The Ravens are heading into 2026 with a lot of fresh energy, and just as much pressure.
For the first time in 18 seasons, Baltimore will be on the field with a new coach, a shift that brings both uncertainty and intrigue. Lamar Jackson is also set to work with a new head coach in Jesse Minter and a new offensive coordinator in Declan Doyle, giving the offense a very different look as the Ravens try to get back to the Super Bowl.
That kind of overhaul is exactly why Ben Solak of ESPN slotted Baltimore at No. 11 on his list of the NFL’s most entertaining teams to watch on Sundays. And in his breakdown, he pointed to one ugly trend the Ravens have to clean up.
Solak noted that Jackson has never worked with an offensive coordinator quite like Declan Doyle. Greg Roman and Todd Monken, in his view, both did solid work with Jackson, but neither fully solved the challenge of building a modern passing attack around him. Doyle, who comes from Sean Payton’s coaching tree and spent a year under Ben Johnson, could be the guy who pushes things forward.
Still, the biggest issue in Baltimore has nothing to do with creativity. It’s about finishing games.
As Solak wrote, "John Harbaugh's Ravens built a bad habit of surrendering fourth-quarter leads in agonizing fashion."
He added: "Over the past five seasons, Baltimore has lost eight games in which it had a win probability of at least 90% at some point; the next-closest team has six," he adds. "Late-game collapses can be watchable when they're not so tiresome, but the Ravens crossed that line a while ago."
So yes, Baltimore should be one of the league’s more compelling teams this season. But if the Ravens keep finding ways to let games slip away late, that storyline is going to overshadow everything else in a hurry.
In Other News...
Ravens Preseason Finale Raised One Roster Debate Fans Cant Ignore
The Ravens preseason finale against Washington gave Baltimore a little something to chew on as camp winds down, with a few fringe players doing their best to force the coaching staffs hand. Adam Randall made the most of his chances on the ground, Joe Fagnano showed up with a passing performance that stood out, and the offense under coordinator Declan Doyle looked far more organized than it had earlier in the summer.
Not every evaluation went the same way, though, and that is where the real roster tension comes in. Tyler Loop had a rough outing as the kicking battle keeps hanging around, while wide receiver Elijah Sarratt did not do enough to separate himself in a crowded group. With the roster decisions now looming, the game left Baltimore with a clearer picture in some spots and at least one debate fans will keep watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Suddenly Have A Kicking Problem They Can't Ignore
The Ravens wrapped up a perfect preseason with a convincing win over Washington, and most of the attention went to the backups and practice-squad players who carried the workload. Rookie quarterback Joe Fagnano also gave the coaching staff something to think about, showing poise and efficiency as a steady option behind the starters.
Still, the biggest concern coming out of August has nothing to do with the offense or the depth chart. Tyler Loops struggles on both field goals and kickoffs have created a problem Baltimore cant simply brush aside, and with the regular season approaching, the team may need to look outside the building for a more experienced answer at kicker. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Blowout Could Not Silence One Week 1 Concern
The Ravens 41-3 preseason win over Washington gave Jesse Minter a clean first impression, and the head coach leaned into the bigger picture afterward, stressing identity and standards more than the scoreboard. Baltimore looked sharp in all three phases, but even a lopsided victory can still leave a coaching staff with a few items to sort through before the games start counting.
One of those reminders came from Tyler Loop, who missed two field goals and turned a comfortable night into a small but noticeable question mark. Loop said he remained confident, and the Ravens have bigger roster business ahead as they move toward final cuts and start shaping the 53-man group, but kicking is the kind of detail that tends to linger when the margins get tighter. [Read more 🡒]