As we move on to the AFC North on our NFL season previews, we now take a look at the Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens’ two-season run of being the AFC North champions was snapped as the Steelers took the division for the first time since 2017. However, Lamar Jackson exorcised his demons with his first playoff win last season after two straight first round exits.
There are questions that still linger around.
The O-line, who was the 2nd-ranked O-line in 2019, was the 23rd-ranked O-line in 2020, and got manhandled in the three playoff losses. They also need a more well-rounded attack—better blocking, better passing and better catching, although Jackson is capable of throwing deep.
Calais Campbell and Brandon Williams are the anchors of an aging defensive line, while Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters are the backbones of a secondary that can cause havoc. The downside is that none of their returning edge rushers had more than three sacks last season.
At least they have the most accurate kicker in NFL history?
While other teams were zigging, the Ravens were zagging, with a run-first approach led by Jackson that defies the norm in the NFL, which has now skewed towards the passing game.
The Ravens ran the ball on 58% of their offensive snaps in the last two seasons, the most in the league (the Titans are 2nd, at 51%, and are the only other team with more runs than passes). With Jackson as the starting QB and the leading rusher, the Ravens put up two of the three most prolific rushing seasons in NFL history, with a league-record 3,296 yards in 2019 and 3,071 in 2020.
However, they were dead last in passing last season, with 171.2 yards per game, and there are now questions about the ceiling of this team. Even Marquise Brown pointed out after the Ravens divisional round loss to the Bills, “Whenever you’re the No. 1 rushing [offense] and the 30-something passing, that’s not right. That’s not balance. We’ve got to find a way to balance our game.”
Jackson remains as the only QB in NFL history to record two 1,000-yard rushing seasons, but had an off year last season, throwing 10 fewer touchdowns and three more picks. It’s likely that the Ravens believe his downfield passing game hasn’t developed as they hoped, and pandemic-disrupted offseasons are certainly not helping.
Brown and Mark Andrews are still his most popular targets, but everyone else isn’t too eye-catching. They addressed that by bringing in Sammy Watkins in free agency, reuniting him with OC Greg Roman, who was his OC with the Bills, and Rashod Bateman in the Draft.
The Ravens are driven by the ground game, and JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards are very solid complements to Jackson. Dobbins took over the starting RB duties in his rookie season and finished with 805 rushing yards, but needs to improve both as a receiver and pass blocker to be a three-down back. Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen as he is done for the season with a torn ACL. So now it’s up to Gus Edwards and Justice Hill to do the work at running back.
It’s also not a surprise that the first free agent acquisition was Kevin Zeitler. Getting Ronnie Stanley back is also going to help, as he missed the final 10 games of 2020 with an ankle injury. They also drafted Ben Cleveland, a tall guard standing 6’ 6” and 357 lbs., and he could get a starting spot immediately.
They tried three different players at center last season, and none established themselves as a legit starter. Bradley Bozeman, however, is expected to start at the position, where he played in his college football career at Alabama.
Trading away Orlando Brown Jr. to the Chiefs was a huge loss, and Alejandro Villanueva as a replacement is a massive downgrade, as he was constantly manhandled in his final season with the Steelers.
The Ravens built their roster to emphasize coverage over pressure, and that’s a major reason why they signed Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters to long-term extensions while letting Matt Judon and Yannick Ngakoue walk. Still, the Ravens need to generate a more consistent pass rush. Although they had 39 sacks in 2020 (ranked 14th), just seven of them came from edge rushers on the 2021 roster.
Calais Campbell, Brandon Williams, and Derek Wolfe are the guys on the interior 3-4 D-line, but all three are over 30. Campbell had the most sacks among returning players, but with only 4. Wolfe had a career-low one sack in 2020, but excels stuffing the run and in leadership.
The edge group remains the Ravens’ biggest question mark with the departures of Judon, Ngakoue, and Jihad Ward.
Tyus Bowser, who had two sacks and three picks in 2020, was brought back on a new deal, and they signed Pernell McPhee to a new contract too. Justin Houston, who had 8 sacks in each of his last four seasons, was signed to a one-year deal at the start of training camp. The Ravens used a first round pick on edge rusher Odafe Oweh, who had no sacks in 2020, but DC Don “Wink” Martindale raved about his speed and the creative ways his defense can utilize it. As for Jaylon Ferguson, it’s do-or-die time for him.
