The Ravens’ season ended in crushing fashion in late January, but their window to hoist the Lombardi Trophy remains open.
Even with an offseason plagued by losses and scandals, the Chiefs are still the favorites to represent the AFC in New Orleans next February. But it isn’t just Andy Reid’s squad that NFL.com senior writer Jeffri Chadiha expects to present challenges to a Ravens Super Bowl run.
Chadiha says the Texans and Steelers can make a jump and contend at the top of the AFC as well.
This offseason, the Steelers added quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, poached linebacker Patrick Queen and added plenty of worthwhile veteran depth. They’ll look to build off a season in which they defied all odds and snuck into the playoffs at 10-7. With a functional offense in place, the Steelers will present yet another challenge in what is sure to be an AFC North division full of firepower.
“I think Pittsburgh will be a much better offensive team than they were,” Chadiha said on Glenn Clark Radio on May 30. “They were pretty, pretty feeble last year in that department. So if Russell Wilson is what I think he can be, if they returned to their roots as far as running the football and being consistent with that — because I think they haven’t been really good up front for a long time — I think they’re going to be dangerous.”
“For all the scrutiny and all the drama that played out in Denver last year with Russell Wilson, he still had a pretty decent season,” he added. “It was 26 touchdowns, eight interceptions. Compare that to what Kenny Pickett did or Mason Rudolph, that’s night and day.”
The new-look Texans are legitimate Super Bowl contenders, according to Chadiha. With second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud throwing to arguably the league’s best wide receiver trio — Stefon Diggs, Tank Dell and Nico Collins — Houston has the star power to outpace any team in the AFC.
The Ravens travel to Houston on Christmas Day, a rematch of last year’s AFC divisional round game won by Baltimore, 34-10.
“Stroud, within this year, is going to be on the same plane as Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, Joe Burrow, the great young quarterbacks of the NFL,” Chadiha said. “That’s how fast he’s progressing. And then you look at what they are able to do with that rookie deal, bringing in Stefon Diggs, bringing in Danielle Hunter, adding so much to a team that’s already been pretty good … they’re getting ready to make their push.”
The Ravens are still clear contenders themselves, but their roster took some hits this offseason. They lost a plethora of key contributors on both sides of the ball, including Queen, John Simpson, Jadeveon Clowney, Geno Stone and Kevin Zeitler. Mastermind defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald took his talents to Seattle and became the NFL’s youngest head coach.
But Baltimore fans can take solace in the arrival of four-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry, who signed a two-year deal worth $16 million in March. Henry is coming off his fifth career 1,000-yard season and sixth consecutive campaign scoring double-digit touchdowns.
Henry represents more than just a dominating force in the ground game, Chadiha said. He brings what the Ravens need in order to find sustained success in the playoffs.
“It’s a reminder of what they need to be,” Chadiha said. “And it also creates different options for you, not just in the playoffs, but the season opener against the Chiefs, a team that really struggled against the run last year. Those games in September, I think people have to start realizing, they decide a lot about what happens in January. And sometimes I think we forget that.”
Chadiha didn’t see a winning mentality out of the Ravens when they lost to Kansas City in the AFC championship game in January.
“Baltimore’s biggest fault was their mental approach to it,” Chadiha said. “They were too arrogant about it. They knew they were the better team and they wanted to go out and show that. I think they’ve got to get to a place where whatever it takes to win, they’re going to do that. It’s easier said than done, but I think the Chiefs do it.”
For more from Chadiha, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox