For the fifth time in the Lamar Jackson era with the Baltimore Ravens, the team entered the postseason with sky-high expectations after a scintillating regular season. And for the fifth time in the Lamar Jackson era, the Ravens’ postseason ended much earlier than expected, the latest via a 27-25 Divisional Round loss to the Buffalo Bills.
It came after a 12-5 regular season in which Derrick Henry fit seamlessly into what became the No. 1 total offense, thrusting Jackson into a likely third MVP award. Plus, the defense finally caught up with the offense as the season progressed as no team allowed fewer points per game from Weeks 11-18 than the Ravens. But after another postseason disappointment, one of the stars of that defense knows that changes are coming, and he admits that he could be a part of those changes.
“When I look at it, some guys will be here, some guys won’t—who knows what? I know I’ve got no more years guaranteed on this existing contract, so it’s whatever message you have. You could be on this team. You could be on another team. Some guys will stay, some guys will leave, and I fall into that same bucket. So the message is, ‘We lost. Get over it,’ and we’ll kind of see where the offseason goes.”
Humphrey isn’t necessarily saying that the Ravens franchise as a whole is done and will never reach the Super Bowl, but he is saying the team in its current iteration is finished. As he mentioned, Humphrey–who is coming off a second selection to the All-Pro First Team, as well as his fourth Pro Bowl–has no guaranteed years left, while the Ravens have a number of other free agents without contracts period. Seven Ravens who were at least part-time starters this past season are set to hit free agency this offseason, including fellow Pro Bowlers fullback Patrick Ricard and left tackle Ronnie Stanley.
The 78 victories by the Ravens from Jackson’s rookie season in 2018 through 2024 are the most in a seven-year span without a Super Bowl appearance in NFL history. They’ve come close to reaching The Big Game just once over that stretch as their lone AFC Title Game appearance came following the 2023 season.
The latest loss is especially demoralizing because what had been strengths of Baltimore all year became weaknesses in Buffalo. The Ravens had one or fewer turnovers in 17 of 18 games this season, before then having three giveaways in the Divisional Round. Tight end Mark Andrews had just one lost fumble in his first 111 NFL games but had a crucial one late in the game. Andrews, a four-time Pro Bowler who holds the all-time record for touchdowns (51) in Ravens history, also had two crucial drops after having just four all season.
Perhaps the most damning statistical takeaway from the game is that Baltimore outgained Buffalo, 416-273, averaged more yards per pass attempt, more yards per rush attempt and never punted. The Ravens became the fifth team in postseason history to outgain an opponent by 140 yards and not punt. However, they became the first of those five teams to lose the game.
The 2025 Ravens will certainly look different from the 2024 Ravens, just as the latter looked different from the 2023 Ravens. However, Baltimore has a knack for retaining its players and emphasizing continuity among its roster. Entering this season, the Ravens scored the second-highest, behind only the Chiefs, in terms of continuity of both the roster and coaching staff, from the previous season.
Humphrey also had a strong opinion on the Chiefs, who eliminated Baltimore in the AFC Championship Game after the 2023 season. That thrust Kansas City into the Super Bowl, where it won its second straight, and now the franchise is looking to become the first to ever three-peat in the Super Bowl era. Humphrey hoped that his Ravens would be the ones to prevent that from happening, but now he is, essentially, rooting for whoever is playing Kansas City.
Many fan bases outside the Kansas City Metro–or non-Swifties–likely agree with Humphrey, but history isn’t in favor of the three teams who could dethrone the Chiefs. Josh Allen is 0-3 all-time in the playoffs versus Patrick Mahomes, the Eagles’ loss two years ago in the Super Bowl kicked off Kansas City’s potential run to a three-peat, and the Commanders’ Jayden Daniels would have to do something that no rookie quarterback has ever done–win a Super Bowl.
