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The jaw-dropping, unprecedented, unbelievable, record-shattering 2019 season just keeps building for the Baltimore Ravens. The song sang by doubters and disbelievers alike seems a distant memory now.
After thumping their division rival — the Pittsburg Steelers — in their regular-season finale, the Ravens have become the first team in NFL history to average at least 200 yards per game in both passing and rushing the ball. This is on top of breaking a 41-year old record for the most rushing yards in a single season.
They didn’t even need several of their starters, including quarterback Lamar Jackson to finish off the stat in the final game. Baltimore rested many of their Pro Bowl contributors on offense including two offensive linemen (Marshal Yanda and Ronnie Stanley), running back Ingram, tight end Mark Andrews and Jackson. Yet, the Ravens still managed to rush for 223 yards in the pouring rain and more than 300 net yards in total.
Baltimore finished the season with 3,225 passing yards (201.56 yards per game) and 3,296 rushing yards (206 yards per game). In addition, they scored a total of 531 points this season, which ranked top of the league as well.
The prophecy, as foretold by head coach John Harbaugh, has come to pass. Whether it’s on the ground or in the air, Baltimore has been able to gash opponents in a true “pick-your-poison” style offense that proved to be one of, if not the hardest to prepare for and defend against.
Few pundits saw this coming but how the tune has changed. The Ravens had the league’s best offense overall and are headed to the playoffs with a first-round bye and home-field advantage to show for it.
This offense has truly changed the game and now it’s in the record books. This team is different. This team is special.
What’s more, they know it. Everyone knows it. And that is a dangerous notion for anyone not wearing purple and black come January.
And that’s music to my ears.
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