Chargers are a great test, Brandon Stephens’ new role and 2 more thoughts

Quick blurbs on Ravens topics following their Pittsburgh loss

Here are a few topics of discussion coming off a frustrating loss to the Steelers.

Chargers: Great Next Test for the Defense

The Chargers are a perfect stepping stone. The Ravens potentially found a new formula with Kyle Hamilton and Ar’Darius Washington. They held Pittsburgh touchdown-less and significantly reduced explosive plays allowed from previous weeks. The pass defense might be turning a corner. In Los Angeles, they face a great quarterback but have no threats that scare the daylights out of you. Their run game is strong but the Ravens are a top run defense. Plus, there’s the extra connection with Greg Roman. The Ravens’ defense will want this one.

Ravens fans have their complaints about Greg Roman and passing concepts and blah blah blah. Roman is a good offensive coordinator. His teams score points. The Ravens have given up a lot of points this season. It’s a perfect challenge to see if they’ve truly turned the corner with a quarterback who can place the ball but doesn’t have extraordinary weapons.

The health of Roquan Smith and Travis Jones is massive against a Roman-planned run game with former Ravens J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards coming up. It could spell defeat if they can’t go and the depth is incapable of performing.

New Role for Brandon Stephens?

Brandon Stephens has struggled this season despite excellent coverage. He simply allows too many catches despite being right on the hip of receivers. But the Ravens may have a solution.

Tre’Davious White made his Ravens debut and excelled on his 20 snaps in the right cornerback position. Stephens has typically played 100% of snaps in that spot but shared the role with White and played 10 snaps in the slot and box against the Steelers. With Kyle Hamilton being a deep safety now, which worked, the Ravens lose his impact in the box. Could Stephens, who was drafted as a safety, fill in for Hamilton’s box role?

Stephens is an underrated and excellent athlete. His coverage is sticky and he’s a physical player. Because his biggest issue is turning his back to the play, taking over for Hamilton’s role as a slot/box body who can blitz might be Stephens’ best utilization this season. He won’t be as impactful as Hamilton, but splitting time with White outside and playing a box role could keep White fresh and impactful and Stephens on the field.

Take a Breath. The Ravens Will (Most Likely) Make the Playoffs

As with every loss, the dramatics begin. Lamar Jackson’s MVP season was immediately ripped away by the media, fans called for coaches heads to roll and general dismay took place. Some even went on to say the Ravens wouldn’t make the playoffs.

Let’s get real. The Ravens could win two more games the rest of the season, end with only nine wins, and still make the playoffs. The important part there is the division records and the head-to-head wins over the Bengals and Broncos. Outside of the technical side, the Ravens already have seven wins and hold the second wild card spot. They aren’t even out of the division race, much less in serious danger of missing the playoffs.

This is a Lamar Jackson-led, Harbaugh-coached Ravens team. Say what you want about the ceiling and how far they’ll go, but we know their floor. They’ll play in January. And once you’re in the dance, never telling how far you’ll go (see 2012 Ravens who fell backwards into the postseason).

Rematch with Pittsburgh? Yes Please!

Losing to Pittsburgh sucks. It always does. Losing to Pittsburgh when they are held without a touchdown and you’re now 1-8 against them in the last nine games massively sucks. The thought of playing Pittsburgh is starting to become one of those mental challenges for the Ravens.

But again, they scored zero touchdowns. Pittsburgh got miraculous turnovers, with Queen pulling the ball out of Isaiah Likely’s undisciplined security and Payton Wilson literally stealing a catch from Justice Hill. Not taking away from those plays, Pittsburgh made those plays, but they aren’t something you count on. The Steelers’ offense did nothing impressive except one 30-yard play to George Pickens.

Pittsburgh holding down Lamar Jackson, who’s an MVP favorite, two times in one year, at home? I like the odds of that not happening, plus the Ravens’ defense having another game-winning worthy performance on defense, even if they let up a touchdown or two the next time.