Ravens' mental attitude allegedly impacting Lamar Jackson's performance in critical situations, according to Rex Ryan's assertions

Ravens Suffer Heartbreaking Loss in Season Opener, Defense Remains a Concern

The Baltimore Ravens began their 2025 season with a disappointing 41-40 loss to the Buffalo Bills, a game that saw the Ravens lead by 15 points more than halfway through the fourth quarter, only to falter down the stretch.

Former NFL head coach Rex Ryan, who has been a vocal critic of the Ravens' performance in big moments, believes that the team's mentality is holding them back. Ryan, who once coached the New York Jets, thinks that current coach John Harbaugh needs to acknowledge that the strength of the team is now their offense, not their defense.

Historically, the Ravens' defense has been their calling card, earning the reputation as the baddest defense on the planet. However, Ryan, along with many fans, has noticed a shift in recent years. The acquisition of Jaire Alexander, a highly-touted cornerback, did not seem to significantly improve the Ravens' defensive performance in the season opener.

The Ravens' secondary struggled against Josh Allen, the league MVP, who caused problems for the Baltimore defense throughout the game. John Harbaugh came under fire during Sunday's game for not going for it on fourth down late in the fourth quarter from just a couple of yards away, instead opting to punt the ball.

Despite the poor performance of the defense, the Ravens still have 16 more games to improve and turn things around. The team will need to address their defensive woes if they hope to shake off their big game demons and make a deep run in the playoffs.

Meanwhile, the winningest head coach in NFL history, Pete Carroll, has achieved 91 wins with the Seattle Seahawks, a testament to the success that can be achieved with a strong defensive unit. The Ravens will hope to learn from Carroll's example and reclaim their defensive prowess in the coming season.

Lamar Jackson, who had an elite game for most of the night, will also need to find a way to convert crucial first downs in the final minutes of close games. The Ravens' offense, led by Jackson, will need to step up and carry the team in the big moments if they hope to make a comeback in the 2025 season.