The Ravens lost several key players to season-ending injuries before the regular season started, including running backs J. K. Dobbins, Justice Hill, and Gus Edwards as well as all-pro cornerback Marcus Peters. Several other players also started on IR, including wide receiver and 1st round pick Rashod Bateman and tight end Nick Boyle.[3]
Baltimore traded offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr., their 2021 second-round selection (No. 58) and a 2022 sixth-round selection to Kansas City for their 2021 first-round selection (No. 31), 2021 third-round selection (No. 94), 2021 fourth-round selection (No. 136), and a 2022 fifth-round selection.[4]
Baltimore traded its third-round selection (No. 91) and a conditional 2022 fifth-round pick to Minnesota in exchange for linebacker Yannick Ngakoue.
Baltimore received compensatory third-round selections in 2021 (No. 104) and 2022 when its assistant head coach and passing game coordinator David Culley was hired by Houston as head coach.[5]
Baltimore traded the fourth-round selection it had earlier acquired from the Kansas City Chiefs (No. 136) and its own sixth-round selection (No. 210) to Arizona for their 5th round selection (No. 160) and a 2022 fourth-round pick.[6]
Baltimore received a compensatory fifth-round selection (No. 184) in 2021 due to the loss of DTMichael Pierce in free agency the previous offseason.
The Ravens blew multiple fourth quarter leads and lost in overtime 27–33 to the Raiders on Monday Night Football.
The Raiders received the opening kickoff and moved into Baltimore territory before a shotgun snap that was not expected by Las Vegas quarterback Derek Carr led to a 15-yard loss. As a result of the play, the Raiders were forced to punt. The Ravens were unable to do much with the ball and punted as well. A three-and-out series by the Raiders gave the ball to the Ravens at their own 35. The Ravens moved into Raider territory, but were faced with a fourth and one at the Raider 35-yard line. Ty'Son Williams broke through the line on the fourth down play for a 35-yard touchdown run to give Baltimore a 7–0 lead. The teams exchanged punts on their next possessions before the Ravens moved into Raider territory again. Lamar Jackson hit Marquise Brown on a 10-yard touchdown pass with nine minutes remaining in the second quarter and it appeared the Raiders might get blown out. However, on the ensuing possession, Carr was finally able to connect with tight end Darren Waller and move the ball to the Ravens two-yard line before Josh Jacobs scored to cut the lead in half, 14–7. The Ravens again moved into Raider territory with less than two minutes left in the half, but were stopped short on fourth down and turned the ball over to Las Vegas. Carr quickly moved the Raiders to the Baltimore 14-yard line, but had to settle for a Daniel Carlson 34-yard field goal as the half ended leaving the score 14–10 at halftime.
In the second half, the team exchanged punts again before the Ravens connected on a 40-yard field goal by Justin Tucker to move the lead back to seven at 17–10. The Raiders looked to answer by moving in to Raven territory, but were stuffed on a fourth-and-one at the Raven 13. The teams again exchanged punts as the game moved to the fourth quarter. The Ravens took over with 13:23 remaining in the quarter, but Jackson scrambled and had the ball knocked out of his hands and fumbled with the Raiders' Denzel Perryman recovering the ball at the Baltimore 41. Four plays later, Jacobs scored on a 25-yard run to tie the game at 17. The Ravens quickly answered as Latavius Murray scored on an eight-yard touchdown run to give the Ravens a 24–17 lead with about six minutes remaining. Carr moved the Raiders down field and, with just under four minutes left, hit Waller for a 10-yard touchdown pass to again tie the game. Baltimore responded by moving into Raider territory, but were unable to get a first down on a third-down play at the Vegas 31 and were forced to settle for a field goal with 37 seconds remaining. Carr, with no timeouts, hit Bryan Edwards for a 20-yard gain on the first play of the ensuing possession. After a spike to stop the clock, Carr hit Edwards again for 18 yards to move the ball to the Raven 37. Carlson then hit a 55-yard field to tie the game at 27. With two second remaining in the quarter, the Ravens took a knee to settle for overtime.
