The Ravens are soaring, and in the Week 10 version of the NFL’s power rankings, some experts have Baltimore rising over the Birds from Philadelphia.
John Harbaugh’s team dismantled the Seahawks on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium, coming away with a 37-3 win against Pete Carroll’s retooled Seattle squad.
The Ravens are balanced and added another weapon to the recipe, unleashing rookie running back Keaton Mitchell in Week 9. The undrafted rookie ran for 138 yards and one touchdown on nine carries while being responsible for the most extended rushing play for a running back this season.
With a massive rematch against the Browns looming, here are the Week 10 Power Rankings.
ESPN--3
Baltimore lands in the top 3 of ESPN’s rankings.
Week 9 ranking: 4
Non-QB MVP: MLB Roquan Smith
He’s the quarterback and leading tackler on a defense that has allowed the fewest points in the NFL this season at 13.8 — an average of two points less per game than any other team. Smith is all over the field, recording 87 tackles, 1.5 sacks and 5 passes defensed. What can’t be measured is his impact as a vocal and emotional leader. Just like Ray Lewis years ago, Smith talks to the team in the final pregame huddle on the field. He’s the unquestioned tone-setter for the team. “His energy is infectious,” Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton said. “You don’t want to be the guy that isn’t matching his energy when you’re out there. We go as he goes.” — Jamison Hensley
NY Post--3
The New York Post has Baltimore at No. 3 behind Kansas City and Philadelphia.
3. Ravens 7-2 (5)
As if empowered by the Ravens not adding a running back at the trade deadline, Gus Edwards rushed for two touchdowns and rookie Keaton Mitchell ran for 138 yards and his first touchdown in the 37-3 win against the Seahawks. Odell Beckham Jr. scored his first touchdown, and the defense upped its NFL-best sack total to 35.
Touchdown Wire--3
Touchdown Wire has Baltimore in the top 3.
The Ravens have beaten the Lions and Seahawks by a combined score of 75-9. Their defense is so dangerous right now, and we all know how good Lamar Jackson is. This is a very dangerous team.
Pro Football Talk --2
Mike Florio and company see the Ravens true potential.
2. Ravens (7-2, No. 4): The most balanced team in the AFC, if not the entire NFL, is ready for a Super Bowl run.
Baltimore Sun-1
The hometown newspaper has Baltimore at No. 1.
There isn’t a more complete team than Baltimore. Led by a dominant defense and an MVP-caliber quarterback, the Ravens have completely dismantled two NFC title contenders at home over the past three weeks. Coordinator Mike Macdonald’s defense is playing at a historically high level, getting a combined 16 sacks from Justin Madubuike, Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy and a league-leading six interceptions from safety Geno Stone to pair with the league’s best linebacker tandem in Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen and dangerous Swiss Army knife Kyle Hamilton. On offense, the Ravens have the most versatile attack in the league, capable of gashing opponents on the ground with sledgehammer Gus Edwards and breakout star Keaton Mitchell and picking them apart through the air with a ruthlessly efficient Lamar Jackson, who leads the league in completion rate (71.
Sports Illustrated--4
Sports Illustrated somehow has Baltimore at No. 4 behind San Francisco.
NFL.com-2
NFL.com has the Ravens at No. 2.
There were minimal signs of an emotional letdown for the Ravens after Week 7’s trouncing of the Lions. Lamar Jackson did little, but they didn’t need him to do much. They allowed Arizona to hang around too long, but in the end, this was a solid road win. They’ll take it, with the next three games (and six of the final nine) in Baltimore. That’s the good news. The bad? Most of the remaining opponents look fairly tough or better. And the AFC North has muscled up a bit since the Ravens last played a divisional game. Still, they’re 6-2, tied atop the AFC and arguably playing as well as anyone in the conference. This week’s opponent, the Seahawks, could be one big win away from making that claim on the NFC side. The Ravens’ steep march to the playoffs begins in earnest.
Sporting News-2
Sporting News has Baltimore at No. 2.
The Ravens are doing their best to prove they’re the new team beat in the AFC with dominant defense and running game, not even needing too much from Lamar Jackson to roll opponents. John Harbaugh has done a great job meshing the team’s new versatile identity with the old-school successful foundation.
CBS Sports-2
CBS Sports has the Ravens at No. 2 this week.
They don’t have a lot of stars on defense, but they have a lot of guys making plays. They might not be the 2000 Ravens defense, but it’s not far off at this point.
Bleacher Report--3
Bleacher Report has the Ravens at No. 3 overall.
The Athletic --1
The Athletic went out on a limb, putting Baltimore over Philadelphia.
The Ravens outgained a good Seattle team 515-151. Baltimore has won four games in a row by an average of 20 points (including a 32-point win over the Lions) and is first in the league in offensive EPA (32.21) and third in defensive EPA (44.73) in that period. It has allowed nine touchdowns (first in the league) and scored 27 (third in the league) this season, and its point differential (plus-115) is the best in the league and 35 points higher than second place.
USA Today--1
USA Today has the Ravens leaping over the Eagles for the top spot.
1. Ravens (2): Baltimore? Tops in the league? Consider – no team is allowing fewer points per game (13.8); the +115 point differential is 35 clear of the next-closest club; and the Ravens have blown out two NFC divisional leaders (Detroit, Seattle) by a collective 75-9 in their past two home games, outgaining the Seahawks by nearly 400 yards. And when WR Odell Beckham Jr. scoring his first TD since Super Bowl 56 and rookie RB Keaton Mitchell rushing for 138 yards with his first NFL touches are mere gravy? Look out – meaning Cleveland and Cincinnati, teams headed to Charm City the next two weeks.
