ExtremeRavens Posted 7 hours ago Posted 7 hours ago Prognostication is a natural — and often futile — tradition on the sports calendar. In August, many of the smart folks who brave those waters scanned the slate of 272 regular-season NFL games and agreed that the Seahawks and Patriots were likely fringe playoff contenders. Sportsbooks agreed, giving each team 25-to-1 odds to win its respective conference — tied for the fourth-longest odds of any team to make the Super Bowl over the past 20 years. The Ravens, many thought, had a clear shot at the Super Bowl. They held 6-1 odds of playing football in February. What did the Ravens get wrong? And what can they learn from the two teams on the doorstep of immortality? Let’s start here: the Seahawks and Patriots each enjoyed rapid overhauls that might serve as a sign of what’s possible in Baltimore with a first-year coach. New England hired Mike Vrabel 13 months ago. He filled out a staff teeming with knowledge and experience. Then, alongside front office decision-makers, he gutted half the roster from a four-win team and patched together a group of high-upside, castoff free agents who embraced a “Warrior” rally cry (and yes, their softer schedule helped). They won 14 regular-season games and survived against two top defenses in the playoffs. Seattle hired former Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald in January 2024. In a matter of two years, he molded the NFL’s best defense and a top-three offense worthy of the NFC’s top seed. The Seahawks rediscovered their defensive roots and reaped career years from quarterback Sam Darnold and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Like Baltimore’s Jesse Minter, Vrabel and Macdonald lean defensive expertise. A coach prioritizing that side of the football hasn’t won a Super Bowl since 2018, when then-Patriots coach Bill Belichick’s defensive masterclass held the Los Angeles Rams to a field goal. It’s happened three other times since 2008 — two of them were Belichick. Now, either Vrabel or Macdonald ending the drought should temper some hesitancies about the Ravens hiring a former defensive coordinator. There are more offensive head coaches than there are defensive ones. Plus, a coach who specializes on one side of the ball can only go as far as the coordinator managing the other side. See, Seattle’s Klint Kubiak, who was so good that the Las Vegas Raiders are expected to hire him as their next head coach. And New England’s Josh McDaniels has coached in 10 Super Bowls calling offensive plays for the Patriots. In other words, there’s an equal mountain of pressure on the shoulders of 29-year-old, first-time play-caller Declan Doyle to get the most out of Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and company. Another lesson: Front offices in Seattle and New England floated some cash in free agency. During last year’s free agency period, the Patriots doled out $364 million worth of contract value. A little less than one-third of that went to defensive tackle Milton Williams ($104 million). A not-so-insignificant chunk went to veteran wideout Stefon Diggs ($63.5 million). They upgraded at cornerback by giving $54 million to Carlton Davis III, and $43.5 million went to pass rusher Harold Landry III. The Patriots kept gambling and hitting on free agent deals that worked out more often than not. Seattle signed Sam Darnold for $100 million, accounting for just under half of their total free agency spending. The Seahawks replaced a veteran QB with another and it hit, while Geno Smith won three games with the Raiders. Elsewhere, Seattle spent $45 million on wide receiver Cooper Kupp and another $32.5 million for defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence. As long as the Ravens can restructure Lamar Jackson’s projected $74.5 million cap each of the next two seasons, the front office should have some flexibility. If so, general manager Eric DeCosta promised to be more active in the free agent market. “We will participate in free agency,” he said, “and we will trade for players. “We haven’t traditionally done that. We’ve been more reserved when it comes to free agency. We like the amount of draft picks we have this year. We do have money to go out and re-sign guys — free agents that we have right now; some good players, certainly — but having more money would be helpful, for sure.” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald speaks after Seattle's win in the NFC championship game. The former Ravens defensive coordinator has built one of the league's top defenses in Seattle. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez) If the Patriots were the ones sitting at a roulette table placing chips on numbers all over the board, the Seahawks’ free agency might be better explained as the bettor who put half their pile on red. By comparison, the Ravens pushed coins into a slot machine. New England spent more money in free agency than any other team in the NFL ($364 million), according to Spotrac. The Seahawks were one of four teams to cross the $200 million threshold. Scroll all the way down the page to find the Ravens, at No. 31, spending $30 million. The only team that spent less than Baltimore was the reigning champion Eagles. Perhaps the Ravens make a play for Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown. Steelers guard Isaac Seumalo would be an instant upgrade on the offensive line. They should certainly be in the pass rusher market, too, possibly eyeing Chargers veteran Khalil Mack or Bengals star Trey Hendrickson. The list goes on. That conversation will build over the next month-plus. DeCosta sat for his year-end news conference and called 2025 a “very disappointing season.” Thus, the Ravens will watch Sunday night’s game from home like the rest of us. If they’re taking notes, perhaps next year they’ll be one of the final two teams standings. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. Sam appears as a host on The Sun’s “Early Birds” podcast. View the full article Quote
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