The Vikings Are Facing the Ravens at the Wrong Time
The Minnesota Vikings and Baltimore Ravens haven’t locked horns in four years, and the Ravens have never won a game in Minnesota. The teams meet on Sunday, and Minnesota is getting Baltimore on the docket at an inconvenient time.
It’s too bad the Minnesota Vikings couldn’t have played the Baltimore Ravens a month ago. Life would’ve been easier — much easier and then some.
The Ravens may have turned the corner by turning back into themselves as of late — just in time to face Kevin O’Connell’s team.
Ravens Are Getting Right Just in Time for the Vikings
Good times.
An Empty Injury Report
A rarity in the NFL, the Ravens featured no names on the Week 10 injury report to kick off Vikings week festivities.
SI.com‘s Anthony Miller wrote, “It wasn’t until Week 5 of the 2025 NFL season that Baltimore Ravens fans realized their six highest-paid players were all inactive for the game against the Houston Texans. The times have certainly changed five weeks later.”
“The first injury report was released by the Baltimore Ravens. There was just one issue with it: there weren’t any names on it. Baltimore, for the first time this season, has nobody injured going into their Week 10 showdown with the Minnesota Vikings.”
There’s just nothing on it; every applicable Raven is finally healthy — just in time to travel to Minnesota.
Lamar Jackson Back and Healthy
Jackson missed three games with a bad hamstring, which, unsurprisingly, coincided with his team’s rut. The club auditioned quarterbacks Cooper Rush and Tyler Huntley, and of course, neither came remotely close to replicating Jackson’s normal production.
Fast forward to Week 10, though, and Jackson is fully back, even getting a faux practice game under his feet in Week 9 on Thursday Night Football against the lowly Miami Dolphins. Baltimore has also had 10 days to rest up before the meeting in Minnesota. Another perk.
In theory, Minnesota could’ve played the Ravens without Jackson, but that’s just not in the cards.
The Defense Has Righted the Ship
Then, there’s the defense — the usually sturdy and vaunted Ravens defense.
That wasn’t the case at the start of 2025 for John Harbaugh’s team. The defense stunk through the season’s first five games. Recently, however, Baltimore has turned the corner, returning to its typical impressive defensive efficiency.
Here’s the statistical skinny:
Ravens Defense,
Per EPA/Play,
NFL Ranking:
First 5 Games = Worst in NFL
Last 3 Games = 7th-Best in NFL
Harbaugh’s defense was downright putrid for a month and change. Now, a few days before travelling to Minnesota, it’s a Top 8 group.
Quasi-Desperation for Baltimore
Baltimore is the 10th seed in the AFC playoff picture. It has a 3-5 record. For most teams, articles like this would lead with slogans like, “Stick a fork in them.”
But that’s not the case for the Ravens — because Jackson is back and healthy while the defense has resurrected — and Harbaugh must rattle off some dubs to maintain a puncher’s chance at the postseason.
In desperation mode — they can’t afford to tumble to 3-6 — Baltimore will face the 4-4 Vikings, a team, too, that must win to stay relevant in the postseason hunt.
Neither team can afford to lose if it wants to visit the January tournament.
More on the BAL Defense
EbonyBird.com‘s Connor Burke wrote this week, “The Baltimore Ravens did not make any blockbuster moves ahead of the NFL trade deadline, but they were active in making defensive changes that should help shore up their defense.”
“Entering their Week 10 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings, their defense is starting to turn their disastrous campaign around, and Baltimore’s recent transactions should only propel them forward. The trade for safety Alohi Gilman is already sparking a defensive surge. Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr’s group has really figured it out over the last three games, a stretch that started when Gilman first arrived.”
It’s just the second time any variation of a Vikings defense will face Jackson in his eight-year career.
Burke continued, “Now, there are even more reinforcements ready to keep this run going. On Monday, General Manager Eric DeCosta struck a deal with the Tennessee Titans for outside linebacker Dre’Mont Jones. Jones has tallied 4.5 sacks in 2025, all coming within his last four games. He joins a duo of Kyle Van Noy and Mike Green, that has found some momentum in recent weeks.”
“Veteran Carl Lawson also seems ready to suit up against Minnesota, potentially bringing a new sack squad to Charm City that could start making opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable in the second half of the season.”
The point spread opened Sunday night, favoring Baltimore by 3.5 points, and has since climbed to 4.5
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