The Baltimore Ravens are 2-1, but that number doesn’t really capture how shaky - and how fortunate - September has been.
They’re tied with the rest of the AFC North, since all four teams in the division are also sitting at 2-1. Still, Baltimore could just as easily be staring at a 3-0 start or a 1-2 mark after a month that left plenty to sort through. That’s part of why Cody Williams of FanSided handed the Ravens a C+ for their September work, a grade that makes sense when you zoom out beyond the record.
"While the Baltimore Ravens are 2-1 just like everyone else in the AFC North to start the season, it does feel like there are some reasons to be concerned. Had the Cowboys not shot themselves in the foot in Brazil, this team would either be 1-2 or have an overtime victory over Dallas. But more importantly, the offense is still figuring itself out to a level of consistency, and the defense has given up 23+ points in every game to this point."
That last part is hard to ignore. Baltimore’s defense, even with Jesse Minter calling the shots from a defensive-minded head coach role, has not looked like a unit carrying the team early on.
There’s still time for that to change, and there’s always an adjustment period when a new group is being molded. But through three games, it hasn’t been the strength many expected.
The Cowboys game remains the one that could have gone sideways in a hurry. Dallas handed Baltimore a lifeline with its own mistakes, and without those self-inflicted wounds, the Ravens might be sitting in a much worse spot in the division right now.
Then there was the Saints game, another frustrating night for Baltimore. The Ravens were heavy favorites at home and still didn’t finish the job. That kind of loss is the sort that lingers, especially when a team is trying to build momentum in September.
So the C+ feels about right. A 3-0 start would have painted a very different picture, one that pointed straight toward a run at the AFC North and a cleaner path back to the postseason. Instead, Baltimore is left with questions that still need answers.
The good news is that help may be coming in the schedule. The Ravens get the winless Titans at home next, then head on the road to face the Falcons.
Those are games they have to take care of, because the stretch after that gets much more demanding: back-to-back AFC North matchups against the Browns and Bengals, followed by a road trip to Buffalo and a home game against the Jaguars. It’s a brutal run, and there won’t be much room for wasted chances.
In Other News...
Ravens Got An Encouraging First Look At Lamar Jacksons Blind Side
The Ravens left Brazil with more than a win over the Cowboys. They also got their first extended look at Carson Vinson protecting Lamar Jacksons blind side in a starting role at left tackle, a spot that has been under plenty of scrutiny as Baltimore sorts through its options up front. Vinson showed enough to make the outing noteworthy, handling the assignment with a mix of encouraging moments and the kind of growing pains that come with a first NFL start.
Baltimore also saw other linemen and front-seven pieces make their case. Zion Young showed up in the run game and as a pass-rush presence, flashing the kind of quickness and physicality that suggest there is more to come. Calais Campbell, meanwhile, kept doing what he has done for years, turning in another effective performance in his 19th NFL season and reinforcing the idea that the Ravens still have dependable veteran production in the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Lamar Jacksons New Approach Could Calm Ravens Fans Biggest Fear
Lamar Jacksons message after the Ravens Week 3 win over Dallas landed because it went beyond the usual victory lap. He made a point of praising his teammates and acknowledging the issues Baltimore has had closing out games, a reminder that the new coaching staff under Jesse Minter is trying to reshape more than just the playbook. For a team that has lived with late-game anxiety, the tone from its quarterback mattered almost as much as the result.
Jackson revisited the subject in a later press conference, stressing why the message was important to him and to the room. For Ravens fans, the bigger question is whether the shift in leadership can finally translate into cleaner finishes when the margin gets tight in the fourth quarter. The words were encouraging, but Baltimore still has to prove the habit has changed. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Keep Making One Costly Mistake Contenders Usually Don't
Through the first three weeks of the 2026 season, Baltimore has had the look of a team that can do enough good things to stay in games, only to give away too much of it with the kind of sloppiness contenders usually clean up early. Penalties have piled up, missed tackles have been a recurring problem, and both have shown up in the moments that matter most, especially late in games when the margin gets thin.
Captain Kyle Hamilton and coach Jesse Minter have already acknowledged the issue, which is usually a sign it has moved past the stage of a temporary hiccup. The Ravens have been flagged 26 times and sit near the top of the league in missed tackles, leaving them with a clear fix in front of them but no easy answers yet on how quickly it will show up on Sundays. [Read more 🡒]