BALTIMORE – On the longest night of the year, the Baltimore Ravens demonstrated to the NFL—and to a prime-time audience—that they are a formidable force to contend with.

And once again, after a rough patch around Thanksgiving, it looks like they could maintain this momentum right through Super Bowl week.

This past Saturday marked the Ravens’ official playoff qualification, coinciding with the winter solstice, after defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 34-17 at M&T Bank Stadium. It was their first home victory over their rival in nearly five years. With this win, Baltimore tied for first place in the AFC North alongside Pittsburgh, although the Steelers still hold a slim edge due to a superior conference record following the teams’ split during the season.

You might expect this would lead to some celebrations, but …

“I was upset until the game concluded,” Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson stated. “I’m still upset. Even after the game is over, I’m still irritated.”

This was the sentiment from the Ravens superstar, who is in contention for his third MVP title, after he threw a rare interception (his fourth of the season) just a minute into the fourth quarter. However, his teammates quickly shifted the momentum back against the Steelers. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey intercepted a Russell Wilson pass just two plays later, returning it 37 yards for a touchdown, which helped secure a 31-17 lead and all but ended the game.

Jackson’s attitude reflects a team that remains focused and hungry for success. The Ravens have won three of their last four games since suffering a loss to Pittsburgh in Week 11 and have shown significant dominance in the two games following their Week 14 bye. They may not currently be viewed as the premier team in the NFL, but they appear to be gaining momentum and peaking just in time for the crucial end of the season.

For those who might have lost track of them amid the spotlight on the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills, here are six compelling reasons why Baltimore deserves consideration as a true Super Bowl contender:

1. Obviously, Lamar Jackson

Yes, he threw an interception that didn’t affect the outcome of the game on Saturday. And he may have slipped in perception compared to Bills QB Josh Allen in the MVP race. But Jackson remains an unmatched talent in the league.

Despite the mistake, he had a stellar performance against the Steelers, completing 15 of 23 passes for 207 yards and three touchdowns. His 37 touchdown passes this season set a new personal and team record.

“Since day one with Lamar, it feels like he’s in the MVP conversation every year,” fullback Patrick Ricard told YSL News Sports.

“That’s just the caliber of player he is.”

In addition to his highlight reel plays, Jackson has shown consistent growth as a passer, making smart decisions under pressure and delivering accurate throws.

“He made clutch throws, particularly against tight coverage,” said head coach John Harbaugh.

“He was exceptional, especially given the pressure. He stood strong and executed.”

2. Committed to the run game

Ravens fans remain frustrated over last year’s AFC championship game where their top-rated run game only attempted 16 rushes (six by running backs). In their previous loss to Pittsburgh five weeks ago, their running game was underutilized (with only 13 touches) in a close 18-16 defeat.

However, against Pittsburgh this time, they rushed 38 times for a total of 220 yards, with Henry contributing a season-high of 162 yards on just 24 carries.

“Gaining those 10-plus yards can really take a toll on defenses, especially in the later quarters. The more success we have, the more it wears down the opponent,” said Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum.

“At this stage of the season, it’s all about sticking with what works. If we’re running effectively, we have to continue doing it, as it opens up many other offensive options.”

Although Jackson didn’t explicitly state keeping Henry engaged was a priority, his influence was undeniable.

“It starts with No. 22,” Harbaugh mentioned, referencing Henry’s jersey number.

“It was a well-executed running game, and Henry is exceptionally tough to bring down—he’s among the best.”

It’s crucial that Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Todd Monken keep this strategy in mind next month, even if the Ravens face a challenging score deficit.

3. The entire offense is contributing

The offensive line put forth an excellent performance on Saturday, with five different players catching passes. Wide receiver Zay Flowers achieved his first 1,000 receiving yards in his career. Pro Bowler Mark Andrews scored his first-ever touchdown against the Steelers in his 11 matches against them, and fellow tight end Isaiah Likely also found the end zone. The distractions from midseason signing Diontae Johnson have been managed effectively.

“We understand our potential when we come to practice focused and ready,” wideout Rashod Bateman said, who caught a 14-yard TD pass against the Steelers. “If we all do our part, we can achieve great things—very great things.”

4. Justin Tucker is finding his groove again

The veteran All-Pro kicker, who has faced the most challenging season in his 13-year career, successfully made all of his kicks (2 field goals and 4 PATs) against the Steelers, including a noteworthy 51-yard field goal just before halftime.

“I don’t feel quite as confident as I did one or two or three weeks back,” Tucker mentioned, as he has notably missed a career-high of 10 kicks so far in 2024.

“However, I’m pleased with how I performed out there.”

It’s interesting to note that the Ravens have eased the veteran’s workload by allowing third-year punter Jordan Stout to handle some kickoff tasks.

5. The defense has returned

A defense that initially seemed like Baltimore’s weak point earlier in the season might now be regaining the strength typically associated with this franchise.

Alongside Humphrey’s crucial pick-six, safety Ar’Darius Washington caused a fumble from Wilson during a 19-yard dash in the second quarter when it looked like the quarterback was on his way to the end zone—at the very least, Wilson would have set up the Steelers just a few yards from the Ravens’ goal line.

“Clearly, we were not playing good football at the start of the season,” Humphrey stated.

“Now, I believe we’re playing more effectively, generating turnovers when we can. If you can manage two turnovers per game, you’re likely to have a lot of success.”

This comment doesn’t even touch on the steady performances from players like linebacker Kyle Van Noy, who hit double-digit sacks for the first time in his 11-year NFL career on Saturday, or third-year linebacker David Ojabo, who pressured Wilson just before Humphrey’s turnover—this 2022 second-round draft pick is finally making a mark after an injury-plagued career.

“The expectations are extremely high, and I feel like – without a doubt – we lowered our standards earlier on,” Humphrey added.

“Thus, the adjustment was rather straightforward – it’s just that now all 11 players are doing their jobs, and that has led to our success.”

6. Confidence

The Ravens are set to play again on Wednesday, Christmas Day, in Houston before taking a break. However, it’s evident that this team is starting to reclaim its confidence.

“We’re moving in the right direction, and we just need to maintain this momentum – it’s like a snowball effect,” Linderbaum remarked. “We need to trust each other, our process, and our coaches, and continue to build on this.”

The Steelers seem to have a tougher schedule coming up, facing crucial games against the Chiefs and the currently struggling Cincinnati Bengals. The Ravens will host the Cleveland Browns in Week 18, which they should win if necessary, possibly turning that game into a de facto bye week depending on the circumstances – all this before their post-Christmas break.

In any case, Baltimore is brimming with talent, is explosive, on the rise, and paying attention to the details that could significantly affect their chances of a successful Super Bowl run, even though the Chiefs and Bills currently seem to be the favorites in the AFC.

“It’s all about us concentrating on the small details that have been holding us back—penalties, turnovers, and missed blocking assignments,” Ricard explained.

“If we can manage those issues, we know we can effectively move the ball and score points.”

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