Copyright newsweek
The Baltimore Ravens, who were being picked by plenty of people to win this season’s Super Bowl championship before Week 1, got off to a nightmare start by losing five of their first six games. Even worse, superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson was forced to miss three games due to a hamstring injury. But they could be on the mend right now. Jackson returned to action on Thursday, and he had an excellent game in which he completed 18 of 23 pass attempts and threw four touchdown passes to lead his team to a 28-6 rout of the Miami Dolphins. Baltimore is just 3-5 right now, but there is a feeling that the team may be just starting to get warmed up. Commentator Craig Carton said on his eponymous show that not only could Baltimore win out through the rest of the regular season, but that Jackson will win the NFL MVP award. “When the Ravens run the table, and I think they’re capable of doing it, with a healthy Lamar Jackson. Lamar Jackson will have earned his third MVP. Forget about Josh Allen, forget about Patrick Mahomes. Forget about Indiana Jones. Forget about all of them,” Carton said on his show. “But if you can bring a team from 2-5 to 12-5, or even 11-6, and win your division, you are the MVP of the league. Because you have just proven that ‘without you, we can’t win and with you, we don’t lose.’” MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 30: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens throws a pass during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on October 30, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images) Read more: Rams’ Sean McVay May Have Teased Major Trade is Incoming The Ravens’ defense, which has historically been their strength under head coach John Harbaugh, has been weak for most of this season. But they have now held their opponents to 17 or fewer points and under 100 rushing yards in their last three games. In five games, Jackson has notched 14 touchdown passes against just one interception and has completed 72.9% of his passing attempts. His ground game hasn’t been there this season, but his arm certainly has. He has already won two league MVPs, and he was the runner-up for the award last season when it went to the Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen. Another thing the Ravens have going their way is the play of wide receiver Zay Flowers. In his third pro season, he has continued his ascension with 46 catches for 550 yards, and on Thursday, tight end Isaiah Likely, who had been quiet to that point, notched 60 yards on just three receptions. Read more: NFL Insider Predicts 49ers Will Target Surprising Trade They also have a relatively manageable schedule the rest of the way. Baltimore will not play a team that is currently over .500 until Week 14, when it hosts the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 7. It will then face the surprising New England Patriots two weeks later before closing out the regular season with road games against the Steelers and Green Bay Packers. For more on the Ravens and general NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
