Sizzle Weighs in on The Ravens

The Action Network caught up with Ravens legend Terrell Suggs ahead of the season’s start, in an exclusive interview.

Key Takeaways:

• Suggs says this is a make-or-break year for the Ravens
• Suggs suggested The Ravens are missing a number one Wide Receiver
• The NFL as a business fears Lamar Jackson being the face of the league
• Terrell Suggs compared Lamar Jackson to Allen Iverson

Here are the takeaways from The Action Network’s interview with Suggs followed by my takes on what the Ravens all-time sack leader had to say.

Make or Break Year

When asked if this was finally the year the Baltimore Ravens can get over the hump, Suggs didn’t hold back.

“You never know, man. We hope so! But you know, the injury rate in the NFL is a hundred percent. You gotta stay healthy and you gotta win the big games.

You gotta win the game you’re supposed to, but also when the stage is the brightest, and stakes are the highest, you gotta play your best football.

[The Ravens] have been falling a little short on that in the previous year. So, I do think this is a make or break year. If they don’t make the Super Bowl, I fear the team may go in different directions everywhere.

They’re on the clock, so to say.”

TL’s Take: I agree with Suggs’ first two points but I don’t see the 2025 season as a make or break year. Not when Lamar Jackson is your quarterback – not given the Ravens depth. The window is always open given the way the Ravens operate.

Super Bowl or Bust

Suggs says the weight of expectations in Baltimore has always been heavy — and 2025 is no different.

“This is the NFL man, you know what I’m saying? This is America’s game. So, the pressure’s always there.

Our fan base in Baltimore, they only want one thing — it’s the Super Bowl or bust.

For us, making it to the playoffs isn’t enough. Winning the division isn’t enough. It’s gotta be the Super Bowl or bust.”

TL’s Take: Regular season success is now expected in Baltimore. What happens after that is anyone’s guess. It’s time for the Ravens to operate in the post season like they do during the regular season slate. I hope the coaching staff is listening. That said, if they do fall short again, dust off and do it again in 2026. That’s just how it works. This “bust” talk is silly hyperbole.

What’s Working — And What’s Missing

On the bright side, Suggs sees plenty to like about the current roster.

“It’s always good to have a two-time MVP touching the ball on every play, when your offense is at the helm. They have that in Lamar Jackson, so that’s always good!

They also got the big guy in the back, King [Derrick] Henry. Him running the ball, you know. But everybody knows a running back’s durability in the NFL. Even though he has exceeded these expectations being a big power back. It’s good to have those two back there.”

But there’s one glaring hole, in Suggs’ view.

“The problem areas — I think we need a true number one receiver. Mark Andrews and [Isaiah] Likely, they can only do so much, the tight ends.

We need a true number one receiver. The [Rashod] Bateman’s gonna have to be that guy for us, or Zay Flowers. I think they’re the best.

This is just my opinion. Number two receivers, you know what I’m saying? Zay is a killer in the slot. Not many nickel cornerbacks can cover him one on one.

But I think we need that true number one receiver, or someone to emerge as a number one receiver.”

TL’s Take: Zay, Bate and D-Hop are plenty good for the Ravens offense. Plus, Tylan Wallace always seems to make a play when called upon while Devontez Walker is an up and comer. Maybe Sizzle forgot about this thing called the salary cap.

Advice for Lamar & Why the NFL Is Scared of Him Becoming the New Face of the League

Lamar Jackson is the only two-time MVP in NFL history without a Super Bowl ring. If Suggs were in the locker room, his message would be simple: be yourself.

“Well, I think there’s no question about it. He’s the top quarterback in the league. I think the only one who’s got either as many MVPs or more is Patrick Mahomes.

I think last year was definitely a controversial MVP, even though Josh Allen had an amazing year. But Lamar had a better year than he had previous when he did win the MVP.

So, it’s like what are we doing? I think the NFL as a business is scared of Lamar Jackson, for him to become the face of a league. And I think that has something to do with him not winning the MVP last year.”

I would tell him, be Lamar Jackson, man. Be who you are. They’re going to harp on his game because it’s so unconventional. It’s not what they’re used to seeing.

You know, Vick [Michael Vick] got the same criticism. I think that comes from arrogant, offensive coordinators that want head coaching jobs, that think they’re offensive gurus.

People who love this game don’t really love change. They’re used to the guy from Foxborough standing in the pocket, lighting teams up and throwing the ball deep.

We’re used to Mahomes’ magic and then Lamar comes in with this South Florida street ball, backyard playing, and he’s tearing the league up. And they like, ‘whoa, that’s not the style of football we’re used to seeing.’

He just needs to like having the league bend to his will. If you look at it, it was the same way. It’s a different sport, but with Allen Iverson.

Allen came in, they weren’t used to the braids and the tattoos and his style of play at point guard. But now that’s everywhere in today’s game.

I would just tell Lamar to be himself, man. You being who you are is what got you two-time MVP.”

TL’s Take: I don’t think that street ball or braids had anything to do with Lamar not being the NFL’s MVP in 2024. I think it had to do with voter fatigue. It’s human nature to want someone new to be the champ or receive a lofty award like NFL MVP, but it doesn’t make it right. The best player deserves to be MVP, repeat winner or not. And the best player was clearly Lamar.

Suggs talks about Lamar’s streetball-style holding back voters, but Lamar did less of that in 2024 than he did in previous MVP-winning seasons. As for the Mike Vick parallels, outside of their respective skill sets, I don’t get the comparison. Vick never won an MVP because he didn’t deserve it. He was never the player that Lamar is and oh by the way, he murdered dogs. Iverson did win an MVP in 2001 because he deserved it, not because the voters somehow got over the braids and tattoos.

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Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2025/09/05/tltakes/suggs-on-the-2025-ravens/