Patrick Queen led the Ravens in tackles, with 106 last season, in his rookie year, but admitted that his eyes got him in trouble at times, with quarterbacks moving him the wrong way with a fake, or overrunning a play and taking an incorrect path at the ball. The Ravens are intrigued by his athleticism, and new linebackers coach Rob Ryan will make sure that his rookie mistakes are behind him.
On the secondary, Humphrey and Peters are game-changers, as they combined for five picks (four by Peters), 20 passes defensed (11 by Humphrey and 9 by Peters) and 12 forced fumbles (team-record 8 by Humphrey). Peters’ 31 career interceptions are the most in the NFL since 2015.
Tavon Young should remain as the team’s slot corner, but health concerns still remain, as he played in just two games since signing a contract extension in 2019. Jimmy Smith returns for his 11th season to play safety.
Chuck Clark, a former 6th round pick, emerged as what is basically the defensive quarterback, and DeShon Elliott is a heavy hitting safety for his size. The Ravens need more plays from him, as the duo had just one pick in 2020.
As for now, the Ravens have one of the NFL’s best talents: A franchise quarterback on a rookie deal, which allowed the team to re-sign several Pro Bowl players. Along with a highlight-reel QB, an opportunistic defense and the best kicker in the league. This team is poised to be playoff contenders once again and the frontrunner to winning the AFC North. The Ravens gave him more passing options, and now he is on the brink of a massive extension. The pressure is on him to take it to the next level.
Schedule
Week 1: @ Las Vegas Raiders (MNF)
Monday, September 13, 8:15 PM on ESPN
The Raiders had a puzzling offseason when they shook up what was considered an elite offensive line and added Kenyan Drake to pair with Josh Jacobs. When you look at this matchup realistically, the Raiders don’t have as much talent on defense to keep up with Lamar Jackson and co. in check. It feels like they are clinging onto the fence of trying to either contend or rebuild. While the Raiders can put up points, defense will continue to be their biggest issue in 2021. That leads to a home loss for them.
Week 1 score: Ravens 34, Raiders 23
Week 2: vs. Kansas City Chiefs (SNF)
Sunday, September 19, 8:20 PM on NBC
Many expected this matchup to be the AFC Championship Game in 2019 and in 2020. It’s widely known that facing Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs on a short week isn’t a recipe for success. The Ravens think that they are better equipped to handle the explosive Chiefs offense, but the losses of Judon and Ngakoue lead to that thinking being cap. Shockingly, trading Orlando Brown Jr. to the Chiefs adds another layer to this. Jackson’s numbers in his three games against the Chiefs are not eye-catching, either. He has yet to win a game against them and has completed under 53% of his passes with a passer rating of 78.9. As of right now, there is still a gap between the two teams. Still, it’s a must-see matchup for two of the most explosive offenses in the league.
Week 2 score: Chiefs 38, Ravens 27
Week 3: @ Detroit Lions
Sunday, September 26, 1:00 PM on CBS
The Lions are a team that is going the wrong direction. Trading away Matt Stafford for Jared Goff is a major downgrade. They also lack the receivers to do serious damage. Goff also struggled against top-end defenses during his latter years with the Rams. The Lions also have a new coaching regime that can take time to gain traction. On the defensive side, the Lions gave up the most yards in the NFL last season and it’s hard to think that they will improve enough to slow down Jackson. Add in the fact that the Ravens have an improved skill-position group with Sammy Watkins and Rashod Bateman, and they should have no problem turning this into a potential blowout.
Week 3 score: Ravens 38, Lions 10
Week 4: @ Denver Broncos
Sunday, October 3, 4:25 PM on CBS
Whether it’s Drew Lock or Teddy Bridgewater under center for the Broncos, they still don’t pose a threat against the Ravens defense. They do, however, have a solid defense with a great secondary in Justin Simmons, Kyle Fuller, Ronald Darby, Bryce Callahan, and Kareem Jackson, so expect this game to be closer than it seems. However, they still don’t have enough to take out one of the better teams in the league. Expect Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton to get shut down by the Ravens’ cornerback tandem.
Week 4 score: Ravens 24, Broncos 17
Week 5: vs. Indianapolis Colts (MNF)
Monday, October 11, 8:15 PM on ESPN
If Frank Reich can get Carson Wentz back to 2017 form, the Colts can be a dark horse in the AFC. If Wentz’s struggles from last season carry on to this season, then the ceiling is capped. Early on this season, expect that Wentz and Reich still work things out for the Colts. They aren’t at the point where they are a true threat to the Ravens defense. The idea of Wentz being able to get this game to a back-and-forth high-scoring game looks to be out of the question now. The Colts’ front seven will likely have Jackson being asked to win the game with his legs. He should have no problem with that.
Week 5 score: Ravens 23, Colts 20
Week 6: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Sunday, October 17, 1:00 PM on CBS
The Chargers are a team on the rise after seeing that Justin Herbert is their franchise quarterback. During the offseason, the Chargers were able to solidify their O-line in front of their sophomore signal-caller, setting themselves up for success. Meanwhile, the Ravens had a brutal home schedule with six games against playoff teams from a season ago. That is why they must take advantage of games against lesser opponents. While the Chargers saw improvement this offseason, traveling across the country is likely too overwhelming of a task for Herbert and co. to take on here. Plus, they don’t have enough to take down the Ravens yet.
Week 6 score: Ravens 30, Chargers 23
Week 7: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday, October 24, 1:00 PM on CBS
Joe Burrow is on track to get the green light for Week 1 after missing over half of the 2020 season because of a torn ACL. He should be more than ready for this matchup. Also, expect the Bengals to be more competitive than last season with the receiving core of Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase. Four of the Bengals’ seven losses before his injury were one-score games. Unfortunately, the Bengals don’t have enough to keep up with the Ravens. John Harbaugh’s vaunted defense should feast against the Bengals’ inferior O-line. Although this game will be competitive, Burrow will be under siege in this game and won’t really have much of a shot to outmatch Jackson.
Week 7 score: Ravens 33, Bengals 24
Week 8: BYE WEEK
Week 9: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Sunday, November 7, 1:00 PM on FOX
This is one of just three games against non-playoff teams from last season for the Ravens. They are coming off a bye week, while the Vikings are coming off a loss in a Sunday Night Football showdown against the Cowboys. Kirk Cousins is still a solid starter in Minnesota, Dalvin Cook is a top 5 running back in the NFL, and Justin Jefferson has top 5 upside. However, the Vikings’ defense doesn’t match up well against the Ravens. They ranked 30th in defensive efficiency against the run, which is the Ravens’ specialty. The Vikings’ lack of talent in the defensive backfield will be costly towards them. Go ahead and place your bets on the Ravens for this close game.
Week 9 score: Ravens 30, Vikings 24
Week 10: @ Miami Dolphins (TNF)
Thursday, November 11, 8:20 PM on FOX
Expect this game to be a trap game for the Ravens. They’re coming into this game on a six-game win streak, but things could get ugly down in Miami. If Tua Tagovailoa takes his game to the next level, then Will Fuller V and Jaylen Waddle could bring trouble to the Ravens’ secondary, as they lack speed in the defensive secondary. However, expect this to be a defensive matchup that will likely come down to the ground game, which the Ravens have a huge advantage in that field. If not, then it will come down to who has the ball last. This is a hard matchup to predict, but in the case that the Ravens have the ball last, expect them to get some ground plays going and drive for the game-winning field goal.
Week 10 score: Ravens 20, Dolphins 17
Week 11: @ Chicago Bears
Sunday, November 21, 1:00 PM on CBS
The Bears are another opponent where their quarterback situation is uncertain. Andy Dalton will begin the year as the starter, but let’s assume that Justin Fields takes over by some point between Weeks 5 and 10. While he may one day be looked at as one of the elite quarterbacks in the league, he isn’t at that point where he can go neck-and-neck with a former league MVP, even if he is playing in his own home stadium.
Week 11 score: Ravens 28, Bears 17
Week 12: vs. Cleveland Browns (SNF)
Sunday, November 28, 8:20 PM on NBC
The expectation by most people is that the Ravens and Browns will go neck-and-neck for the AFC North title. The Browns arguably had the better offseason with the moves they made thus far and have established themselves in the conversation as a possible Super Bowl contender along with a deep playoff run. If this were to be the case, one or the other has to earn at least a sweep of the division rivals. The good news for the Ravens, however, is that the Browns won only three of their last 26 matchups against the Ravens. Although the Browns are a legit contender, this history is hard to ignore, and I expect the Ravens to take care of business at home.
