Kimberley A. Martin says Ravens’ season is a “failure” without Super Bowl, noting, “Each year they figure out how to lose.”

When ESPN NFL analyst Kimberley A. Martin declared on live television that “each year [the Ravens] figure out a way how to lose,” she didn’t just criticize their past playoff failures—she drew a line in the sand for 2025. Her follow-up sentiment was just as pointed: “If the Baltimore Ravens don’t make the Super Bowl this year, the season is a failure.”

It’s a bold statement—but one that resonates deeply with Ravens fans, players, and analysts alike. Baltimore has built one of the most consistent and talented teams in the NFL over the past several seasons. They have an MVP quarterback, a Super Bowl-winning head coach, and a defense that routinely finishes among the league’s elite.

And yet, every January, it ends the same way: heartbreak, elimination, and what-ifs.

This article takes a deep dive into Martin’s critique, the evidence behind it, the psychology of the current Ravens, and why 2025 represents a pivotal moment in franchise history.

A Familiar Narrative: Falling Short in the Postseason

The Baltimore Ravens are no strangers to winning. Since drafting Lamar Jackson in 2018, the team has been one of the NFL’s most successful regular-season franchises, including multiple 12+ win seasons and AFC North titles.

But in the playoffs?

• Record with Lamar Jackson as starting QB: 2–4

• Average playoff points per game since 2018: 13.7

• Home playoff losses: 2, both as heavy favorites

Despite building teams that can dominate in the regular season, the Ravens falter when the pressure mounts. They lose as favorites. They commit uncharacteristic turnovers. And they never seem to rise to the moment.

This is what prompted Martin’s harsh assessment: the pattern has become predictable.

“At a certain point, the excuses don’t hold up,” Martin said. “They have the talent. They have the coach. They have the MVP quarterback. But every year, when the lights get bright, they disappear.”

The 2024 Season: Another Missed Opportunity

Last season, the Ravens went 13–4 and secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Expectations couldn’t have been higher. The defense was dominant, Lamar was playing the cleanest football of his career, and offensive coordinator Todd Monken had fully implemented a more balanced passing attack.

Then came the AFC Championship Game.

• Final Score: Chiefs 17, Ravens 10

• Turnovers: Ravens 3 (including a red zone INT by Jackson)

• Missed opportunities: 1 fumble inside the KC 30, 2 failed fourth-down conversions

Despite a sold-out home crowd and a chance to dethrone the Chiefs, Baltimore crumbled. Kansas City didn’t win with heroics—they won because Baltimore beat themselves.

After the game, Jackson acknowledged:

“We just didn’t execute. That’s on me. I forced it.”

Why the 2025 Season Is Different

1. Time is Running Out

Lamar Jackson is entering Year 7. While he’s only 28, the clock is ticking on the Ravens’ current core:

• Mark Andrews is approaching 30 and coming off multiple injuries.

• Ronnie Stanley is declining.

• Roquan Smith, Kyle Hamilton, and others will soon be due massive contracts.

• Cap space will tighten significantly after 2025.

This team is built to win now. Another failed playoff run would almost certainly mean roster turnover and a retooling period.

2. The AFC Isn’t Getting Easier

The AFC remains stacked with elite quarterbacks: Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, and now C.J. Stroud. The longer the Ravens wait, the harder it gets to break through. They may never have an easier road to the Super Bowl than they did last year.

The Weight of Expectations

When a team is good for this long without a Super Bowl appearance, the pressure builds. It’s no longer about making the playoffs—it’s about what happens next.

Fans feel it. The locker room feels it. And Lamar feels it more than anyone.

Lamar Jackson: Still Something to Prove?

Despite two MVPs, Lamar’s playoff struggles remain a blemish on his otherwise brilliant résumé.

Critics cite:

• 6 playoff games: 6 touchdowns, 8 turnovers

• Completion percentage: Under 60% in 5 of 6 playoff starts

• Yards per attempt: Significantly lower than regular-season average

He’s been candid about his struggles.

“I get too hyped sometimes. I’ve got to calm myself down,” Jackson said earlier this offseason. “I want it so bad, and sometimes that’s when I press.”

That self-awareness is admirable. But awareness alone won’t quiet the narrative. Only winning will.

Kimberley A. Martin’s Commentary in Context

Martin isn’t anti-Ravens. In fact, she’s praised their front office and defensive identity in the past. But her comments reflect a growing impatience—not just from analysts, but from within the football world.

“When you’re built like this, when you’ve got this quarterback and this defense, you can’t keep coming up short,” she said on ESPN’s Get Up. “This isn’t about hate—it’s about reality.”

Other analysts echoed her sentiments:

• Dan Orlovsky: “Baltimore should be the best team in the league. But they find ways to blow it in the playoffs.”

• Ryan Clark: “They are mentally fragile when it matters most.”

A Franchise at a Crossroads

The Ravens don’t need a culture overhaul or new personnel. What they need is execution and emotional composure.

What Has to Change?

1. Turnover Margin
   They’ve lost the turnover battle in 4 of their last 5 playoff games.

2. In-Game Adjustments
   Offensive game plans have been predictable and conservative. When their first option fails, they don’t pivot well.

3. Poise in Big Moments
   The Ravens have a bad habit of starting slow or panicking late. Winning teams stay even. Baltimore doesn’t.

What Success Looks Like in 2025

This season, nothing short of a Super Bowl appearance will satisfy fans or the media. A second-round exit won’t cut it. An AFC title game loss won’t be spun as progress.

The bar has been set—and it’s set by the Ravens themselves.

They built this roster. They extended Lamar. They hired the right coordinators. They had home-field advantage.

Now they need results.

The Ravens don’t need to apologize for their past. They’ve been a top-tier franchise for over a decade, and most teams would kill for their consistency. But legacy isn’t built in September. It’s built in January and February.

Kimberley A. Martin’s quote may sting, but it holds truth.

“Each year they figure out a way how to lose.”

If the Ravens don’t figure out a way to win this time—really win—then history will repeat itself. And no one will be surprised.

2025 is Super Bowl or bust.