The Ravens are 9-3 and sitting atop the AFC after a 20-10 win over the Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Week 12.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson was 18-32 passing, for 177 yards and one passing touchdown, while also logging 11 carries for 39 yards. Explosive rookie running back Keaton Mitchell led the group with 64 yards on nine carries, while Zay Flowers had two touchdowns and 62 total yards on the night.
The Ravens’ defense was dominant, holding the Chargers to 279 yards of offense on 69 plays.
With Baltimore’s much-needed bye week complete and the team set to return to the Under Armour Performance Center to begin preparation for the Rams, here are the Ravens’ 10 most important players for the season’s final five games.
Lamar Jackson
Jackson is 12th in the NFL with 2,618 passing yards, has 18 total touchdowns on the season, and leads all quarterbacks with 574 yards on the ground.
Jackson is a star and an MVP candidate, and Baltimore needs him to avoid turnovers, and negative plays, while leading the Ravens on a playoff run.
Keaton Mitchell
Gus Edwards is 21st in the NFL with 590 rushing yards, but Mitchell is the most important running back on the roster going down the stretch.
Edwards is explosive, and offers dual-threat capabablities that Baltimore will need to defeat some top notch defenses in the AFC.
Ronnie Stanley
A 2019 All-Pro left tackle, Stanley has struggled in 2023, and he’s the most important player on the roster outside of Lamar Jackson.
Stanley struggled to deal with Los Angeles Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack, who had two sacks and pressured Lamar Jackson throughout the 20-10 Ravens win. . Stanley allowed six quarterback pressures and committed two penalties in the game, prompting Ravens coach John Harbaugh to speak on his inconsistent play.
Isaiah Likely
In the Week 12 win over the Chargers, Likely led the Ravens with 40 receiving yards, and his six targets were the second-most on the team behind Zay Flowers’ eight. The second-year tight end can’t be Mark Andrews, but he offers athleticism, speed and elusiveness that Andrews may lack in certain situations.
Likely is going to be important down the stretch, and it’ll be on OC Todd Monken and Tee Martin to put him in position to excel at yards after the catch.
Odafe Oweh
Oweh is having his best NFL season, and an elite pass rush is the key to any championship.
According to Next Gen Stats, Oweh generated seven pressures and a 35.0% pressure rate to go with one sack in the team’s win over the Bengals in Week 11 and has generated over a 15% pressure rate in six straight games since returning from injury.
Jadeveon Clowney
Clowney like Oweh, has excelled at presuring the quarterback, and his game-wrecking abilities often include a physicality and violence unmatched on this roster.
Clowney recorded three total tackles (two solo), including one sack in Baltimore’s 20-10 win over the Chargers.
The former No. 1 overall pick has now tallied 7.5 sacks through 12 games this year, eclipsing seven sacks in a season for the fourth time in his 10-year NFL career.
Justin Madubuike
After 12 games, Madubuike has logged a career bests 10 sacks, 10 tackles for loss and 21 quarterback hits.
He’s also having a breakout campaign with free agency approaching this spring. Madubuike has been an elite defensive tackle and the Ravens defense will go as he goes.
Kyle Hamilton
A swiss army knife at the safety position, Hamilton can do it all, and Ravens DC Mike MacDonald has to put his star defender in space to make plays.
Kyle Hamilton does it all.
1. Runs through Keenan Allen's face to make TFL (too small celly)
2. Runs step for step (both at 19.6 mph, per @NextGenStats) with speedy WR Jalen Guyton and finds the ball on deep shot breakup
3. Fights off block for another TFL, this time on Allen pic.twitter.com/UGIimrHUoG
— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) November 28, 2023
Brandon Stephens
Marlon Humphrey has missed half of the 12 games Baltimore has played, and the converted safety is the biggest reason for a 9-3 start.
Stephens has set career highs for interceptions (2) and passes defended (9) this season as a starter on a Ravens defense that’s allowed the second-fewest yards (273.9) and points (15.6) per game.
Patrick Queen
Queen recorded seven tackles (five solo), forced a fumble and deflected a pass in Sunday’s 20-10 win over the Chargers.
A 2024 free agent, Queen has registered 102 tackles, including 3.5 sacks, and deflected four passes and forced a fumble through 12 games in 2023.
Justin Tucker
Tucker is no longer the most accurate kicker in NFL history after missing a 44-yard field goal against the Chargers.
He’s still the best in the NFL at what he does, and Baltimore will likely need Tucker’s heroic’s at some point down the stretch, or in the postseason.
