Baltimore Ravens a Top 5 Threat to Kansas City Chiefs in AFC?

The Baltimore Ravens have had an interesting offseason, and as things stand, is John Harbaugh's team equipped to stop the Kansas City Chiefs juggernaut in the AFC?

Jan 28, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) passes the / Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The road to the Super Bowl often goes through the Kansas City Chiefs and with the Baltimore Ravens having their best chance at slaying the Patrick Mahomes juggernaut last season, but failing, where does the team go from here?

The offseason for the Ravens has been so-so, with several starters walking on both sides of the ball, but the addition of running back Derrick Henry gives the offense another powerful piece to work with.

Baltimore had a top-level roster in 2023, and even that wasn't enough to beat a Chiefs team that was perhaps the "worst" in the Mahomes era, at least offensively. Now, after the free agency dealings, where do the Ravens rank in the AFC pecking order?

CBS Sports has Baltimore as the fourth-best team to take down Mahomes and the Chiefs in the AFC, behind the Cincinnati Bengals (1), Houston Texans (2) and the New York Jets (3).

"If you have a two-time NFL MVP under center, you're going to be a factor in the conference, which is exactly the position that the Ravens find themselves in with Lamar Jackson," CBS Sports writes. "He is as dynamic as any quarterback the league has to offer and the rushing attack should only be even more devastating with Jackson now paired with running back Derrick Henry. Zay Flowers should continue to surge as he enters Year 2 and Mark Andrews staying healthy will help the passing game as well."

While the Ravens added Henry to its offense, defensively is where the biggest changes could be felt with coordinator Mike Macdonald (Seattle) and Patrick Queen (Steelers) both moving on.

Jan 28, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) passes the / Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

However, the Ravens have the nucleus of yet another stellar defensive unit, with key pieces in Kyle Hamilton, Justin Madubuike, Roquan Smith, and Kyle Van Noy. But the biggest concern for the Ravens is not getting to the playoffs but how Lamar Jackson performs in them.

"Losing linebacker Patrick Queen in free agency along with defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald (now the head coach of the Seahawks) this offseason is a noticeable dent, but the defense should still be among the very best in the NFL," CBS Sports continued. "The biggest question for Baltimore truly unseating the Chiefs in the AFC is Jackson's ability to come through in the postseason."

Having the Jets above the Ravens seems a little odd given that Aaron Rodgers managed just four offensive snaps last season and will be coming off an Achilles surgery. As things stand right now, Baltimore surely possesses a bigger threat to Kansas City than New York.

The Ravens might have lost some key defensive and offensive pieces during free agency, but the roster is still super talented and has the coaching staff to get the best out of them.

Will it be Baltimore that finally dethrones the Chiefs in 2024? It appears that the answer is all predicated on the two-time MVP winner playing like one in the playoffs.