 rushing yards and failed to record a sack or a takeaway.
Eric Arditti, a Barstool Sports writer who covers Baltimore, voiced his disappointment with the Ravens defense so far, especially with the expectations that fans have for the team.
“This defense was supposed to be one of the league’s best, and right now it’s getting shredded. They just can’t get a stop when it counts, no matter who they’re up against. Giving up those long drives and big leads, that’s not Ravens football. It’s been ugly to watch, and it has to get fixed fast,” Arditti said.
Pass protection has been another issue. Lamar Jackson was sacked seven times in the loss to Detroit. Jackson also left the Week 4 game at Kansas City with a hamstring issue after steady pressure. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley suffered an ankle injury the same day.
John Ktistakis ‘27 has noticed the battering the Ravens have taken this season.
“They’ve been getting bullied up front, and Lamar can’t do much when he’s pressured every snap. If they don’t figure out that line, this season could get ugly fast,” Ktistakis said.
Arditti said that Lamar has not done much this season when he has defenders right in his face as soon as he drops back.
“The O-line has been downright awful at times. They’ve got to do a better job protecting the franchise [quarterback],” Arditti said.
Derrick Henry was brought in to anchor the run game. He opened with 169 rushing yards and two touchdowns in Week 1. Since then, defenses have held him under 50 rushing yards in each game. Henry has also fumbled three times in four weeks.
The Baltimore Sun reported that Henry’s fourth-quarter fumble against Detroit shifted the momentum to the Lions.
“He’s a great back, but he’s got to hang on to the ball. It’s that simple. They didn’t bring Henry in to give them 40 yards a week. They need him to be the closer for this offense, especially when they’re trying to protect a lead, but first he has to earn that trust back,” Arditti said.
Even with the rough start, the AFC North remains tight. Pittsburgh leads at 3-1, while Baltimore sits at 1-3 with plenty of division games left.
“Luckily for the Ravens, the rest of the AFC North is a mess too. No one’s running away with it. If they can get their act together, they’re not out of it by any means,” Arditti said.
Head Coach John Harbaugh has urged the team to stay steady and cut down on mistakes. He pointed to last year, when a slow start turned into a 12-5 finish.
“Harbaugh is telling them it’s a marathon, not a sprint. They’ve done it before, so there’s no excuse not to do it again. This is gut-check time for the Ravens. They can still turn it around, but they can’t afford any more slip-ups if they plan to be playing in January,” Arditti said.
The Ravens continue their season on Sunday, Oct. 5, with a home game against the Houston Texans. A win in Sunday’s game is critical for the Ravens if they want to make a push back to the top of their division.