The Baltimore Ravens‘ mission for the 2022 season is simple: get back to the playoffs after narrowly missing it in 2021.
Their 8-9 finish marked the first time they missed the postseason during the Lamar Jackson era.
They have won the AFC North twice since selecting Jackson 32nd overall in the 2018 NFL Draft.
While they have been triumphant in just one playoff game in four tries, being a constant fixture makes them a legitimate contender every year.
This year, good fortune might be smiling at them, as shared by ESPN’s Jamison Hensley.
Here are the projections to win the AFC North heading into Week 4:
Ravens (2-1): 58.8%
Bengals (1-2): 25.4%
Browns (2-1): 14.5%
Steelers (1-2): 1.3%Source: ESPN Analytics
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) September 27, 2022
Hensley tweeted the projections to win the AFC North heading into Week 4, according to ESPN Analytics.
While the Ravens and the Cleveland Browns have identical 2-1 records, Baltimore has better winning odds at 58.8 percent.
Meanwhile, the Browns are third at 14.5 percent.
In between those two teams are the 1-2 Cincinnati Bengals at 25.4 percent.
Completing the cast are the 1-2 Pittsburgh Steelers, with a 1.3 percent chance of clinching the division.
The Ravens have maintained their momentum after winning their 23rd-straight preseason game.
It took a Herculean effort from Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins to defeat them in Week 2.
But before that collapse, they dominated former Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco and the New York Jets, 24-9.
Baltimore was also triumphant in Week 3 against the New England Patriots.
The Ravens can go to 3-1 with a Week 4 victory over the Buffalo Bills.
Jackson Making Early Case For MVP
The former Louisville standout became the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2019 after rushing for over 1,000 yards as a quarterback.
Three years later, he has been putting up MVP-like numbers once again.
After finishing with 230 total yards and three touchdowns against the Jets, Jackson had 21 completions for 318 yards and three touchdowns against Miami.
He also added 119 rushing yards and a touchdown in that game.
Jackson had 218 passing yards, 107 rushing yards, and five total touchdowns against New England.
