The Baltimore Ravens are climbing their way back into playoff contention — and the NFL power rankings are starting to reflect it. After a 27-19 road win over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 10, the Ravens extended their winning streak to three games and earned praise from national analysts who say Baltimore looks more balanced and dangerous than it has all season.
Across multiple outlets, the Ravens landed comfortably in the top half of the league, with rankings ranging from No. 10 to No. 19. Their surge has been fueled by a dominant defense, a healthier Lamar Jackson, and the kind of late-season rally that could turn them into legitimate AFC North contenders once again.
Ravens Defense and Lamar Jackson Spark Midseason Rally
Baltimore’s defense has taken center stage during the team’s recent hot streak. According to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, a key shift came when the Ravens moved safety Kyle Hamilton closer to the line of scrimmage in Week 6. “Since Baltimore moved Hamilton closer to the line of scrimmage, the Ravens have been one of the best defenses in the league,” Hensley wrote. “Baltimore has given up an average of 14.5 points over the past four games, which ranks third best in the NFL in that span.”
That defensive turnaround has given Jackson and the offense room to breathe. NFL.com’s Eric Edholm credited the defense for stabilizing the team when the offense wasn’t firing on all cylinders. “The past four games have been a remarkable improvement,” he wrote. “That unit helped pick up Lamar Jackson and Co. when the offense was stalling in the red zone. It’s nice to know the Ravens don’t need to be perfect offensively.”
Offensively, the Ravens are leaning into balance. Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr ranked them 10th, the team’s highest spot of the week, and said their growth on both sides of the ball has been impressive. “Over the last two weeks, the Ravens are eighth in offensive efficiency and sixth in total defense,” Orr wrote. “This Baltimore team is a runaway train and didn’t really need to get into its offense in a win over Minnesota.”
Baltimore Moves Into AFC North Contention
With a favorable schedule ahead — including matchups against the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, and Cincinnati Bengals — the Ravens are positioned to make a serious push toward the AFC North crown. Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski noted that the Ravens’ midseason surge could shake up the division standings. “The Ravens have built a three-game winning streak since their bye,” Sobleski said. “Considering Baltimore’s upcoming schedule, it could overtake Pittsburgh before the two teams meet in Week 14.”
The Ringer’s Diante Lee echoed that sentiment but cautioned the team against complacency. “The only problem: In games against inferior opponents, the Ravens typically lose their focus and play down to the level of the competition,” Lee said. “If this rally toward the playoffs is real, we’d better see some blowouts through the rest of November.”
Meanwhile, Yahoo Sports’ Frank Schwab argued that the Ravens’ record doesn’t tell the full story. “The Ravens are just 4-5 but realistically should be in the top 10 of these rankings,” Schwab wrote. “It would be a shock if the Ravens don’t win the AFC North, perhaps by multiple games.”
Veteran running back Derrick Henry has also been a stabilizing force since joining the team, averaging more than 100 yards from scrimmage per game over the last two weeks, according to USA Today’s Nate Davis. “Another encouraging sign for a team quickly picking up steam,” Davis said.
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