BALTIMORE — After most video games at M&T Financial institution Stadium, followers collect above the steps that result in the Baltimore Ravens’ house locker room. That is the place the place coach John Harbaugh has celebrated lots of his best victories by slapping palms with supporters and waving to them in jubilation.
Earlier this month, Harbaugh walked off the sphere following a 44-10 loss to the Houston Texans and heard a refrain of boos, which served as a reminder of how a season loaded with expectations had unraveled so unexpectedly.
WATCH: Ravens finish painful 44-10 loss to Texans as John Harbaugh hears boos off the sphere. pic.twitter.com/5y2LJxabKg
— Morgan Adsit (@MorganAdsit) October 5, 2025
“When individuals look again and say, ‘Hey, when issues have been the hardest, when issues seemed the worst, how did you deal with it?'” Harbaugh just lately mentioned. “I am on the lookout for individuals to return out combating and provides their finest in these sorts of conditions. That is what you must do. If you do this, you come out the opposite finish.”
Only one% of groups in NFL historical past have began 1-5 or worse and rebounded to make the playoffs — though ESPN Analytics offers the Ravens a 43.2% probability of profitable the wide-open AFC North. With QB Tyler Huntley filling in for injured Lamar Jackson, Baltimore took a step towards a turnaround with a 30-16 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday. These contained in the group imagine this Ravens staff can defy these difficult odds due to Jackson’s impending return, bettering well being, a good schedule and Harbaugh’s management.
When Baltimore performs on the Miami Dolphins on Thursday evening (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video), the Ravens can show to the soccer world that they are able to a historic run.
The Ravens (2-5) are satisfied they will rebound from probably the most tumultuous begins in franchise historical past, which has been outlined by a fourth-quarter collapse in Buffalo, some humbling blowout losses and a violation of the NFL’s damage report coverage involving Jackson.
Throughout coaching camp, Harbaugh was requested if this season was Tremendous Bowl or bust. Now, regardless of the season not being midway over, the query is whether or not Baltimore can attain the postseason in any respect.
“I really feel like stepping into this place — and we’ve not actually been on this place [before] — it is easy to form of put your head down and mail it in,” Ravens security Kyle Hamilton mentioned. “However we nonetheless really feel like we’re proficient sufficient to make the playoffs [and] make some magic once we do.”
Ron Rivera, the coach of the final staff to begin 1-5 and make the postseason, can see the Ravens following the footsteps of his 2020 Washington Soccer Workforce.
“There’s sufficient guys on that staff with veteran expertise and veteran pleasure that, in the event that they get a bit of momentum, they are often harmful,” Rivera mentioned. “They actually can due to who they’re. They are a bodily soccer staff. And enjoying that model, you may put on individuals down, particularly as you begin getting later into the season.”
LAST WEEK, RAVENS exterior linebacker Kyle Van Noy was requested how a lot of a spark the return of Jackson would deliver.
Van Noy paused, tilted his head and raised his proper eyebrow.
“Do I even reply that query?,” Van Noy replied. “I believe the reply to that, it is virtually disrespectful to him.”
The Ravens anticipate Jackson, who has missed the final three video games with a proper hamstring damage, to begin Thursday at Miami.
The 2-time Most Beneficial Participant is among the many league’s greatest X elements. Since Jackson turned Baltimore’s beginning quarterback halfway via the 2018 season, the Ravens are 74-32 (.698) with Jackson and 5-12 (.294) with out him.
Jackson emphatically nodded his head when he was requested whether or not it should really feel like playoff time for the remainder of the season.
“Coach [John Harbaugh] touched on that with us in a staff assembly: Every sport going to be like a win-or-go-home sport,” Jackson mentioned. “It is the primary season ever beginning off this sluggish. It is do-or-die proper now, every week.”
Earlier than injuring his hamstring Sept. 28, Jackson once more was enjoying at an MVP stage. He led the NFL with a 130.5 passer score, throwing 10 touchdowns and one interception.
