2024 NFL Power Rankings Week 16: Ravens don’t move much after slaying Giants

Most national pundits haven’t changed their views or opinions on the Baltimore Ravens who returned from a much-needed and well-timed bye and trounced the New York Giants 35-14 in a confidence-boosting Week 15 tune-up ahead of a critical division matchup on a quick turnaround. The consensus belief is that they are still a top 10 team in the league with most not moving them at all while others did slightly up or back on their respective lists. Now, it’s time to see where the team lands in the NFL landscape of power rankings heading into Week 16.

The Ringer: 5 (Last week: 5)

From Diante Lee

Setting aside the fact that Baltimore beat up on what may be the worst team in the NFL on Sunday, quarterback Lamar Jackson has quietly maintained his claim as the best player in the league. Josh Allen is having his moment in the sun (and I expect the Buffalo quarterback will ultimately win MVP), but Jackson still tops Allen in every major statistical passing category—and outplayed him head-to-head earlier in the season. What’s more, I’d argue that Jackson has a worse supporting cast than Allen this season and has played tougher competition, Sunday’s game against the Giants notwithstanding. Jackson’s five touchdowns against New York and 355 yards of total offense made for one of the weekend’s best stat lines.

The Athletic: 8 (Last week: 8)

From Josh Kendall

The one-time 2024 MVP front-runner is playing as well as he did in 2019, his first MVP season, and better than he did last year, his second MVP season. Jackson leads the league in EPA per dropback (.33) and passer rating (120.7). On top of that, he’s averaging 53 rushing yards per game, the most among quarterbacks. On Sunday, he threw five touchdown passes, had a 154.6 passer rating and rushed for 65 yards.

NFL.com: 7 (Last week: 8)

From Eric Edholm

The late bye week allowed the Ravens to catch their collective breaths, re-evaluate the playoff situation and take stock of what it’ll take for them to catch the Steelers for the division crown. Winning the AFC North should be their only focus now, of course. They hold wild-card tiebreakers over the 8-5 Chargers and Broncos, so the Ravens don’t need to sweat that now. The schedule also lays out nicely for them, with a short road trip to face the battered Giants before the crucial rematch with the Steelers in Baltimore. Win those two, and the season takes on a different tenor. We know the Ravens can beat almost anyone; their five losses have come by a total of 22 points. That said, defeats to the Raiders and Browns suggest they also are capable of losing to almost anyone, too.

ESPN: 8 (Last week: 8)

From Jamison Hensley

Biggest improvement: Big pass plays allowed

The Ravens’ secondary turned its season around by dropping strong safety Kyle Hamilton deeper into coverage, replacing free safety Marcus Williams with Ar’Darius Washington and getting a boost from Marlon Humphrey at nickel. This has made a dramatic difference for a defense that allowed 29 pass plays of 25 yards or more in the first 10 weeks of the season, the most in the NFL. The Ravens have given up three pass plays of 25 yards or more over the past five weeks, which is tied for the fewest in the league.

USA Today: 8 (Last week: 8)

From Nate Davis

However if they can finally beat the Steelers at home, they’ll at least secure a playoff berth – yet will have more work to do in order to reclaim the AFC North perch. Yet a win could also very much boost QB Lamar Jackson’s recently atrophying résumé for consecutive MVP awards … though he’ll have to overcome a 2-5 record and 66.7 career passer rating against Pittsburgh. Maybe bringing back WR Odell Beckham Jr. would help?

Yahoo Sports: 8 (Last week 8)

From Frank Schwab

It’s probably nothing to worry about, but Derrick Henry has been quiet the past two games, with 33 carries for 149 and no touchdowns. That’s still a healthy 4.5-yard average, but way down from his 6 yards per carry in the 12 games before. Henry is about to turn 31 years old, so it’s worth noting.

CBS Sports: 8 (Last Week 8)

From Pete Prisco

They came out of their bye with an impressive beatdown of the Giants. Now comes a monster divisional game with the Steelers.

Sports Illustrated: 8 (Last week 7)

From Conor Orr

I’m not sure there’s much you can glean from this one save for the fact that Baltimore is clearly better than the Giants. This week, facing Pittsburgh for the second time in six weeks and with the Steelers coming off a gutting loss to the Eagles, is where we decide how to position Baltimore for the stretch run of the season.

Sporting News: 8 (Last week 8)

From Vinnie Iyer

The Ravens went nuts offensively with an awesome performance by Lamar Jackson against the Giants, but seeing some defensive clean-up was even more inspiring ahead of a huge rematch with the Steelers in Baltimore.

New York Post: 8 (Last Week 8)

From Ryan Dunleavy

It doesn’t get much easier than this: Lamar Jackson overcame an early lost fumble and completed 21 of 25 passes, including five for touchdowns on five consecutive possessions in a 35-14 rout of the Giants. Four of the offense’s six 20-plus-yard gains went for touchdowns. Lamar Jackson threw for five touchdowns during the Ravens’ win against the Giants on Dec. 15. Nine of 11 third-down attempts were converted. Mark Andrews became the franchise’s all-time touchdowns leader..

Pro Football Talk: 7 (Last week: 8)

From Mike Florio

They’ll go as far as Lamar Jackson can take them. This year, it could be farther than he ever has.

Bleacher Report: 8 (Last week: 8)

From NFL Staff

There was little chance that the Ravens would have trouble with a miserable New York Giants team. Even if the Ravens were looking ahead a little to next week’s massive meeting with the Steelers, Baltimore is just a vastly better team. Sure enough, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson had his focus squarely in the here and now. And he put on a show at Met Life Stadium. Jackson had more touchdown passes (five) than incompletions (four) against the Giants. His passer rating for the game was 154.7.

Fox Sports: 9 (Last week: 9)

From Bucky Brooks

Despite owning one of the deepest and most talented rosters in the league, the Ravens play up or down to their level of competition. While John Harbaugh has the luxury of leaning on Lamar Jackson to erase his team’s mistakes, the Ravens must get everyone on the same page to propel a roster capable of making a Super Bowl run.

Sharp Football Analysis: 5 (Last week: 6)

From Pamela Maldonado

Lamar Jackson had an outstanding game, completing 21 of 25 passes for 290 yards and 5 touchdowns along with 65 rushing yards. Rashod Bateman scored his first multi-touchdown game of his career in Week 15, fighting through a knee injury. One more win would secure a playoff berth for Baltimore, still with a shot at the division title.