3. Embracing analytics has been the Ravens’ biggest friend

The Ravens have become every analysts’ favorite team in 2019, as they’ve created an analytics branch of their front office to help them better play the odds. This season, it has worked out for Baltimore as they continue to do things previously thought to be gutsy calls. Except, with the analytics team, it’s turned out to be the correct call most of the time.

One such gutsy call has been being aggressive on offense. The Ravens have chosen to keep the offense on the field and go for it almost every time they run into a fourth-down situation, instead of going for the more conventional option of trusting Sam Koch to pin the opponent back, or that Justin Tucker can kick a field goal so long as the Ravens get to the opponent’s 35-yard line.

Admittedly, it’s easy to maintain this aggressive attitude when Jackson and Mark Ingram are almost effortlessly running over opponents in blowouts. However, it’s a far tougher call when they’re in close games and facing top defenses. Against San Francisco — who made Baltimore fight for every yard they got — coach Harbaugh showed a lot of faith in his offense and quarterback to get the job done.

On a 4th-and-1 on the Ravens’ own 44-yard line with 4:39 left in a tied game, Harbaugh kept his offense on the field and trusted the analytics. His faith was rewarded when Jackson was able to run for the first down and that drive ended with a game-winning field goal.