The Baltimore Ravens are one of the teams that have a lot of pressure on them to have a great 2026 season.
After missing the playoffs last season, now Jesse Minter takes over as head coach from John Harbaugh, and the expectations haven't changed - it's Super Bowl or bust.
That might be a little tough for a first-time head coach, but that is what Minter and Lamar Jackson have to deal with.
But for the Ravens to get to the Super Bowl, they've got to make the playoffs, and Sports Illustrated's Matt Verderame has the Ravens winning the division with a 10-7 record.
"Baltimore is coming off an 8–9 season, but if Lamar Jackson is healthy, this group should be better despite key free-agent losses, including center Tyler Linderbaum and tight end Isaiah Likely, as well as the firing of longtime coach John Harbaugh," Verderame wrote. "Everything could be determined late, with four divisional games to close the campaign."
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Ravens have huge 2026 pressure
The Ravens, along with the Buffalo Bills, have the most pressure on them in the AFC to deliver in 2026.
Lamar Jackson is in his prime, and coming off a poor 2025 season, the Ravens can't afford to miss the playoffs again. With the Cincinnati Bengals expected to be better, the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers are always tough; all eyes are on Lamar in 2026.
One can only imagine the backlash if the Ravens miss the playoffs again, and what that could do for Lamar's long-term future with the franchise.
So, there is a lot on the line for the Ravens, and a 10-7 record and playoff football as a projection?
Fans will take that in a heartbeat.
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