NFL preseason video games sometimes enable veterans to readjust to sport velocity, whereas rookies and unproven gamers use the chance to attempt to make a powerful impression in entrance of coaches and followers.
When the Ravens face the Tennessee Titans of their 2022 preseason opener Thursday night time at M&T Bank Stadium, there shall be rather more at stake than only a roster spot. Baltimore shall be searching for to increase its NFL-record 20-game preseason win streak, which dates to 2015.
Even although among the Ravens gamers stated the streak hasn’t crossed their minds, they nonetheless assume it’s cool to be undefeated in exhibition video games over the previous six years.
“We haven’t lost in a while, right?” veteran tight finish Nick Boyle stated. “It’s cool. Everything you do, you always want to win. So, I think it’s something special.”
With a 37-3 over Washington at FedEx Field final August, the Ravens broke the NFL report set by the Green Bay Packers, who received 19 straight preseason video games from 1959 to 1962 underneath Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi. That run of dominance is nothing new for the Ravens, who’re 67-32 all-time in preseason play, together with 40-12 underneath coach John Harbaugh.
Fullback Patrick Ricard stated he doesn’t discuss concerning the profitable streak, fearing one thing dangerous will occur. Still, he couldn’t assist however admire the group for retaining it going this far — and outscoring opponents 477-219 alongside the best way.
“I think it just proves the depth we have here, the type of scouting and the draft [acumen] that the front office has,” Ricard stated. “It just shows that we’re always a ready team when it comes to preseason.”
Veteran security Tony Jefferson II stated the streak stems from preparation and specializing in the main points.
“Everything we do is 100%,” Jefferson stated. “As long as you’re not making the same mistakes, I feel like that gives you the ability to play fast, and I think that’s kind of the main key when you go out in preseason games — just play fast. It’s not like a big game plan that you really have to study; it’s pretty vanilla.”
Last preseason, the Ravens dominated their opponents. After defeating the New Orleans Saints, 17-14, they outscored the Carolina Panthers and the Washington Commanders a mixed 57-3.
However, beginning operating again J.Ok. Dobbins and linebacker L.J. Fort every tore their ACL throughout these victories, retaining them sidelined for the whole common season. Dobbins, a 2020 second-round decide, lastly returned to follow Monday because the Ravens slowly convey him again up to the mark almost a 12 months after he suffered the knee harm in opposition to Washington.
Harbaugh stated Saturday that he doesn’t plan to play skilled starters comparable to quarterback Lamar Jackson, exterior linebacker Justin Houston, newly acquired security Marcus Williams, tight finish Mark Andrews and cornerback Marlon Humphrey as he guards the well being of his front-line gamers after an injury-riddled 2021 season.
“I think you can kind of extrapolate who will play and who won’t, and then there will be some decisions with some guys that we haven’t completely made yet,” Harbaugh stated.
For Boyle, simply enjoying in any respect is one thing to be grateful for. The veteran tight finish suffered a knee harm in a street loss to the New England Patriots on Nov. 15, 2020, and didn’t return to the sector till Week 10 final season. The preliminary process, which he known as “the worst surgery of my life,” repaired meniscus, PCL, MCL and fracture injury. A clean-up process, which he underwent final summer time, additional delayed his return to the sector.
Even although it’s only a preseason sport, he’s wanting ahead to enjoying Thursday.
“I think that would be really good for me,” Boyle.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com