John Harbaugh Eyes Playoff Spot for Ravens Despite Unexpected 1-5 Start to the Season

John Harbaugh became the Baltimore Ravens head coach in 2008 and won a Super Bowl in 2013, defeating his brother in the championship game.

John Harbaugh Eyes Playoff Spot for Ravens Despite Unexpected 1-5 Start to the Season

John Harbaugh (Image via PennLive.com)

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Heading into the season, the Baltimore Ravens were one of the top contenders for the Super Bowl this year, with a dual-threat quarterback, Lamar Jackson, leading the charge. Fast forward to the end of the sixth week, the Ravens are far from the playoffs, and Jackson hasn’t played in the last two games.

The Ravens’ head coach, John Harbaugh, however, doesn’t believe that they are out of the playoff race yet. The Ravens have a 1-5 record, and just four teams since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970 have made it to the playoffs with the same start to the season.

  • Cincinnati Bengals, 1970: 8-6
  • Kansas City Chiefs, 2015: 11-5
  • Indianapolis Colts, 2018: 10-6
  • Washington Commanders, 2020: 7-9

John Harbaugh believes in the inevitable, that they will head into the next games with hope and determination. After all, three teams have done it since 2015. Harbaugh said on Monday:

Our focus is going forward and what we can accomplish for the next 11 games to try to earn our way into the playoffs, which obviously, as [it was] pointed out last night, has not been done very often with the record we have; but, we still believe we can do it.

The Baltimore Ravens have eleven games remaining, and winning all of them could put them at a 12-5 record. Such a record can earn them a spot in the playoffs; teams have made it with worse records. A key reason for their failures has been the absence of Jackson. Cooper Rush, who’s signed for two years with the Ravens, is a poor replacement for the dual-threat two-time MVP.

With a bye week in Week 7, the Ravens have an advantage. It is expected that Lamar Jackson will be fit enough to take the field against the Chicago Bears. In his four starts, Jackson has accounted for 869 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, and one interception.

The four starts also included a four-touchdown performance against the Cleveland Browns in Week 2. If he’s fit and playing in his previous form, the Ravens can keep their hope intact. However, no team has won the Super Bowl with a 1-5 start ever.

John Harbaugh is in the hot seat

Despite a dismal 1-5 start, John Harbaugh is holding onto hope that the Baltimore Ravens can turn their season around. Harbaugh, who has led the Ravens in the past two decades of both triumph and turbulence, has never been on the hot seat like this before. Yet, Harbaugh’s belief stems from what’s still possible rather than what’s already gone wrong.

John Harbaugh
John Harbaugh (Image via TWSN Sports)

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, who has defended Harbaugh on several instances, couldn’t find words to praise him this time around. He noted that it’s natural for fans to grow restless when a coach goes more than a decade without winning a Super Bowl, adding that online criticism tends to follow every loss.

However, he observed that the frustration toward Harbaugh had become more visible than usual after the loss to the Rams. According to Barnwell, following a Zay Flowers fumble and a quick Rams touchdown that made it 17-3 in the third quarter, a significant portion of the Baltimore crowd began with “Fire Harbaugh” chants. These chants are something rarely heard during his long tenure.

He also suggested that while Lamar Jackson’s return could help the offense regain its rhythm, given his ability to draw defensive attention away from Derrick Henry and stretch the field. However, the team’s defensive struggles might need deeper changes beyond just one player’s return. It is currently understood that Harbaugh is planning to make some adjustments in the lineup as well as look for potential roster additions.

Harbaugh’s experience is still his biggest strength. He’s dealt with tough stretches before, and with an easier schedule coming up, the Ravens still have a chance to fight their way into a Wild Card spot.

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