OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens have gone from having the worst defense in terms of making interceptions to one of the best.

The Ravens have picked off almost as many passes through three games this season (five) as the entire 2015 season (six). Why? It comes down to the confidence in making them.

"The more you make picks, the easier it is to make another pick," defensive coordinator Dean Pees said. "When you drop it, it’s like going to the free throw line when you shoot and it goes off the back of the rim. That’s what you’re thinking about the next time you shoot the free throw. You’re not thinking about it going to the bottom of the net. You’re thinking about missing it. It’s the same thing with interceptions."

In Baltimore's two most recent wins, the last play for the defense has been an interception. David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire

Last season, the Ravens picked off an NFL-low six passes. There were four players who had more interceptions than Baltimore in 2015.

This year, the Ravens rank second in the NFL with five interceptions. Only the Kansas City Chiefs have more with eight.

Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco thinks the turnovers are the result of increased pressure applied by the front four, which removes pressure off the secondary.

"I think it has a lot to do with our pass rush and getting quarterbacks off the mark a little bit," Flacco said.

Taking the ball away on defense has been the difference in turning around a 5-11 team into a 3-0 one. Last season, the Ravens lost nine games by eight points or fewer because their defense couldn't make the final stop.

In Baltimore's two most recent wins this year, the last play for the defense has been an interception. C.J. Mosley picked off Josh McCown on the Ravens' 1-yard line, and Zach Orr picked off Blake Bortles near midfield.

In the fourth quarter this season, Baltimore has recorded three interceptions while allowing no touchdowns. The Ravens have held quarterbacks to the third-worst rating (32.8) in the fourth quarter.

“As a defense, whenever we’re the last people on the field, we want to make plays,” Orr said. “We emphasize throughout the whole game, throughout the whole season, that we need to make more plays. Coach [John] Harbaugh said that very clearly -- we’re looking for playmakers -- and that’s what we’re trying to do.”