Lamar Jackson's return looms as Ravens try to fix late-game collapse

BALTIMORE — After a 35-13 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, the Baltimore Ravens are facing a familiar question with a new urgency: can Lamar Jackson return from a high-ankle sprain in time to steady a team that is unraveling late in games? Jackson said late last week that he was “heading in the right direction,” but his return date remains unclear as Baltimore tries to recover from a historic second-half collapse.

Jackson’s absence hangs over Baltimore

Jackson watched from the sideline as the Ravens gave up 35 unanswered points after halftime against Cincinnati. According to the report, the team’s current struggles have renewed the idea that Jackson’s presence could change the mood and direction of the season, even if he cannot fix every problem by himself.

Defensive end Calais Campbell said Jackson is “one of the best players in football,” adding that the team feels better when he is on the field. That view reflects the larger issue for Baltimore: the Ravens are waiting for their star quarterback while trying to stop a slide that has exposed weaknesses in several parts of the roster.

A sharp split between first halves and second halves

The most striking part of Baltimore’s season has been the split between how it starts and how it finishes. Through seven games, the Ravens have been the NFL’s best first-half team, outscoring opponents by 65 points. In the second half, though, they have been the league’s worst, being outscored by 70 points.

That 135-point gap is the second-worst through seven games in NFL history, according to ESPN Research. The only team with a bigger early-season half-to-half difference was the 1980 Los Angeles Rams. The article describes the situation as an unusual identity crisis for Baltimore, and one that ordinary fans can see in the repeated pattern of strong starts followed by collapse.

• The Ravens are 4-3 overall.
• They are 0-2 in AFC North games.
• ESPN Analytics gives them a 10.5% chance to win the division.
• Baltimore has scored only five second-half touchdowns, tied for second fewest in the league.

Run game and defense are both slipping

Baltimore’s offense has lost some of the balance that helped it start the season. After ranking among the league’s top rushing attacks for the first six weeks, the Ravens managed only 83 rushing yards against the Bengals, a season low. Derrick Henry finished with 45 rushing yards, his fewest since October 2025, and said his performance was “terrible.”

Coach Jesse Minter said the team needs to find better answers in the run game and build more continuity up front. The offensive line has been hit by injuries, including a knee injury to rookie first-round pick Olaivavega Ioane. Baltimore has already placed its top three centers on injured reserve this season, and if Ioane cannot play against Buffalo, Emery Jones Jr. would be next in line. That would create a sixth different starting offensive line combination of the year.

The late-game burden keeps growing

The defense has also been part of the problem. The Ravens have allowed 114 points after halftime, the most in the NFL, after allowing 117 second-half points through seven games last season, which was tied for the league high. Minter said the Bengals loss was a bad effort from the defense in the second half and noted that the team has only itself to blame.

For Baltimore, the next test comes at Buffalo against a Bills team that is coming off a bye and has been strong in second halves for years. The Ravens will need more than one player to solve their issues, but Jackson’s return could be the stabilizing force they need if they hope to turn the season back toward contender status.

Source: Jamison Hensley