Todd Monken's Creativity Needed More by the Baltimore Ravens

As the Baltimore Ravens fight to secure an AFC North title and reignite an offense that’s stumbled in critical moments, the need for offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s creative playcalling has never been more urgent. Monken, known for his innovative schemes during stints with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Georgia Bulldogs, has shown flashes of brilliance with the Ravens—designing trick plays, mismatches, and dynamic formations that exploit opponent weaknesses. Yet in recent weeks, as the Ravens have faced tough divisional rivals, his playcalling has leaned toward conservatism, leading to red-zone inefficiencies and missed scoring opportunities. For a team with a star quarterback like Lamar Jackson and playmakers like Odell Beckham Jr. and Keaton Mitchell, unlocking Monken’s creativity could be the difference between a playoff berth and a disappointing end to the season. Todd Monken's Creativity Needed More by the Baltimore Ravens explores Monken’s past creative successes, current offensive stagnation, how creativity can exploit divisional defenses, its impact on player engagement, and why it’s essential for playoff success.

Todd Monken's Creativity Needed More by the Baltimore Ravens opens with examples of Monken’s creative playcalling that have already paid dividends for the Ravens this season—moments that highlight his ability to think outside the box. In Week 6 against the Detroit Lions, Monken designed a “reverse flea flicker” that caught the Lions’ defense off guard: running back Rasheen Ali took a reverse handoff, then flipped the ball back to Jackson, who launched a 45-yard touchdown pass to Beckham Jr. The play, which Monken later said was inspired by film study of the Lions’ overaggressive pass rush, became one of the Ravens’ most memorable scores of the year. Another creative moment came in Week 9 against the Denver Broncos, when Monken used Jackson as a wide receiver for a play: backup quarterback Tyler Huntley took the snap, and Jackson lined up in the slot, then ran a deep route and caught a 20-yard pass—creating a mismatch against a Broncos linebacker. “When Todd dials up those creative plays, it changes the game,” Jackson said after the Broncos win. “It keeps defenses guessing, and it lets us use our playmakers in ways they don’t expect.” These moments have been too rare in recent weeks, however, as Monken has shifted to a more run-heavy, predictable approach.

Todd Monken's Creativity Needed More by the Baltimore Ravens delves into the current offensive stagnation that’s highlighted the need for more creativity—specifically, the Ravens’ struggles in the red zone and on third down. Over the last four games, the Ravens have converted just 52% of their red-zone trips into touchdowns, down from 68rlier in the season. Much of this inefficiency stems from predictable playcalling: opponents have learned to anticipate Monken’s red-zone tendencies (e.g., running the ball on first-and-goal from the 5-yard line) and adjust their defenses accordingly. On third down, the Ravens’ conversion rate has dropped from 45% to 38%, with Monken often calling deep passes instead of creative short-yardage plays that leverage Jackson’s mobility or create mismatches with tight end Mark Andrews. Film study by local analysts shows that the Ravens’ offensive formations have become more repetitive, with 70% of their snaps in the last three games using the same “11 personnel” (one running back, one tight end, three wide receivers) look—making it easier for defenses to prepare. “We’re seeing the same plays over and over, and defenses are catching on,” said former NFL offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. “The Ravens need Monken to bring back that creativity to keep defenses off balance.”

Todd Monken's Creativity Needed More by the Baltimore Ravens covers how Monken’s creativity can specifically exploit the weaknesses of the Ravens’ AFC North rivals—teams that have recently found ways to shut down the Ravens’ offense. The Pittsburgh Steelers, for example, rely on a aggressive 3-4 defense that struggles with misdirection plays; Monken could design more reverse runs or play-action passes that force Steelers linebackers to hesitate. The Cincinnati Bengals, meanwhile, have a secondary that’s vulnerable to slot receivers; Monken could use Andrews (a tight end with wide receiver speed) in the slot more often, creating mismatches against Bengals cornerbacks who are smaller and slower. In their Week 14 loss to the Bengals, the Ravens rarely used such creative mismatches, instead relying on Jackson to make plays with his legs—a strategy the Bengals had prepared for. “The Bengals and Steelers know the Ravens’ base plays by heart,” said Ravens beat writer Jeff Zrebiec. “Monken needs to throw them curveballs—plays they haven’t seen on film—to get the offense rolling again.” For the Baltimore Ravens, exploiting divisional weaknesses with creativity isn’t just a luxury; it’s a necessity to win the AFC North.

Another layer of Todd Monken's Creativity Needed More by the Baltimore Ravens is how increased creativity can reignite player engagement and morale—something that’s slipped as the offense has stagnated. Jackson, known for his love of dynamic plays, has spoken openly about enjoying the creative schemes Monken ran earlier in the season, saying they “make football fun.” Beckham Jr., who thrived in Monken’s creative systems in college, has also hinted at wanting more opportunities to make plays in unique ways. When the offense runs predictable plays, players can become frustrated—especially when they know their talents aren’t being fully utilized. In contrast, creative playcalling gives players a sense of excitement and purpose: it shows the coaching staff trusts them to execute complex plays and make big plays. “When you get a creative play call, it makes you want to go out there and nail it,” said wide receiver Zay Flowers. “It feels like the coaches are putting us in positions to succeed.” For the Baltimore Ravens, a more engaged offense is a more effective offense—one that’s willing to take risks and make plays when the game is on the line.

Todd Monken's Creativity Needed More by the Baltimore Ravens closes with why Monken’s creativity is essential for the Ravens’ playoff success—and how it can help them compete with AFC powerhouses like the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills. In the playoffs, defenses are more disciplined and better prepared; predictable playcalling will be shut down quickly. Monken’s creativity, however, can create chaos: trick plays, mismatches, and formation shifts can catch even the best defenses off guard, leading to big plays and scoring opportunities. The Chiefs, for example, have a defense that struggles with mobile quarterbacks and misdirection—Monken could design plays that let Jackson line up at wide receiver or run option plays with multiple ball carriers. The Bills, meanwhile, have a secondary that’s vulnerable to deep passes—Monken could use Beckham Jr. and Flowers in two-wide receiver sets that force Bills cornerbacks to cover them one-on-one. “Playoff football is about who can adapt and create,” said Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. “Todd has that ability, and we need to lean into it.” For the Baltimore Ravens, unlocking Monken’s creativity isn’t just about winning a few more games—it’s about making a deep playoff run. As the season winds down, the Ravens need Monken to bring back the innovative playcalling that made their offense one of the league’s most exciting earlier in the year. If he does, the Ravens could be a dangerous team come January—proving that in the NFL, creativity can be just as powerful as talent.