Is the Ravens adversity their secret weapon?

The Baltimore Ravens have not been in the position they are currently in since the 2021 season. When Lamar Jackson went down with an ankle injury, so did the season.

The team was 8-3 heading into Week 13. Unfortunately, the ankle injury Jackson suffered derailed the season. The Ravens would finish 8-9 and miss the postseason.

Now, the Ravens are 6-7 and are knocking on the door to missing the postseason for the first time since 2021.

Despite their backs being against the wall, the Ravens might find a superpower in their current adversity. Teams can often get complacent, and that complacency can lead to not taking opponents seriously and having a false sense of confidence that every game will be won.

Granted, an overabundance of confidence is not at all a bad thing in the NFL. But believing that any team on Sunday does not have the ability to beat any team is where things get tricky.

The Ravens have not been subjected to much of that, apart from losing to the Cincinnati Bengals on Thanksgiving. The rest of their opponents are all either playoff contenders or close to it, minus the Cleveland Browns.

Even with a tough schedule, Baltimore remains 6-7 on the season. That is also not to mention the fact that Jackson has been hurt throughout most of the regular season.

An early hamstring ailment knocked him out for three games, and knee, toe, and ankle injuries have led to Jackson taking a day off from practice each week since Week 11.

Simply put, the Ravens are experiencing adversity they have not experienced since the 2021 season. 

Plenty of the players have been vocal about that fact, such as Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who spoke about the "must-win" nature of the Steelers game. 

That "must win" led to a second consecutive loss, pushing Baltimore into their current dilemma. 

Now, with a Bengals matchup looming, the "must win" aspect for the team is replaced with "win or miss the playoffs." 

It is this steep adversity that could lead to a resurgence the Ravens have not had to deal with in multiple seasons.

Jackson may be nursing one or multiple injuries, but he continues to find ways to remain dynamic. In fact, his 43 yards and one touchdown on the ground against the Steelers was one of the most impressive rushing displays he has had in weeks.

The Ravens allowing themselves to be in such dire straits is clearly not the route they should have taken, but it provides them with a more unique opportunity. Teams that go into the playoffs as the underdogs are often the ones that surprise everyone.

Take the Washington Commanders, for instance. In 2024, the team had a new head coach in Dan Quinn and a rookie quarterback in Jayden Daniels. 

While their record was not one of underdogs, nobody expected them to shake up the NFC in the manner they did. The Commanders made it all the way to the NFC Championship game in what was supposed to be a "rebuild" year.

The same can be said for the Los Angeles Rams, who started the season 1-4, and clawed their way to the postseason. 

This Ravens team has the makings of a plucky team that may be struggling, but can become a juggernaut down the stretch. 

Adversity breeds opportunity, and that opportunity is right now. Jackson looked healthy, and he played healthy as well.

With a "softer" opponent in the Bengals coming up, the Ravens can start their ascent back to the playoffs with a big win. They will need the Miami Dolphins to take down the Steelers on "Monday Night Football," but there is a big chance that can happen.

If that perfect storm arises, the Ravens will reclaim first place in the AFC North, with three games left to play.

If the Ravens are banking on the desperation of their season to fuel their stretch of wins, that time is now. Safety Kyle Hamilton said of the current season, "We still control our destiny," and likened a comeback to some of the biggest comebacks in sports history.

While the Ravens are not necessarily down 0-3 in a series of seven games, they are facing a reality where one more loss may all but wipe away their postseason hopes. 

Hamilton also said the NFL is no fairytale, and that is correct. No team will take it easy on any other team, and that includes the Bengals, who have nothing to play for.

If adverse conditions are what brew better results, the Ravens must use this uncomfortable and rare situation to provide the fuel needed for them to showcase why they remain an AFC threat.

That starts with Sunday. Dominantly beating the Bengals may silence the critics for a week, but it will be a start in the right direction.