In Week 9, J.J. McCarthy and the Minnesota Vikings got their swagger back. The Vikings had lost their last two games, and McCarthy had been sidelined with an ankle injury since Week 2. Against the Detroit Lions, though, McCarthy led the team to a win with a three-touchdown performance. Now, entering Week 10 at 4-4, Minnesota will try to keep things rolling in a home game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Looking at Baltimore on paper, it’s easy to overlook the franchise that’s usually a perennial contender. The Ravens are 3-5 on the season, and injuries, along with abysmal defense, have kept them from meeting expectations. However, it would be a mistake for the Vikings to think Sunday’s game will be easy. In addition to Baltimore being a squad that could look like the best team in the league on any given day, a closer look at the Ravens in recent weeks shows a defensive adjustment that could give McCarthy and the Minnesota offense trouble.
The Ravens' defense could be a tough challenge for the Minnesota Vikings after recent adjustments
On the season, Baltimore is allowing 373.6 yards per game, which is 27th in the NFL. That breaks down to 250.1 passing yards per game (28th) and 123.6 rushing yards per game (21st). The Ravens also have the 24th-ranked scoring defense, giving up 27.0 points per game. However, those numbers are largely skewed by the abysmal defense Baltimore was playing early in the year. A recent change has led to the Ravens playing a brand of defense much more familiar to the franchise.
After Week 5 of the season, Baltimore sent edge defender Odafe Oweh to the Los Angeles Chargers for safety Alohi Gilman and a swap of late-round picks. It was a move that largely went overlooked, but it helped get the Ravens' defense back on track. Since Gilman joined the team, Baltimore has played like one of the best defenses in the league.
The #Ravens trade for S Alohi Gilman was an interesting one, especially because they traded away Odafe Oweh, a first-rounder.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 31, 2025
Yet since the deal, Baltimore has allowed 13.0 points per game, 3rd-best entering Sunday of Week 9. Full chart, via @NFLPlus. pic.twitter.com/iY2lI5rOpV
Placing Gilman at safety, the Ravens now have the luxury of moving defensive chess piece Kyle Hamilton all around the formation, and lining him up closer to the line of scrimmage. That change has been reflected in Baltimore’s numbers over their last three games, allowing an average of just 13 points, 315 yards, 229.3 passing yards, and 85.7 rushing yards per game.
The three teams the Ravens faced in that span were the Los Angeles Rams, Chicago Bears, and Miami Dolphins. Baltimore held them to 17, 16, and six, respectively. Now, McCarthy and the Vikings will have to contend with this unit, which has found its stride.