With the 2022 postseason officially in the books as Kansas City took down Philadelphia in a very close Super Bowl, I’ve offered a dozen Ravens-related thoughts, each in 50 words or less:
1. Remember picturing the day when Tom Brady and New England no longer ruled over the AFC? Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs wasted no time taking their place. The 2022 season reiterated that Mahomes is the best, and second place — whomever you fancy it being — isn’t particularly close either.
2. How difficult is it to stop Mahomes and Kansas City? Philadelphia’s pass defense ranked first in yards allowed, fourth in yards per attempt allowed, first in sacks, fourth in interceptions, and first in DVOA, but the Chiefs simply ran more and scored 24 points in the second half.
3. Even in defeat, Jalen Hurts put together a performance Ravens fans have long envisioned from Lamar Jackson on that stage. The second-quarter fumble was critical in a tight game, but the Eagles quarterback was otherwise outstanding. Hurts — the quarterback and the human being — could play for my team any day.
4. Acknowledging we’re all craving meaningful updates on Jackson’s contract saga, recent reports about the expectation of the 2019 NFL MVP receiving the franchise tag without a long-term deal and the Ravens potentially considering trade offers from other teams being billed as actual news is silly. Thanks, Captain Obvious.
5. While we’re at it, can we please stop trying to interpret Jackson’s social media posts as though they’re works from the late Edgar Allan Poe? I completely understand the interest and angst, but it’s bordering on embarrassing at this point.
6. Though Eric DeCosta shouldn’t have much difficulty adjusting the contract of Calais Campbell if he wants to keep him, the Ravens are likely going to need to make some tough choices if they want to raise their ceiling. They have significant voids at premium positions and not enough resources.
7. Regardless of the never-ending debate over who calls the plays in Kansas City, Eric Bieniemy becoming Baltimore’s offensive coordinator would be fascinating. However, you’d think there would have to be a high confidence level in Jackson staying put and not holding out indefinitely for Bieniemy to make that lateral move.
8. The Ravens want to talk to Philadelphia quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson, but you wonder if reports that Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen is expected to be hired as the new Indianapolis head coach will lead to Johnson staying put and stepping into that job.
9. Brandon Williams didn’t make the stat sheet, but the 33-year-old played 14 defensive snaps and won his first Super Bowl after nine seasons in Baltimore. The Kansas City defense did a superb job not allowing the Eagles to really get their running game going beyond the legs of Hurts.
10. Two years later, Orlando Brown Jr. and 2021 second-round linebacker Nick Bolton helped Kansas City to a Super Bowl title while Baltimore hasn’t gotten much from Odafe Oweh and Ben Cleveland. Yes, that’s a very simplistic look at the meat of the trade, but Ravens fans aren’t exactly doing cartwheels.
11. The Eagles had the NFL’s consensus best offensive line this season while Kansas City didn’t allow a sack against the vaunted Philadelphia pass rush. The Ravens have other needs on both sides of the ball, but the importance of both team’s lines reinforces that Baltimore is in good shape there.
12. The holding call on James Bradberry reminded how different the end of Super Bowl XLVII could have been had Jimmy Smith been flagged on the contested fourth-down incompletion to Michael Crabtree from the 5-yard line with under two minutes remaining. Regardless of anyone’s opinion, Nick Sirianni offered the appropriate perspective.
