The 2025 Baltimore Ravens started the season with hopes for a Super Bowl breakthrough. However, for all intents and purposes, their season effectively ended after Week 5, with no realistic chance to make the playoffs.
Despite a slew of early-season defensive injuries, there was still a glimmer of optimism because two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson was leading the offense. Unfortunately, Jackson suffered a hamstring injury in Week 4 against the Kansas City Chiefs, which sidelined him for the Week 5 game versus the Houston Texans. That injury proved to be the final blow in a season already plagued by setbacks.
### Why Ravens’ 2025 Playoff Hopes Are Over
In Week 5, Baltimore’s defense continued to struggle against the pass, getting lit up by Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud. Houston also dominated on the ground, exposing Baltimore’s run defense. Meanwhile, with Derrick Henry limited to just eight rushing yards on six carries and Lamar Jackson’s backup, Cooper Rush, failing to connect on deep throws, the Ravens found themselves overwhelmed. By halftime at home, they were down 24-3 and never recovered.
The Ravens currently sit at 1-4, with their only victory coming in Week 2 against the Cleveland Browns. Since the NFL expanded the playoffs to 14 teams in 2021, it has become nearly impossible to recover from such a poor start. There are simply too many average and above-average teams likely to finish ahead of Baltimore.
Following a shocking 44-10 blowout loss to the Texans, the Ravens will face an uphill battle in Week 6 against the Los Angeles Rams — especially with Jackson likely still out. Baltimore’s defense has been historically poor this season, missing key players across every level. The team lacks the depth and standout scheming usually needed to overcome adversity.
Derrick Henry was never meant to carry the offense alone but to complement Lamar Jackson’s dynamic dual-threat play. Now, with Jackson sidelined and the complementary formula falling apart, there doesn’t appear to be enough time for head coach John Harbaugh to pull the pieces together, even when vital personnel eventually return.
Jackson’s absence might have been manageable if not for the rash of other injuries. With so much pressure on the offense to consistently score into the 30s, Jackson was forced to mask many of the team’s shortcomings. Early-season losses to strong contenders like the Bills and Chiefs only add to the burden, knocking Baltimore further down the AFC pecking order.
With other AFC playoff contenders such as the Bengals without Joe Burrow and the Steelers sitting at 3-1, the Ravens’ struggles have only eased other teams’ paths. It’s rare to see the Ravens’ playoff hopes buried before Halloween, but at this point, discussing their postseason chances seems futile.
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**MORE:**
– [Should Ravens consider firing John Harbaugh after embarrassing performance vs. Texans?](#)
– [When will Lamar Jackson return from injury?](#)
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### 2025 Baltimore Ravens Schedule
*Schedule information to be updated as the season progresses.*
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