How Ravens obtained to 2024 AFC championship recreation: Key strikes, turning level, most important win, full season outcomes – CBS Sports activities

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The Baltimore Ravens are within the AFC championship recreation for the fifth time in franchise historical past, advancing to the convention championship for the primary time in 11 seasons. Baltimore will host an AFC title recreation for the primary time since 1971, again when town was the house of the Colts. 
Baltimore has been arguably the most effective staff in soccer this season, because the Ravens have probably the most wins (11) and highest level differential (+202) by any staff in any season in NFL historical past (together with playoffs). The Ravens are the primary staff in NFL historical past to guide the NFL in scoring protection, sacks and takeaways. They’re additionally the primary staff because the 1996 Green Bay Packers to have a First Group All-Professional quarterback and the No. 1 scoring protection.
Reaching the convention championship isn’t any straightforward process. This is how the Ravens obtained so far. 
Todd Monken: The Ravens lured Monken away from Georgia to be their offensive coordinator in what was arguably the most effective transfer of the offseason. Monken made Lamar Jackson an MVP once more, as Jackson accomplished a career-high 67.2% of his passes for 3,678 yards with 24 touchdowns to seven interceptions for a 102.7 score — whereas additionally speeding for 821 yards and main the league with 5.5 yards per carry. The Ravens offense was fifth in factors per possession (2.37) after rating seventeenth (1.90) the season prior.  
Odell Beckham Jr.: A part of a revamped large receiver group in Baltimore, the Ravens signed Beckham to a one yr, $15 million deal. The emergence of Zay Flowers took away targets from Beckham, however he has been a deep menace in Monken’s offense with 35 catches for 565 yards and three touchdowns (16.1 yards per catch). 
Jadeveon Clowney: Signed to a one-year deal because the substitute for Jason Pierre-Paul, Clowney thrived in Mike Macdonald’s protection. He had the most effective yr of his profession, tying a profession excessive in sacks (9.5) and notching a profession excessive in pressures (71) and stress charge (15.7%). The Ravens led the NFL in sacks, because of the presence of Clowney. 
Zay Flowers: The Ravens’ first-round decide set the franchise report in receptions (77) and receiving yards (858), turning into a dependable move catcher within the slot for Jackson. A part of the revamped large receiver group, Flowers was Jackson’s No. 1 move catcher when Mark Andrews went down for the remainder of the common season (ankle). 
Week 7 vs. Lions: Coming into this recreation at solely 4-2, the Ravens had been trying to make a press release towards a Lions staff that gained 4 straight video games by 14 factors or extra. Detroit was arguably the most popular staff within the NFL heading into this showdown at M&T Financial institution Stadium and Baltimore blew the Lions out of the constructing. 
The Ravens led 28-0 within the first half, placing the Lions on the fallacious aspect of historical past. The Lions tied the most important halftime deficit in NFL historical past by a staff with the most effective report within the league this late in a season (Week 7 or later), as Detroit was outgained 355-97 within the first half. 
Lamar Jackson grew to become the primary participant in franchise historical past with 350-plus passing yards, three passing touchdowns and a speeding landing in a recreation. He completed 21 of 27 for 357 yards and three touchdowns (and rushed for a landing). The MVP dialog for Jackson heated up after this recreation. 
Week 16 at 49ers: In what was the battle between the 2 greatest information within the NFL on Christmas night time, the Ravens pulverized the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Baltimore improved its win streak to 5 video games because the No. 1 scoring protection within the NFL pressured Brock Purdy to throw 4 interceptions (and get replaced by Sam Darnold within the fourth quarter). 
Lamar Jackson went 23 of 35 for 252 yards and two touchdowns (45 speeding yards) because the Ravens scored on seven consecutive drives. The protection matched a staff report with 5 interceptions and handed the 49ers their first loss with a wholesome Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel (together with playoffs). 
The Ravens gained their fourth straight recreation by 14-plus factors towards a staff that entered three-plus video games above .500. The win over San Francisco established Baltimore as the most effective staff within the NFL. 
1
vs. Texans
W, 25-9 (1-0)
2
at Bengals 
W, 27-24 (2-0)
3
vs. Colts
L, 22-19 (2-1)
4
at Browns
W, 28-3 (3-1)
5
at Steelers
L, 17-10 (3-2)
6
at Titans
W, 24-16 (4-2)
7
vs. Lions
W, 38-6 (5-2)
8
at Cardinals
W, 31-34 (6-2)
9
vs. Seahawks 
W, 37-3 (7-2)
10
vs. Browns 
L, 33-31 (7-3)
11
vs. Bengals
W, 34-20 (8-3)
12
at Chargers
W, 20-10 (9-3)
13
Bye Week
14
vs. Rams
W, 37-31 (10-3)
15
at Jaguars
W, 23-7 (11-3)
16
at 49ers
W, 33-19 (12-3)
17
vs. Dolphins 
W, 56-19 (13-3)
18
vs. Steelers
L, 17-10 (13-4)
AFC divisional spherical
vs. Texans
W, 34-10 (14-4)
AFC Championship
vs. Chiefs
TBD
Will the Ravens advance to the Super Bowl for the primary time because the 2012 season? They will should get by the Chiefs — who’ve been to 6 consecutive convention championship video games — to perform the duty. 
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