The Baltimore Ravens seem to have found their footing after an 0-2 start to the season.
After a 35-10 thrashing of the Buffalo Bills in Week 4, the Ravens are back to .500.
Over the last two weeks, the Ravens have looked more like the team many have come to expect: a dominant rushing attack led by Derrick Henry and a suffocating defense flying around the field. Lamar Jackson has gone into an almost game-manager mode, handing the ball off to Henry, running when necessary, and passing at a high clip when the situation calls for it.
As a result, the Ravens are rocketing up NFL power rankings everywhere, a sign that many around the NFL world feel they are potential contenders again.
To get a feel for where the Ravens stand, we consulted five expert power rankings.
NFL Week 5 power rankings: Where experts rank the Baltimore Ravens
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: Ravens ranked sixth, up from eighth last week
"The Ravens are back to finding their dominant running game with Derrick Henry, Lamar Jackson, and Justice Hill. Their defense has also found its pressure and coverage 1-2 punch. They learned to finish off Buffalo after struggling with big leads the past two weeks."
ESPN: Ravens ranked seventh, up from 12th last week
"The Ravens have allowed an NFL-worst 10 completions on passes that have traveled at least 20 yards in the air. Teams have been forced to stretch the field because Baltimore has jumped out to big leads early ... This shouldn't be a season-long problem for Baltimore: The Ravens essentially have the same secondary that gave up only 18 completions on throws of 20 yards or longer all of last season, the seventh fewest in the league."
Josh Kendall, The Athletic: Ravens ranked third, up from 14th last week
"Second-round right tackle Roger Rosengarten made his first career start Sunday against the Bills, and Derrick Henry went right behind him for an 87-yard touchdown on the Ravens’ first offensive snap of the game. Plus, the rookie didn’t allow a quarterback pressure on 20 pass-blocking snaps, according to The 33rd Team."
Diante Lee, The Ringer: Ravens ranked second, up from fifth last week
"The past two weeks have gone a long way toward establishing Baltimore’s new identity. The Ravens have had 545 rushing yards in their past two games—that’s over 200 yards more than any other team in that span. There’s no way for defenses to account for both running back Derrick Henry and reigning MVP Lamar Jackson."
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: Ravens sixth, up from seventh last week
"They are 2-2 after their 0-2 start and once again they are looking like an AFC contender. Derrick Henry really gives this offense another dimension."
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