What’s next for the Baltimore Ravens after playoff loss?

The team with the best record in the NFL in 2019 was stunned in the playoffs. So what’s ahead for John Harbaugh’s Baltimore Ravens?

The team took a 12-game winning streak into the playoffs but apparently the AFC North champion Baltimore Ravens weren’t ready for primetime — or running back Derrick Henry and the Tennessee Titans. John Harbaugh’s club was humbled at home, 28-12, this past weekend and a third trip to the Super Bowl for this franchise was denied.

While quarterback Lamar Jackson had an amazing second season in the league, he also struggled in the playoffs for the second time in two tries. And Baltimore’s improved defensive unit proved to be vulnerable after all. Still, this is a franchise with a lot of promising young players thanks to some solid drafting the past two years.

Despite that promise, however, a 14-2 regular season ended without a postseason win.

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So What’s Next?

Not long ago, general manager Eric DeCosta took care of business with the signing of ball-hawking cornerback Marcus Peters to a contract extension. But the team has some other intriguing free-agent possibilities in terms of players they may want to bring back in 2020.

Perhaps the top priority is outside linebacker Matt Judon, who led the club with 9.5 sacks. And 31-year old cornerback Jimmy Smith, limited by injuries in 2019, could also test the open market if the team doesn’t re-sign him by mid-March.

Biggest Offseason Concern?

After a rocky start, the Ravens’ defense improved as the season wore on. Peters’ arrival keyed a surge that saw the club force 18 turnovers in its final 10 games. This after Harbaugh’s club managed only seven takeaways in its first six outings.

And even in wins over the Bengals, Texans and 49ers during the second half of the year, Wink Martindale’s unit showed its vulnerability to the run. That was a weakness that was severely exposed in the divisional playoff loss to the Titans.

Despite a very disappointing showing in the playoffs, it was a year of promise for the Baltimore Ravens. They won the AFC North by six games and set franchise records for wins (14) and points (531) in a season.

There’s some work to be done on defense and the franchise may have to replace a key veteran on the offensive line. But the positives outweigh the negatives when it comes to Harbaugh and company.