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          NFL Nation

          Ravens' most impressive start of John Harbaugh era

          • Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff WriterOct 1, 2014, 08:00 AM ET
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              Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.
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          This is the fifth time in coach John Harbaugh's six seasons that the Baltimore Ravens have begun a season at 3-1.

          This just isn't any season, though, This has been the Ravens' most impressive start to a season in the Harbaugh era.

          The Ravens are tied for the second-best record in the AFC despite cutting the second-leading rusher in franchise history (Ray Rice) a day after the season opener, losing their best tight end (Dennis Pitta) for the season by the third game and sitting their highest-paid cornerback (Lardarius Webb) for all but one game.

          When you count left tackle Eugene Monroe missing Sunday's game with a knee injury, the Ravens had $18.65 million of this year's salary cap -- 14 percent -- not on the field. Yet, the Ravens still routed the Carolina Panthers, 38-10.

          Dealing with distractions has been a challenge in itself. How often does an NFL owner address a roomful of cameras during the season like Steve Bisciotti did to address ESPN's "Outside the Lines" report. And, even though Harbaugh wasn't asked about the Rice saga on Monday, he was questioned about the University of Michigan's interest in him to be the school's next football coach.

          "Sometimes they say football reveals character," Harbaugh said. "It's galvanized us in some ways. We've been through a fire. It either makes you or breaks you. I feel good about that."

          The Ravens have proven to be a resilient team under Harbaugh. They've dealt with the death of loved ones (including owner Art Modell and Torrey Smith's brother), controversies with star players (remember Ray Lewis' deer antler spray?) and devastating losses.

          The reason why Harbaugh has the second-best record among active NFL coaches (74-39, .654) is his ability to turn a major weakness from the previous season into a positive the next year. The Ravens' run game has gone from No. 30 in 2013 to No. 9 after four games this year. Joe Flacco went from being sacked a career-worst 48 times last season to going the past three games without being sacked. They've gone from one of the most penalized teams to one of the least penalized ones.

          Even Harbaugh couldn't have predicted some of what has transpired. Their leading rusher is Justin Forsett, who had a grand total of six carries for a bad Jacksonville Jaguars team last season. Their leading receiver is Steve Smith, who set a record for being the oldest player to record over 400 yards receiving in his first four games of a season. Joe Flacco and Terrell Suggs have bounced back from terrible seasons, and inside linebacker C.J. Mosley is looking like an NFL defensive rookie of the year candidate.

          This isn't to suggest the Ravens should be considered among the leading contenders to win the Super Bowl. That will become clear if the Ravens are just as resilient with their next challenge: playing four of the next five games on the road.