Fan Polls Predict Rebound for the Baltimore Ravens

In the wake of a narrow Week 12 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, doubts crept into conversations about the Baltimore Ravens’ AFC title hopes. But a wave of recent fan polls—conducted by local sports outlets, national NFL platforms, and Ravens fan communities—tells a different story: an overwhelming majority of supporters believe the team will rebound strongly, with many predicting a deep playoff run. These polls aren’t just random opinions; they’re rooted in fan confidence in the Ravens’ talent, coaching adjustments, and history of bouncing back from setbacks. Fan Polls Predict Rebound for the Baltimore Ravens breaks down the key poll findings, the reasons behind fan optimism, and how this sentiment aligns with the team’s remaining schedule and playoff positioning.

One of the most telling polls comes from Baltimore Sports and Life, a local outlet that surveyed 2,500 Ravens fans in the week after the Bengals loss. The results were clear: 78% of respondents said they “strongly believe” the Ravens will win at least four of their final five regular-season games, with only 9% predicting the team would struggle to make the playoffs. When asked to explain their optimism, fans pointed to the Ravens’ dominant rushing attack (ranked third in the NFL) and a favorable remaining schedule that includes matchups against teams with losing records (like the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots). “We’ve seen this team bounce back before—they lost to the Bills in Week 4 and then won five straight,” wrote one survey respondent. Another added, “The Bengals loss was a wake-up call, not a collapse.” Fan Polls Predict Rebound for the Baltimore Ravens notes that this poll’s results echo national trends; a USA Today NFL poll of 10,000 fans found 65% of respondents ranked the Ravens as a top-three AFC contender, unchanged from before the Bengals loss.

Fan polls also highlight confidence in Lamar Jackson’s ability to lead a rebound, with his performance emerging as a top factor in optimistic predictions. A poll by Ravens Nation, the team’s official fan club, asked 1,800 members, “Which player will be most critical to the Ravens’ late-season rebound?” Jackson received 62% of the vote—far more than second-place finisher Roquan Smith (18%) and third-place Gus Edwards (12%). Fans cited Jackson’s career track record: in seasons where he’s led the Ravens to 10+ wins (2019, 2020, 2023), he’s averaged 2.3 touchdown passes and 55 rushing yards per game in the final five weeks. “Lamar doesn’t let losses define him—he uses them as fuel,” one poll respondent commented. Another noted, “He’s playing some of the best football of his career, and the offense follows his lead.” Fan Polls Predict Rebound for the Baltimore Ravens emphasizes that this trust in Jackson isn’t unfounded; he’s already bounced back from a Week 6 knee sprain to lead three game-winning drives in the past month.

For the Baltimore Ravens, fan polls also reflect confidence in defensive adjustments—specifically, that the secondary will fix the communication lapses exposed by the Bengals. A CBS Sports NFL poll of 5,000 fans nationwide asked, “Which Ravens unit will improve the most in the final weeks?” The defense received 54% of the vote, with 31% of those respondents highlighting the secondary. This aligns with a local poll by WMAR-2 News, where 67% of Ravens fans said they “expect the secondary to limit top receivers like Stefon Diggs (Bills) and Amari Cooper (Browns) in upcoming games.” For the Baltimore Ravens, this fan confidence comes as the team has added extra communication drills to practice and shifted Kyle Hamilton into a more versatile “rover” role to cover deep threats. “The fans see what we see—our defense is too talented to struggle for long,” defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald said in a press conference referencing the polls. Fan Polls Predict Rebound for the Baltimore Ravens explores how this belief in defensive improvement is a cornerstone of fan predictions, as a strong defense will be critical to slowing down AFC rivals in the playoffs.

The Baltimore Ravens’ remaining schedule is another key driver of fan optimism, as reflected in a poll by NFL.com that asked 8,000 fans, “Which AFC contender has the easiest path to securing a top-two seed?” The Ravens finished first with 41% of the vote, ahead of the Chiefs (32%) and Bills (27%). Fans pointed to the Ravens’ upcoming home games against the Cardinals (4-9) and Patriots (5-8)—matchups where the team is favored by 10+ points—and a Week 17 showdown with the Cleveland Browns (8-5) that could decide the AFC North title. “Even if we split with the Browns and Chiefs, we still have enough easy wins to lock up a playoff spot,” one poll respondent said. For the Baltimore Ravens, this schedule confidence isn’t just fan hope; it’s supported by NFL analytics sites like Football Outsiders, which give the Ravens a 92% chance of making the playoffs—third-highest in the AFC. Fan Polls Predict Rebound for the Baltimore Ravens notes that this alignment between fan sentiment and data has strengthened optimism, as fans see the team’s path to a rebound as both realistic and achievable.

Finally, fan polls reveal a strong belief that the Ravens’ recent injury comebacks will fuel their rebound, with players like Odell Beckham Jr. (OBJ) and Roquan Smith expected to make a bigger impact in the final weeks. A poll by Ravens Wire asked 1,200 fans, “Will OBJ’s return to full health change the Ravens’ offense?” 81% answered “yes,” with many predicting he’ll form a dynamic trio with Jackson and Mark Andrews. Similarly, 76% of respondents said Smith’s return to the lineup will “significantly improve” the Ravens’ run defense, which struggled against the Bengals. For the Baltimore Ravens, this fan confidence in injured players aligns with the team’s own updates; head coach John Harbaugh recently stated that both OBJ and Smith are “100% healthy and ready to contribute.” Fan Polls Predict Rebound for the Baltimore Ravens concludes that these polls aren’t just about optimism—they’re about trust. Fans have watched the Ravens overcome injuries, losses, and doubts before, and they believe this season will be no different. As the regular season winds down, the message from the stands (and the polls) is clear: the Ravens’ rebound is coming—and it could lead them all the way to the Super Bowl.