Ravens defense can make history with strong finish to season

The Ravens (12-3) have one of the best defenses in the league this season, and they can make NFL history if they continue their dominant stretch over the last two weeks of the regular season.

Baltimore is on pace to be the first team since the 1970 merger to lead the NFL in scoring defense, sacks and takeaways in the same season, per NFL Research's Tony Holzman-Escareno.

The Ravens are currently allowing the least points per game (16.3) as well as leading the league in sacks (54) and takeaways (26). However, their lead in each of the categories is by a small margin.

So, that is why the defense must stay hot against the league's best offense coming to town on Sunday. The Dolphins (11-4) offense is averaging the most total yards per game (411.5) and points per game (30.9).

But following Baltimore's dominant 33-19 win over the 49ers (11-4) in Week 16, nobody is worried its suffocating defense will take any steps back, including QB Lamar Jackson.

"They talk trash all day to us even when we're going against each other at practice. So you pretty much feel how those guys feeling on offense of the opposing teams," Jackson told reporters. "Our defense is phenomenal. I like the confidence in our defense."

The status of one of the Ravens' key pieces on defense is in question, however. Second-year safety Kyle Hamilton left last week's game with a knee injury and never returned. 

The No. 14 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, who has 81 tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble, four interceptions, 13 passes defensed and one touchdown on the year, didn't practice on Wednesday. But head coach John Harbaugh did say he was optimistic he, among others, wouldn't miss any time.

"It doesn't look bad for anybody," Harbaugh said after the game. "We're fairly optimistic about everybody."

Only time will tell, but Hamilton could be the difference between Baltimore making history in 2023 and falling short.