With the Baltimore Ravens' offseason plans in the spotlight after their AFC Championship loss to the Chiefs, this loss will be hard to ignore. For the first time in franchise history, the Ravens had the opportunity to host the AFC Championship Game.
That should have been enough to get over the hump. Unfortunately, that was not to be the case, as they wasted a golden opportunity to reach the Super Bowl.
Where do the Ravens go after losing the AFC Championship game?
If we were to do a full review of the Ravens' season, the 2023 campaign would be nothing but a waste. They have won their first division title since 2019 and earned the top seed in the AFC. The Ravens also have solid wins over the Lions, 49ers, and Dolphins, proving themselves against quality teams. Unfortunately, losing to the Chiefs will hurt for a long time, and here's why.
Lamar Jackson case
Unlike last season, Lamar Jackson's future in Baltimore is secure. His five-year, $260 million contract ensures he will be with the Ravens moving forward. Jackson is also poised to win his second MVP award and has certainly taken a step forward this season. That should encourage the Ravens regarding Jackson's ability to get them back to the AFC Championship and eventually the Super Bowl.
However, Jackson's record in the playoffs is now 2-4, as the loss to Kansas City failed to change the narrative that he can be at his best in big games. Equally concerning is that the contract he signed in April will begin to eat up a significant portion of Baltimore's payroll. There's no denying that Jackson has proven himself worthy. But Jackson's salary could prevent the Ravens from building a championship-caliber roster around him.
NFC North
Despite claiming the division title in 2023, the level of difficulty within the AFC North will in no way decrease. If the Bengals can keep Joe Burrow healthy, they will likely be among the best teams in the AFC in the coming years. Meanwhile, the Browns and Steelers both reached the playoffs in 2023 despite shuffling their quarterbacks all season for one reason or another.
Winning the AFC North title again will be difficult, to say the least. It will be much more difficult for Baltimore to get the No. 1 seed in the AFC, which makes it even more apparent that the Ravens missed a golden opportunity this season.
The team is at the top
Even if the Ravens can still make it through the AFC North, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are still lurking as the team to beat in the AFC. Baltimore is just 1-3 against the Chiefs since Jackson became the starting quarterback. The Ravens appear to have jumped on the Chiefs this season. Baltimore earned the top seed as Kansas City looked vulnerable at times.
As a result, the Ravens were able to host the AFC Championship Game, an opportunity that may not happen again anytime soon with the way the Chiefs have dominated the AFC in recent years.
Keep the band together
And while Jackson remains the centerpiece, Baltimore has some work to do before the 2024 season. The Ravens risk losing two starting offensive linemen and six defensive starters to free agency, including Patrick Queen. Running backs JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards and veteran receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor are also among Baltimore's outgoing free agents.
Even with the emergence of rookie Zay Flowers, the Ravens face serious questions about who will be the playmaker around Jackson in 2024 and beyond. This part of the roster will need to rebuild this offseason while at the same time the Ravens try to maintain a top-tier defense.
Doing both will be a challenge with just over $11 million in cap space heading into the offseason. Although it can be done, Baltimore's 2023 roster will likely be in a better position to win the Super Bowl than the 2024 roster. It's just another reason why the Ravens will likely look at losing the AFC Championship Game to the Chiefs as a golden opportunity they missed.
