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The Baltimore Ravens entered their bye week earlier this season at an all-time low for their standards – they were 1-5 after six games with their playoff hopes on the line.
Coming off their fifth straight win since then, the Ravens are now co-owners of the AFC North lead heading into the Thanksgiving home game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Only four NFL teams have managed to overcome a 1-5 start to the season and make the playoffs, but the Ravens are in position to make it five.
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Ronnie Stanley of the Baltimore Ravens in action during the third quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field on November 16, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Nick Cammett/Diamond Images)
Ravens All-Pro left tackle Ronnie Stanely spoke with PK Press Club Digital after a 23-10 win over the New York Jets on Sunday, where he said there really is no secret sauce to getting the season back on track.
This is Ravens football.
“I think it’s just about playing to our standards and not forgetting who we are and not forgetting what that standard is,” Stanley said while also discussing his “My Cause My Cleats” initiative this year with K9s For Warriors and his Ronnie Stanley Foundation.
RAVENS STAR KYLE HAMILTON FEELS TEAM CAN STILL WRITE A “GREAT STORY” DESPITE START OF SEASON 1-5
Stanley’s comments about his team’s rocky 2025 season echo what safety Kyle Hamilton had to say after Baltimore’s latest loss – a Week 6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
“Obviously we’re not in the position we wanted to be in as a team,” Hamilton told PK Press Club Digital at the time. “But if there are [team] who can do it is us. I think that’s the mindset of everyone in this building right now. Obviously the players, coaches, fans and everyone who supports us are disappointed with the results we have achieved so far in the season.”
Hamilton knew the Ravens had 11 guaranteed games on the schedule then, and they certainly had to reset during the bye week before returning after that.
The bye week also seemed to come at a perfect time, allowing two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson and others to get healthy. While the Ravens relied on Tyler Huntley to beat the Chicago Bears coming out of the bye, Jackson has led the offense since then during this winning streak.
Ronnie Stanley of the Baltimore Ravens lines up before the snap during an NFL football playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Still, the Ravens offense hasn’t quite looked like its old self with Jackson back. Even Stanley noted the Ravens could do more, but they’re piling up the wins needed to keep the playoff dream alive.
And it’s not just the playoffs. Stanley knows that what motivates Jackson is what motivates the rest of the franchise.
“His drive is to win a Super Bowl. That’s the only thing. He’s a little narrow-minded about it and that’s it,” he said of his quarterback.
It’s a short week for the Ravens now, and quarterback Joe Burrow is expected to finally make his return to the Bengals offense, as he has recovered from his turf toe injury that required surgery to repair earlier this season. Baltimore has seen Cincinnati’s defense struggle, but things change when Burrow is back in the mix, especially when they haven’t faced each other this season.
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“There’s a lot to look forward to. It’s a division game, it’s a division game we haven’t played yet. It’s going to be a physical game, it’s going to be a tough game,” Stanley said.
HELP THOSE WHO SERVE US
Stanley teamed up with USAA, the NFL’s official “Salute to Service” partner, to reveal his custom cleats he wore Sunday through content titled “My Paws My Cleats.”
He tells the story of the inspiration behind his cleats this year. K9s for Warriors, an organization that pairs service dogs with veterans in the Baltimore community, and its Ronnie Stanley Foundation, whose mission is to improve the quality of life for rescue dogs and people in need, have teamed up to raise awareness for veterans in need of a companion.
In the video, Stanley helps shine a light on the organizations while spending time with three local veterans at the Ravens’ facilities to hear their personal stories and the importance of their service dogs in their lives, both mentally and physically.
Baltimore Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley wore these special cleats to raise awareness for K9s about the Warriors and his Ronnie Stanley Foundation as part of the NFL’s “My Cause My Cleats” initiative. (USAA)
“It was very cool. It was a perfect marriage with so many similarities between what they do and what I do with my foundation,” said Stanley, whose father served in the Air Force.
“It was very touching to be able to hear some of these personal traumas that they experienced, how much it affected them when they returned, and what they experienced and are still experiencing. Also, how much they benefited from the service dogs that were provided to them, and how much it helped them and gave them a positive companion moving forward.”
