The Baltimore Ravens were supposed to own the 2023 season, dethroning the Kansas City Chiefs in the process; they did finish with the best win-loss record. For a while, they looked as though they would. They set a new record for the most wins against teams with winning records. And by and large, they dominated said teams leading up to a restful regular-season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
A funny thing happened on the way to the Super Bowl, though. They lost. They reached the AFC Championship Game for the first time since 2012, sure. But the Ravens could not get past the defending champion Chiefs, who handed them their fifth loss of the season.