In overtime, the Raiders won the toss and moved into Raven territory on a pass by Carr to Hunter Renfrow. Renfrow appeared to step out of bounds at least once on the 27-yard play, but no review was made. Two plays later, Carr, backpedaling to avoid the rush, threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Edwards to apparently win the game. As players celebrated on the field, the play was reviewed and it was determined Edwards was down near the one-yard line, overturning the touchdown. After clearing the field, Carr was stuffed on sneak attempt. Rookie right tackle Alex Leatherwood then committed a false start penalty and the ball was moved back outside the five-yard line. Following an incompletion, Carr's next pass went through the hands of Willie Snead and bounced off a DeShon Elliott's helmet before being intercepted by Anthony Averett in the end zone for a touchback. After the Ravens took over at the 20, Jackson fumbled again which was again recovered by the Raiders. Following a one-yard run to the Ravens' 26, the Raiders belatedly decided to attempt a field goal. However, due to the slow decision, Carlson did not get on the field in time and the Raiders, who had used their two timeouts on the prior possession, committed a delay of game penalty. Jon Gruden decided to not try the field goal on the next play and Carr, under pressure and backpedaling, threw to a wide open Zay Jones for a 31-yard touchdown to end the game.
With the heartbreaking upset loss, the Ravens fell to 0–1 for the first time since 2015. This game marked the 12th game with an upset in Week 1 during the 2021 NFL season an NFL record.
Week 2: Baltimore Ravens 36, Kansas City Chiefs 35
Week 2: Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens – Game summary
BAL – Marquise Brown – 6 receptions, 113 yards, TD
The Ravens overcame two 11–point 2nd half deficits to stun the Chiefs 36–35 on Sunday Night Football, avoiding an 0–2 start. Lamar Jackson ran for two fourth quarter touchdowns on consecutive drives, overcoming two first quarter interceptions, the former of which was a Pick 6, by Tyrann Mathieu. Kansas City then drove into field goal range, but rookie OLB Odafe Oweh forced and recovered a fumble by Clyde Edwards-Helaire at the Baltimore 34-yard line with 1:20 left to go in the game. The Ravens then forced the Chiefs to use all 3 timeouts before Jackson sealed it with a 2-yard run on 4th and 1 from the Baltimore 43. It was Jackson's first ever win over Patrick Mahomes as well as the largest deficit he's overcome in his career. With the win, the Ravens improved to 1–1.
Week 3: Baltimore Ravens 19, Detroit Lions 17
Week 3: Baltimore Ravens at Detroit Lions – Game summary
The Ravens survived a fourth quarter rally by the Detroit Lions to win 19–17 at Ford Field. After trailing 7–16 going into the fourth quarter, the Lions scored 10 unanswered points, taking the lead with 1:04 left to play on a Ryan Santoso 35-yard field goal. On the ensuing possession, the Ravens faced a 4th & 19 deep in their own territory with less than 30 seconds to go, but Lamar Jackson found Sammy Watkins for a long gain out to the Lions 48 yard line. After spiking the ball, Jackson took four more seconds off the clock by throwing the ball out of bounds, leaving only three seconds on the clock. However, the referees missed that the play clock expired before the play, which should been a five-yard penalty for delay of game. Longtime Ravens kicker Justin Tucker, who missed a 49-yard field goal earlier, then hit an NFL-record 66-yard field goal as time expired to win the game. With the win, the Ravens improved to 2-1.
Week 4: Baltimore Ravens 23, Denver Broncos 7
Week 4: Baltimore Ravens at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Facing 0–7 deficit after a slow start, the Ravens rattled off 17 second quarter points and defeated the Denver Broncos 23–7 for their third straight win. Lamar Jackson threw for 316 yards and a touchdown, his first 300 yard passing game since Week 1 of the 2019 season, while adding 28 yards on the ground. The Ravens also tied the record for most consecutive games rushing over 100 yards as a team with 43 (tied with their division rival, the Steelers) with a 5-yard run by Jackson on the last play of the game. With their third-straight win, the Ravens improved to 3–1.
Week 5: Baltimore Ravens 31, Indianapolis Colts 25 (OT)
Week 5: Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore Ravens – Game summary
BAL – Justin Tucker 23-yard field goal, 1:36. Colts 7–3. Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 2:49.
IND – Rodrigo Blankenship 37-yard field goal, 0:00. Colts 10–3. Drive: 8 plays, 56 yards, 1:36.
