For most Ravens fans, 2019 is the season (in recent history) that made Ravens fans imagine "what could have been". One of the higher scoring offenses in NFL history. An offense that set a record in rushing yards. An offense led by a unanimous MVP that simply seemed unstoppable at times......until they got stopped. There are Ravens fans that STILL look back at this season in disappointment. Whereas that was a terrible season, the biggest "what if" season for me will be this season. The 2021 Ravens left this Ravens fans wondering what could have been, if not for injuries. The 2021 Baltimore Ravens offense, specifically QB Lamar Jackson, did everything people said he needed to do to improve, but unfortunately it was done in the middle of setback after setback after setback. Let's review what I'm talking about. The three most common things that were said were that the Ravens needed to develop the passing game, needed to prove they could come from behind when down double digits, and beat the Chiefs. Well, in week 2 they beat the Chiefs. It was a close game, and for whatever reason many try to discredit the win because they believe it's not fair to allow a Ravens defender to force a fumble late in the game, but nonetheless, they beat the Chiefs. They also proved they could come from behind. They were down 11 in the 4th quarter to the Chiefs and they were down 18 with a minute left in the 3rd quarter against Indy in a game where Jackson set the record for highest completion percentage EVER for anyone throwing 40+ times and/or 400+ yards. Jackson was also leading the league in a stat I just learned a week ago is apparently important (/sarcasm). Intended air yards. The Ravens were throwing deep often and succeeding enough to make a difference. At times this team seemed like they couldn't lose. Going into week 12, QB Lamar Jackson, TE Mark Andrews, and WR Hollywood Brown had the Ravens sitting in first place in the AFC. Why did I specifically mention those three? Because everyone else was injured. Clearly not literally everyone else as they didn't play 3 v 22 every game, but every notable star on the team either missed those whole season or multiple games due to injury. JK Dobbins, Gus Edwards, Marcus Peters, Derek Wolfe, and LJ Forte missed the entire season. These players would have had big roles on the team. If the injuries ended here it may not have been as bad. Ronnie Stanley, 16 games missed and played 1 game still injured from last season. Rashod Bateman, Sammy Watkins, Marlon Humphrey, Jimmy Smith, Nick Boyle, Tyre Phillips, Ben Cleveland, Chris Westry, Deshon Elliott, Daelin Hayes all missed substantial time. I mention these players because they were either starters or backups to starters that were on IR. Then the final straw, QB Lamar Jackson missed the last 5 and a half games after suffering an ankle injury (while throwing in the pocket). Prior to Lamar's injury, the Ravens weathered this storm to an 8-3 record in the driver's seat for the playoffs, but losing Jackson was the straw that broke the camels back. This season makes me wonder what could have been if we had Dobbins and Edwards at RB (or just one of them) over having to pick the NFL RB scraps and play Latavious Murray, Devonta Freeman, and the corpse of Leveon Bell. I wonder what could have been if a healthy Ronnie Stanley was at LT over the on and off turnstile of Alejandro Villanueva. What could have been if Marcus Peters was starting late in the season over **checks notes** our 9th string CB, the great Kevon Seymour. But there is a ray of sunshine. The Ravens led the AFC with all these injuries until Jackson went down. Well, with an entire offseason to heal, Jackson will be back, and he won't be alone. Dobbins will be back, Edwards will be back, Peters will be back, Humphrey will be back. Stanley will, hopefully, be back. The 2022 Ravens will get all of these good to great players back, plus more reinforcements in the draft (look out for Sauce Gardner or David Ojabo also joining the Ravens. Adding Gardner to Humphrey and Peters, or adding Ojabo to Oweh and Bowser will make a difference in defending the pass next season. The offense will get a slightly more experience Rashod Bateman while getting it's QB1, RB1, and RB2 back. And I definitely expect a much improved o-line to protect Lamar. The Ravens revenge tour begins in 7 months. It'll be a lot of fun for Ravens fans, but a lot less fun for their opponents. In the words of Bart Scott, I can't wait!
It always stinks to see potential unrealized, for any reason. There's a lot of promise for the 2022 season as far as the Ravens go.
