Ravens Face $30.5M in Expected Point Losses from Penalties

The Baltimore Ravens have lost approximately 30.5 expected points to penalties through seven games, the third-highest total in the National Football League. According to SumerSports data cited in a report by The Baltimore Banner, the team leads the league with 38 offensive penalties and 27 presnap infractions. This includes 18 false starts and five delay-of-game calls. These mistakes have compounded a season of underperformance for the franchise.

The unit's struggles are most visible on third and fourth down when the line of scrimmage is within two yards. In a 35-13 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, the Ravens faced seven such situations and converted only three. Running back Derrick Henry accounted for one first down on a pass. His ground game has regressed sharply; he is now 2-for-9 on late-down, short-yardage attempts this season, a 22.2% conversion rate that ranks among the worst in the league. Last season, Henry converted 15 of 24 such attempts for a 62.5% success rate.

Henry’s efficiency has dropped across the board. He is averaging 3.9 yards per carry, which would be a career low. He has topped 100 rushing yards in only two games and has not scored a rushing touchdown since Week 4. Next Gen Stats indicate he has produced more rushing yards than expected on just 33.6% of his carries, placing him in the 30th percentile league-wide. That is a steep decline from last year, when he ranked in the 74th percentile.

Offensive line instability has contributed to the decline. The Ravens have used 10 unique five-man combinations this season. The departure of fullback Patrick Ricard and blocking tight end Charlie Kolar in the offseason left gaps in the blocking scheme. As a result, Henry is being hit at or behind the line of scrimmage on 46.9% of his carries, up from 40.4% in 2025. On short-yardage runs specifically, his early-hit rate is 63%, compared to 52.4% a year ago.

Discipline issues have plagued the offense all year. Entering Week 8, the Ravens have committed 60 penalties, trailing only the Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns in the league. Coach Jesse Minter noted that the team controls its execution. “We control where we go from here,” Minter told players on Monday. The team must improve before facing the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on Sunday. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is expected to return from an ankle injury for that game.

The pass defense has also struggled with long throws. On passes of at least 10 air yards, the Ravens allow 12.8 yards per attempt, the fourth-worst mark in the NFL. They give up 126 yards per game in that category, the ninth-worst total. Their deserved-catch rate is 83.3%, the second-worst in the league. This metric includes catchable passes that receivers dropped. The unit has missed tackles in space, with four defensive backs combining for eight missed tackles against Cincinnati.

Defensive performance in the red zone has deteriorated further. Opponents have scored touchdowns on 66.7% of their trips inside the 20-yard line this season. That rate would set the worst single-season record in franchise history since 1996. Last year, the defense allowed touchdowns on 50.8% of such trips, which ranked sixth in the league. Against the Bengals, the defense allowed five consecutive second-half touchdown drives from inside the 20-yard line.

Special teams remain a point of concern. Under new coordinator Anthony Levine Sr., the unit ranks 17th in overall DVOA. Kicker Tyler Loop is 5-for-5 on field goals of at least 50 yards but just 2-for-5 from distances between 40 and 49 yards. The return game lacks impact, with only one kickoff return of at least 40 yards and one punt return of at least 20 yards so far this season.

The Ravens now face a difficult stretch of the schedule. They must address short-yardage rushing, offensive penalties, downfield pass defense, red-zone stopping power, and special teams consistency. The team’s next test comes against the Bills, where they hope to secure their best win of the year.

Henry acknowledged his own play has fallen short of standards. “I got to be better,” he said after carrying the ball 17 times for 45 yards against Cincinnati. “It’s not good enough. Terrible. I’m looking at myself.”