Film Study Breaks Down Errors by the Baltimore Ravens Defense

The Baltimore Ravens entered the 2025 season with high expectations for their defense, a unit that has long been the backbone of their success. But recent film study reveals a series of recurring errors—from coverage lapses in the secondary to inconsistent gap discipline in the run game—that have undermined their performance, particularly in close losses to the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs. These mistakes aren’t just random; they’re systemic issues that film highlights repeatedly, offering clear insights into what the Ravens need to fix to regain their status as one of the NFL’s top defenses. Film Study Breaks Down Errors by the Baltimore Ravens Defense dives into the tactical missteps, using frame-by-frame analysis to explain how these errors happen and why they’ve become a liability.

Film Study Breaks Down Errors by the Baltimore Ravens Defense begins with the most glaring issue: coverage lapses in the secondary, especially in single-high safety looks. Film from the Week 10 loss to the Bengals shows multiple instances where cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Brandon Stephens failed to maintain proper leverage on wide receivers, allowing easy completions over the middle. One critical play—with 2:15 left in the fourth quarter and the Ravens leading by 3—highlights the problem: Humphrey lined up in press coverage against Ja’Marr Chase but gave up 5 yards of cushion at the snap, letting Chase run a quick slant for a 12-yard gain that set up the Bengals’ game-winning field goal. Film also reveals that safeties Kyle Hamilton and Geno Stone have struggled with depth in single-high looks, often dropping too far back and leaving intermediate zones uncovered. “The secondary is playing reactive instead of proactive,” said former NFL defensive back and current analyst Charles Woodson, who reviewed the film with ESPN. “They’re giving receivers too much space early, and by the time they react, it’s too late.”

Film Study Breaks Down Errors by the Baltimore Ravens Defense delves into inconsistent pass-rush execution, a surprising issue for a unit that boasts stars like linebacker Roquan Smith and defensive end Odafe Oweh. Film from the Week 12 loss to the Chiefs shows that the Ravens’ pass rush is often derailed by two key mistakes: overcommitting to stunts and failing to win one-on-one matchups. On a third-and-7 play in the third quarter, the Ravens ran a “loop stunt” with Oweh and defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, but Madubuike missed his block on Chiefs right guard Trey Smith, allowing him to peel off and block Oweh—leaving Patrick Mahomes with 4 extra seconds to find Travis Kelce for a 15-yard completion. Film also shows that Smith, while elite against the run, has struggled to generate consistent pressure as a blitzer this season; he’s failed to beat a tackle one-on-one in 11 of his last 15 blitz attempts. “The Ravens’ pass rush is too dependent on tricks instead of talent,” said NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger, a former offensive lineman who analyzed the film. “When the stunts fail, they don’t have a Plan B—they just let quarterbacks sit in the pocket.”

Film Study Breaks Down Errors by the Baltimore Ravens Defense examines gap discipline issues in the run game, which have allowed opponents to average 4.8 yards per carry against the Ravens over the last five games—well above the league average of 4.1. Film from the Week 9 win over the Cleveland Browns (a game where the Ravens allowed 135 rushing yards) shows repeated instances where defensive linemen and linebackers failed to hold their assigned gaps. On a 20-yard run by Nick Chubb in the second quarter, defensive tackle Michael Pierce was supposed to plug the “A-gap” (between center and guard) but pushed too far to the right, creating a hole that Chubb exploited. Linebacker Patrick Queen, assigned to the “B-gap” (between guard and tackle), also overpursued, leaving no one to clean up the play. For the Baltimore Ravens, these gap discipline issues are particularly costly because they force the secondary to commit extra players to the run, leaving them vulnerable to play-action passes. “Run defense is about trust—each player has to do their job so the next guy can do his,” said Ravens defensive line coach Anthony Weaver, who addressed the issue in a recent team meeting. “When we break that trust, we give up big plays.”

Film Study Breaks Down Errors by the Baltimore Ravens Defense explores communication breakdowns—often invisible to casual viewers but obvious on film—that have led to blown coverages and missed tackles. One prime example comes from the Week 11 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers: on a third-and-10 play, Hamilton (playing free safety) signaled for a “Cover 2” look, but Stephens (cornerback) misread the signal and played “Cover 1,” leaving Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson wide open for a 28-yard completion. Film shows that the Ravens’ defensive huddles have become disorganized this season, with players often arguing over assignments or failing to confirm signals before the snap. Another issue: linebackers and defensive backs aren’t using consistent hand signals to communicate pre-snap, leading to confusion when the offense shifts formations. For the Baltimore Ravens, these communication issues are fixable but require deliberate practice—something head coach John Harbaugh has acknowledged by adding 15 minutes of “communication drills” to each practice this week. “Football is a team sport, and communication is the glue,” Harbaugh said. “We’re not communicating like we should, and it’s showing up on film.”

Film Study Breaks Down Errors by the Baltimore Ravens Defense wraps up with situational struggles—specifically, red-zone and third-down defense—where the Ravens’ errors have been most costly. Film from the last six games shows that the Ravens allow a 68% touchdown rate in the red zone (23rd in the NFL), largely due to poor zone coverage and inconsistent pass rush. On a red-zone play against the Chiefs, the Ravens ran a “Cover 3” zone, but Queen (linebacker) dropped too far back, leaving a gap in the flat that Kelce exploited for a 5-yard touchdown. On third downs, the Ravens’ errors are even more pronounced: they allow a 47% conversion rate, in part because they’re too predictable—film shows they blitz on 62% of third-and-long plays, making it easy for quarterbacks to read and exploit. For the Baltimore Ravens, the film offers a clear path to improvement: fix coverage leverage, simplify pass-rush schemes, reinforce gap discipline, tighten communication, and add variety to situational packages. “Film doesn’t lie,” said Smith, who reviews game tape for 2 hours every day. “We see the mistakes, and now we have to fix them. This defense is better than we’ve shown, and the film proves it—we just need to execute.”