Tag Archives: inconsistent

Baltimore Ravens Show Signs of Life in New Power Rankings Despite 1-5 Start

Baltimore Ravens Climb in Power Rankings Despite 1-5 Start

The Baltimore Ravens may be 1-5, but experts believe their season isn’t over yet. Despite a four-game losing streak and Lamar Jackson’s injury, the team made a surprising leap in Pro Football Focus’ (PFF) latest power rankings, jumping from No. 25 to No. 7.

According to PFF, the Ravens’ overall potential remains strong even amid injuries and inconsistent play. The site’s rankings factor in player grades, past team performance, and strength of schedule. Currently, PFF gives Baltimore a 39% chance to make the playoffs and a 3% chance to win the Super Bowl.

“As bad as things are in Baltimore, it’s hard to put a real microscope on this team given the injuries,” PFF noted. “The only way that’s going to happen is through a wild-card berth, but it also doesn’t happen until Lamar Jackson is back and healthy.”

Lamar Jackson’s Injury and Expected Return

Jackson has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury but is expected to return after the Ravens’ Week 7 bye. His absence has been felt, as the offense has scored only 13 total points in two games without him.

Head coach John Harbaugh told reporters earlier this week that Jackson’s recovery is “right on track” and that the team is optimistic he’ll be available in Week 8. “We’ve been smart with his timeline,” Harbaugh said. “When he’s back, we expect to get back to playing our brand of football.”

Experts Still Believe in the Ravens’ Potential

While PFF ranked the Ravens surprisingly high, other outlets have been more cautious. Most national media have Baltimore ranked between No. 19 and No. 25 entering Week 7.

NFL.com placed the Ravens at No. 23, writing: “Lamar Jackson is on track to be back after this week’s bye. Now, the bad: the Ravens are 1-5, with six more road games, and they probably need to go 9-2 or better to make the postseason. But Sunday offered a glimmer of hope that things could be better.”

The Ringer also noted the Ravens’ cautious optimism with Jackson’s recovery, saying: “Once he returns, this 1-5 team has to immediately be at its absolute best if it wants to make up the ground it has lost.”

Other outlets, including ESPN, CBS Sports, and Sports Illustrated, pointed to injuries and offensive inconsistency as major challenges. ESPN wrote, “The Ravens can’t win without Lamar Jackson,” while FOX Sports called backup quarterback Cooper Rush’s two starts “a disaster.”

Despite those critiques, analysts agree that Baltimore’s defense showed improvement in Week 6 against the Los Angeles Rams. The unit held Los Angeles to just 17 points and showed flashes of the physicality that once defined the franchise.

The Baltimore Ravens Have a Chance to Hit Reset

The Ravens head into their bye week hoping to regroup before a critical stretch of games. When play resumes, Baltimore will face the Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, and Cleveland Browns — all teams hovering around the .500 mark.

If Jackson returns healthy and the offense regains its rhythm, Baltimore could still climb back into wild-card contention. The Ravens’ resilience is one reason many experts are not ready to count them out just yet.

As Harbaugh summed it up, “We’ve got a lot of football left. Our record doesn’t define what kind of team we can be.”

https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/baltimore-ravens/baltimore-ravens-power-rankings-week-7/

Commanders Insider Makes Feelings Clear on What Treylon Burks Signing Really Means

The Washington Commanders are running low on healthy wide receivers heading into their Week 7 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. The team will be without Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel, their two top receivers, while Noah Brown remains on injured reserve.

### Commanders Thin at Wide Receiver Ahead of Cowboys Game

This leaves just four active receivers on the roster: Luke McCaffrey, Chris Moore, Jaylin Lane, and Robbie Chosen. It’s far from an ideal situation as the Commanders try to stay competitive in the NFC East race.

McLaurin has missed three straight games due to a quad injury, and Samuel is still dealing with a bruised heel that limited his performance against the Chicago Bears in Week 6. Brown hasn’t played since Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers, and after weeks of uncertainty, the Commanders finally placed him on injured reserve.

The mounting injuries have forced General Manager Adam Peters to look for quick solutions, and this week he found one in former first-round pick Treylon Burks. Washington signed Burks to the practice squad after bringing him in for a visit.

### Adding Depth: The Treylon Burks Signing

Burks was drafted No. 18 overall by the Tennessee Titans in 2022 as a potential replacement for A.J. Brown. However, injuries and inconsistent play limited his production, leading the Titans to move on earlier this season. Washington’s decision to sign him is a low-risk move aimed at adding depth to an offense that is rapidly running out of options.

### Washington Insider Reacts

While signing Burks gives the Commanders another body at wide receiver, one insider believes it could also signal that the health outlook for McLaurin and Samuel is not improving soon. NBC Sports Washington’s JP Finlay shared his thoughts on X, saying:

> “I like the Burks signing. Super low risk and maybe pays off. But also pretty clear not much great news imminent with the current hurt WRs (McLaurin, Deebo).”

Currently, the Commanders have five wide receivers on the practice squad—an unusually high number—which highlights how much the front office is bracing for potential long-term absences.

### What’s Next for the Commanders?

Head coach Dan Quinn didn’t provide a firm update on McLaurin or Samuel this week but said the team would “see where things stand after the bye.” Washington’s next game following the Dallas matchup is a Monday Night Football showdown against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8, giving the injured players a little extra time to recover.

“We’ve had injuries all year, but that’s part of the game,” Quinn said Friday. “We’ll roll with the guys who are ready. It’s a good chance for some of our younger receivers to show what they can do.”

### Outlook for Week 7

The Commanders enter Week 7 with a 3-3 record and face a crucial divisional game against the Cowboys, who sit just behind them in the standings. With so many receivers out, rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels will likely rely more on short passes, tight end Zach Ertz, and the running game to keep the offense moving.

As Coach Quinn summed it up:

> “You never want to lose guys like Terry or Deebo, but we trust the next man up. That’s how this team has to operate.”
https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/washington-commanders/commanders-insider-treylon-burks-really-means/