Ravens Defense Allows 67% Red-Zone Touchdowns, Franchise-Worst Pace

The Baltimore Ravens defense has allowed a touchdown on 66.7% of opponents' red-zone trips this season. That pace ranks 20th in the NFL but would represent the worst single-season mark in franchise history if it holds. The unit has allowed a touchdown rate above 60% on only two occasions since 1996. Last season, the team finished with a 50.8% rate, placing sixth in the league.

The defensive struggles extend to the secondary. On passes with at least 10 air yards, the Ravens have allowed 12.8 yards per attempt, the fourth-worst figure in the NFL. They have also allowed a deserved-catch rate of 83.3%, which ranks second-worst in the league. Quarterbacks have attempted just 17 deep passes against Baltimore, but connected on nine for 302 yards. Three pass interference flags on those deep shots cost the Ravens 70 total yards in penalties.

The offensive line has failed to protect the short-yardage rushing attack. Running back Derrick Henry is 2-for-9 on late-down, short-yardage runs this season, a 22.2% conversion rate that ranks among the worst in the league according to Sports Info Solutions. Henry was 15-for-24, or 62.5%, on similar attempts last year. He has been hit at or behind the line of scrimmage on 46.9% of his carries this season, up from 40.4% the previous year.

Henry acknowledged the decline in his post-game comments. "I got to be better," he said. "It's not good enough. Terrible. I'm looking at myself. I think every man can look in the mirror, but as far as myself, I can speak on me. It's not good enough at all." He is averaging 3.9 yards per carry, a career low, and has not scored a rushing touchdown since Week 4.

Discipline issues on offense have compounded the problems. The Ravens have committed 38 offensive penalties and 27 presnap penalties, both league-leading totals. This includes 18 false starts and five delay-of-game infractions. The offense has lost approximately 30.5 expected points to penalties, the third-most in the NFL. Center Cam Jurgens noted that these are controllable errors that the team failed to execute properly.

Special teams performance has also regressed under coordinator Anthony Levine Sr. The unit ranks 17th in overall DVOA. Kicker Tyler Loop is 2-for-5 on field goals between 40 and 49 yards, despite being 5-for-5 on attempts of 50 yards or more. The team has recorded only one kickoff return of at least 40 yards and one punt return of at least 20 yards this season.

Coach Jesse Minter stated that the team controls its direction from here. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is expected to return from an ankle injury for the Sunday game against the Buffalo Bills. The Ravens have lost their last three games, including a 35-13 defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.