Full Breakdown
Ravens Target Super Bowl While Jackson and Henry Chase Legacy and Contracts
9/9/2026, 7:13:04 AM
Season Outlook and Stakes
The Baltimore Ravens head into the 2026 NFL season under intense scrutiny. After a 2025 playoff miss and a divisional-round loss in 2024, the franchise and its fans expect a championship run. General Manager Eric DeCosta emphasizes the need to develop younger linemen, while the team hopes an upgraded offensive line and a revitalized pass rush will close the gap that left them 3-6 at home last year.
Player Perspectives
Quarterback Lamar Jackson, a two-time MVP, says the only pressure he feels is self-imposed. He stresses that winning must begin “Week 1” and that he feels “100 % healthy.” Both players link personal milestones—Jackson’s quest to add a title to his résumé and Henry’s chase of rushing-record milestones—to the team’s championship goal.
Coaching and Roster Factors
The Ravens rely on offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford, newly hired from Atlanta and among the league’s highest-paid position coaches, to rebuild the line after losing Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum in free agency. New starters such as center Jovaughn Gwyn and rookie Vega Ioane, plus developmental backups, are expected to benefit from Ledford’s guidance. On defense, edge rusher Trey Hendrickson returns after leading the league in sacks two seasons earlier, and the addition of veterans like Calais Campbell should bolster the pass rush that struggled in 2025.
Data & Statistics
- Jackson holds the NFL record for career quarterback rushing yards (6,552) and posted 2,549 passing yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions last season, with a career-low 349 rushing yards.
- Henry ranks 10th on the all-time rushing list with 13,018 yards, sitting 994 yards shy of the No. 6 spot, and rushed for nearly 1,600 yards last season, averaging over 90 yards per game in six of the past seven seasons.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Us winning it all. Us winning it all. But it starts Week 1. We've got to stay dialed in,” — Lamar Jackson — Lamar Jackson, quarterback
- “I believe we have a lot in store. New season, new breath of fresh air. My guys are ready to get out there and start flying,” — Lamar Jackson — Lamar Jackson, quarterback
- “I want to win a Super Bowl. That's a big motivation,” — Derrick Henry — Derrick Henry, running back
- “It would be crazy for me to say I played with Lamar Jackson and we didn't win no championships,” — Derrick Henry — Derrick Henry, running back
- “If me getting to No. 6 gets me to the Super Bowl, then so be it. If we get that ring, everything else will happen,” — Derrick Henry — Derrick Henry, running back
- “That would be different, for sure,” — Derrick Henry — Derrick Henry, running back