That is the time of the season when Jackson has spearheaded many sizzling streaks. Jackson has a 39-10 profession report (.795) after Week 9, with 110 complete touchdowns and 24 interceptions.
In his first season with the Ravens, Jackson took over a 4-5 staff and received six of seven video games to steer Baltimore to the AFC North title. Final season, the Ravens trailed the division-leading Steelers by two video games in Week 14 earlier than Jackson guided Baltimore to 4 straight victories to seize the AFC North once more.
“I really feel like we all the time have an opportunity to make one thing occur,” Jackson mentioned. “And we nonetheless do.”
“He’s essentially the most electrical participant within the sport,” tight finish Charlie Kolar mentioned. “So clearly we’re excited to get him again.”
Because the Ravens drafted Jackson with the final choose within the first spherical of the 2018 draft, the one season they have not reached the playoffs was 2021, when he was sidelined for the final 4 video games with an ankle damage. Jackson has received 4 AFC North titles within the 5 common seasons he has completed.
IN 2018, THE Indianapolis Colts have been so banged up in Week 5 that they could not replenish the game-day roster. Indianapolis had eight injured gamers and solely seven spots on the inactive record.
After a 1-5 begin, the Colts started to get more healthy and received 9 of their final 10 video games to clinch a wild-card berth.
Because the first NFL postseason in 1933, solely 4 of 358 groups — which quantities to 1.1% — made the playoffs after beginning 1-5 or worse, based on ESPN Analysis. These groups have been the 2018 Colts, together with the 1970 Cincinnati Bengals, the 2015 Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and the 2020 Washington Soccer Workforce.
“As soon as everyone purchased in, that is when every thing began rolling,” Colts defensive deal with Grover Stewart mentioned this month of these 2018 Colts. “It simply felt totally different. You would inform the entire vitality within the locker room was simply loopy. We felt like we have been the baddest once we went on the market “
In 2020, the turning level for the Washington Soccer Workforce was the return of quarterback Alex Smith. After overcoming a compound leg fracture that nearly price him his proper leg, Smith helped the staff seize the NFC East by profitable 5 of six begins.
“I believe the fellows fed off of his vitality, his toughness, his wish to be on the market and play,” Rivera mentioned. “I believed that was a very large deal for us.”
The Ravens can relate to the Colts and the Washington Soccer Workforce. In that 34-point loss to the Texans on Oct. 5, Baltimore was with out its six highest-paid gamers due to accidents: Jackson, Hamilton, defensive deal with Nnamdi Madubuike, offensive deal with Ronnie Stanley, cornerback Marlon Humphrey and center linebacker Roquan Smith.
Now, the Ravens ought to have everybody again from damage in opposition to Miami apart from Madubuike, who’s out for the season with a severe neck damage. Baltimore hasn’t been this wholesome for the reason that begin of the season.
“I really feel like we’re all rejuvenated, so it was very helpful for everybody [to get] extra wholesome,” Roquan Smith mentioned. “Everyone knows who we’re and who we have to be, play in and play out and sport in and sport out.”
HARBAUGH SMILED WHEN he was requested whether or not he took day out of his bye week to calculate what number of wins the Ravens must make the playoffs.
“It is not that arduous to determine,” Harbaugh mentioned. “It is fairly basic math. I haven’t got to suppose that lengthy about it, to be sincere with you.”
Harbaugh did not specify a precise win complete, however the goal is probably going 10 victories. Because the present playoff format began in 2020, 10-win groups made the postseason 88% of the time whereas solely 40% of nine-win groups earned berths. For Baltimore to get to 10 victories, the Ravens might want to win eight of their subsequent 10 video games.
The Ravens profit from a a lot simpler schedule going ahead. Baltimore’s first seven video games have been ranked the second hardest within the league, based on ESPN Analytics.