Week 12 score: Ravens 27, Browns 24
Week 13: @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday, December 5, 4:25 PM on CBS
The theme of every Steelers-Ravens game is a heavyweight fight and expect that to continue here. Both teams should be in contention for a playoff spot by this point. Both teams have defenses that can keep them in this game. However, this could possibly be a trap game for the Ravens. Although the Ravens specialize in the run, the Steelers’ defense appears to be Lamar Jackson’s kryptonite. In four games against them, he had a passer rating of 59.2, with 381 passing yards, 3 touchdowns and 5 picks. The Steelers also revitalized their offense under new OC Matt Canada, who is a tremendous upgrade over Randy Fitchner. Ben Roethlisberger appears to be in good shape and, even though he is 39, appears to be turning the clock back to 2008 vintage. This game is going to be close, but the Steelers defense could likely seal the deal in the clutch.
Week 13 score: Steelers 27, Ravens 23
Week 14: @ Cleveland Browns
Sunday, December 12, 1:00 PM on CBS
Last season, the Ravens destroyed the Browns 38-6 at home in Week 1, while the Browns responded weeks later by making it a close game despite a loss in the “Stone Cold Lamar Jackson” game, 45-42. Expect things to be different this time. As said earlier, the Browns look to be the Ravens’ toughest foe in the AFC North. While they got the better of them at M&T Bank Stadium, it will be a much harder outing at FirstEnergy Stadium. Look for Baker Mayfield to take a leap in his development entering his second year in Kevin Stefanski’s system, making this Browns offense a well-organized group that is extremely difficult for teams to silence. Like the first game, this will be close, but homefield advantage is the deciding factor.
Week 14 score: Browns 34, Ravens 31
Week 15: vs. Green Bay Packers
Sunday, December 19, 1:00 PM on FOX
Aaron Rodgers is returning to the Packers for what could be one last dance with the team. He is the defending league MVP and shows no signs of slowing down. He can make quick work out of any defense he faced and expect that he does the same here to try and keep the Packers in playoff contention. At the same time, expect the Ravens to match up well with the Packers in what should be a very close game. But in the end, Jackson will be too much of a threat as an electrifying dual-threat given the Packers’ defense lacking speed.
Week 15 score: Ravens 31, Packers 28
Week 16: @ Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday, December 26, 1:00 PM on CBS
The Ravens swept the Bengals last season by a combined 65-6. While one of the games was without Joe Burrow, it tells that these two teams are not at the same tier. They’re also on a five-game winning streak against them, so don’t expect it to change here. The Ravens simply have no business losing to the Bengals by how these rosters are constructed as of now. Still, expect a close match.
Week 16 score: Ravens 28, Bengals 24
Week 17: vs. Los Angeles Rams
Sunday, January 2, 4:25 PM on FOX
Matt Stafford arriving to SoCal changes everything in a big way for the Rams. He boasts a better-than-average ability to get the ball to his studs in Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp. The Rams are also as well-rounded as you can hope to be and have lots of star talent on both sides of the ball. As long as they stay healthy, they will be a tough team to go up against, especially in a season where they would likely be fighting for the NFC West title. If he can have success against Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters, the Rams should pull off the win in this high-scoring game.
Week 17 score: Rams 34, Ravens 27
Week 18 score: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday, January 9, 1:00 PM on CBS
This is one of the best rivalries in the NFL, so this matchup between these two teams should be fun. Lots of fun. Given that the Steelers beat the Ravens in Week 13, the Ravens are looking to end their three-game losing streak. Now that the series shifts over to Baltimore, expect this game to be another close game and with the defenses duking it out. However, as with how the AFC North is going this season, homefield advantage plays a factor here, and expect the Ravens to prevail. The Ravens also win tiebreakers over the Bills and Browns, both based on strength of schedule, and snag the 2nd seed in the AFC as a result.
Week 18 score: Ravens 23, Steelers 20
Final Record Projection: 13-4
Projected Starters
Offense
QB: Lamar Jackson
RB: Gus Edwards
WR: Marquise Brown, Sammy Watkins, Rashod Bateman
TE: Mark Andrews
OL: Ronnie Stanley (LT), Ben Powers/Ben Cleveland (LG), Bradley Bozeman (C), Kevin Zeitler (RG), Alejandro Villanueva (RT)
Defense
DL: Derek Wolfe (LE), Brandon Williams (NT), Calais Campbell (RE)
EDGE: Tyus Bowser (WLB), Pernell McPhee/Justin Houston (SLB)
ILB: Malik Harrison (LILB), Patrick Queen (RILB)
CB: Marcus Peters (LCB), Marlon Humphrey (RCB)
S: Chuck Clark (SS), DeShon Elliott (FS)
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