Third quarter
IND – Michael Pittman Jr. 42-yard pass from Carson Wentz (kick failed), 13:59. Colts 16–3. Drive: 2 plays, 73 yards, 1:01.
IND – Jonathan Taylor 4-yard run (pass failed), 3:06. Colts 22–3. Drive: 6 plays, 81 yards, 3:36.
BAL – Marquise Brown 43-yard pass from Lamar Jackson (run failed), 0:56. Colts 22–9. Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:10.
Fourth quarter
IND – Rodrigo Blankenship 43-yard field goal, 12:00. Colts 25–9. Drive: 9 plays, 55 yards, 3:56.
BAL – Mark Andrews 5-yard pass from Lamar Jackson (Lamar Jackson–Mark Andrews pass), 9:38. Colts 25–17. Drive: 6 plays, 78 yards, 2:22.
BAL – Mark Andrews 4-yard pass from Lamar Jackson (Lamar Jackson–Mark Andrews pass), 0:39. Tied 25–25. Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 3:50.
Overtime
BAL – Marquise Brown 5-yard pass from Lamar Jackson, 5:24. Ravens 31–25. Drive: 10 plays, 68 yards, 4:36.
Top passers
IND – Carson Wentz – 25/35, 402 yards, 2 TD
BAL – Lamar Jackson – 37/43, 442 yards, 4 TD
Top rushers
IND – Jonathan Taylor – 15 rushes, 53 yards, TD
BAL – Lamar Jackson – 14 rushes, 62 yards
Top receivers
IND – Jonathan Taylor – 3 receptions, 116 yards, TD
BAL – Mark Andrews – 11 receptions, 147 yards, 2 TD
Trailing 3–22 late in the third quarter, the Ravens scored four touchdowns in as many drives to defeat the Colts in overtime 31–25 on Monday Night Football. Lamar Jackson had 442 yards passing, both a career high and franchise record, and four touchdowns while adding 62 yards rushing. The Colts also had a field goal blocked with 4:37 left in the fourth quarter and missed a potential game winner at the end of regulation. It was the largest deficit (19 points) that Jackson had overcome in a game, beating out the 11-point deficit he overcame against the Kansas City Chiefs earlier in the season. With their fourth straight win, the Ravens improved to 4–1 and moved into first place in the AFC North due to losses by both the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals.
Week 6: Baltimore Ravens 34, Los Angeles Chargers 6
Week 6: Los Angeles Chargers at Baltimore Ravens – Game summary
The Ravens used dominant offensive and defensive performances to rout the Chargers 34–6. Baltimore rushed for 187 yards and three touchdowns while the defense held the Chargers to just 208 yards of total offense and only 26 rushing yards while holding the ball for over 38 minutes. The victory was Lamar Jackson's 35th as a starter, setting the record for the most wins by a starting quarterback before their 25th birthday in NFL history, surpassing the previous mark of 34 set by Dan Marino. With their fifth straight win, the Ravens improved to 5–1.
The Ravens five-game win streak along with their five-straight wins over the Bengals came to a brutal end as the Bengals scored 28 unanswered second half points and routed them 17–41. The Bengals outgained the Ravens 520–393 and had five sacks as Baltimore was 1 for 4 on fourth downs in the second half. It was the Ravens worst home loss since a 6–35 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 14 of the 2015 season and the first time they've lost at home to the Bengals since Week 17 of the 2017 season. It was also Lamar Jackson's worst loss in his career as well as his first lost in the month of October, and his first loss to the Bengals. With the loss, the Ravens dropped to 5–2 and entered a tie with the Bengals for 1st place in the AFC North.
^ abTennessee finished ahead of Kansas City based on head-to-head victory.
^ abLas Vegas finished ahead of New England based on win percentage in common games (5–1 vs. 2–4 against: Miami, Dallas, LA Chargers, Cleveland, and Indianapolis).
^ abcIndianapolis finished ahead of Miami and Los Angeles based on conference record (7–5 vs. 6–6).
^ abMiami finished ahead of LA Chargers based on win percentage in common games (5–1 vs. 2–4 against: New England, Las Vegas, Houston, Baltimore, and NY Giants).
^ abCleveland finished ahead of Baltimore based on division record (3–3 vs. 1–5).
^ abNY Jets finished ahead of Houston based on head-to-head victory.
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest-ranked remaining team from each division.