Over the ultimate 10 video games, the Ravens’ energy of schedule is twenty fourth within the NFL. ESPN Analytics has Baltimore favored in its subsequent eight video games: at Miami, at Minnesota, at Cleveland, vs. New York Jets, vs. Cincinnati, vs. Pittsburgh, at Cincinnati and vs. New England. ESPN BET lists their over/below as 8.5 wins.
“Everyone can say what they need about our schedule being powerful or this and that or no matter, however at a sure level, we’ll should beat these groups anyway within the playoffs,” Hamilton mentioned. “So, I do not actually like that excuse. I believe we should always exit and win each sport that we play. For it to be a scheduling factor or the schedule quote-unquote ‘lightens up’ later … I do not actually like that perspective in any respect as a result of everyone on this league is sweet.”
Baltimore at present trails Pittsburgh (4-3) by two video games, however the AFC North title is basically a coin flip at this level. In response to ESPN Analytics, the Steelers’ probabilities of profitable the division are 46.9% and the Ravens’ chances are high 43.2%.
Excluding the 2 head-to-head matchups between Baltimore and Pittsburgh, the Ravens’ remaining opponents have a mixed report of 25-36-1 (.414) and the Steelers’ remaining opponents have a mixed mark of 33-28 (.540).
The gamers say the mantra coming off final week’s bye is: “New season, new us.” However Hamilton would not totally purchase into that.
“It is form of a double-edged sword, since you wish to [be] forward-thinking and go 1-0, however within the grand scheme of issues, we’re 2-5,” Hamilton mentioned. “When you would’ve informed me in Week 8 we would be rejoicing a few win to get to 2-5, I might be like, ‘That is B.S. You are mendacity. It could not be doable,’ however right here we’re. So, we now have to acknowledge the place we’re at, however I like the outlook. It places stress on us, which I believe we will ship on.”
THE RAVENS HAD simply began coaching camp in late July when Harbaugh obtained an sudden textual content. He checked out his cellphone to see a message from Huntley, a free agent on the time, who needed to see whether or not he may return to Baltimore. Huntley was with the Ravens from 2020 to 2023.
Harbaugh referred to as Huntley instantly.
“You are in these battles and fights collectively, and the relationships are constructed and so they do final endlessly,” Harbaugh later mentioned. “You all the time have these moments that dwell on. And so, when somebody calls you or texts, you discuss — you are proper again in that second.”
Huntley ultimately signed with the Cleveland Browns for a 19-day stint earlier than becoming a member of Baltimore on Aug. 27. Then, two months later, Huntley stepped in for Jackson on Sunday to assist the Ravens win their first sport in 42 days.
When gamers are requested about Harbaugh’s strengths, they usually deliver up his communication.
Final week, Harbaugh moved from his traditional spot the place he watches particular groups observe and spoke at size to cornerback Jaire Alexander. Throughout the closing minutes of Sunday’s sport, Harbaugh walked as much as Smith and gave him a hug because the Ravens beat the Bears, Smith’s former staff.
“He is among the finest coaches within the league for a motive,” heart Tyler Linderbaum mentioned.
Within the midst of his 18th season, Harbaugh is at present the NFL’s second-longest-tenured coach behind Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin, who was employed one yr earlier. Underneath Harbaugh, the Ravens have loved their best success, with a Tremendous Bowl triumph in 2012 and a dozen playoff berths.
However, as gamers and coaches have acknowledged, this rocky begin has examined everybody. Within the second half of a 17-3 loss to the Rams on Oct. 12, a chant of “Hearth Harbaugh” may very well be faintly heard.
As a substitute of being upset, Harbaugh is targeted on the battle it’s going to take for his staff to tug off probably the most difficult comebacks in NFL historical past.
“I understand how a lot [fans] care and the way a lot they need us to be nice — and even once they’re annoyed, and even when they are saying issues which can be hurtful — it is OK, as a result of that is our job,” Harbaugh mentioned. “It is also going to be nice — it should be great — when issues are rolling once more, and so they can take pleasure in it like they’re alleged to, and that is why we’re working so arduous to get it the place it must be.”