How an injury-ravaged roster achieved an NFL-record defensive feat
In short: By Week 4, the Baltimore Ravens had lost 20 players to injury, including their primary running back rotation. Yet, through a historic defensive performance and an MVP campaign, they didn't just survive—they rewrote the NFL record books.
The 2022 season had left the Ravens with a 10–7 record, but the 2023 campaign proved to be a masterclass in resilience. Despite losing key players like J. K. Dobbins to a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 1, and facing further setbacks with Nick Moore, Trayvon Mullen, and later Mark Andrews, the team surged to a 13–4 regular season. This marked their most successful run since their 14–2 campaign in 2019.
The hallmark of this season was a defense that achieved something unprecedented. The Ravens became the first team in NFL history to simultaneously lead the league in sacks, points per game allowed, and takeaways. This defensive dominance, paired with quarterback Lamar Jackson's second NFL MVP award, allowed them to dismantle elite opponents. They recorded an NFL-record 10 wins against teams with winning records, including five victories over division leaders that entered the game at least three games over .500.
The season was defined by high-stakes milestones and sudden ends. The Ravens clinched the AFC's first playoff berth in Week 15 and secured the No. 1 seed following a 56–19 blowout of the Miami Dolphins in Week 17. While they advanced to their first AFC Championship Game since their 2012 Super Bowl victory by defeating the Houston Texans 34–10, their journey ended with a 17–10 upset loss to the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs. This run also marked the first time the franchise hosted the AFC Championship Game and the first time Baltimore had hosted the game since 1971.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2023 Baltimore Ravens season
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-2023-baltimore-ravens-season.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Born on this day · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics
