The Ravens haven’t performed a sport since early January, however with the discharge of the NFL’s 2023 schedule Thursday, hope springs everlasting in Baltimore.
The Ravens, seeking to return to the postseason for the second straight season and get a full season with the newly signed Lamar Jackson beneath heart, will open their slate at house in opposition to the Houston Texans on Sept. 10 earlier than touring to face the AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals.
Four months from the Ravens’ season opener, 2023 predictions are virtually completely speculative. But somebody’s acquired to make them. Here’s what Baltimore Sun reporters Brian Wacker and Childs Walker, columnist Mike Preston and editor Tim Schwartz need to say:
Which sport are you most trying ahead to?
Wacker: Last 12 months’s Week 2 sport in opposition to the Miami Dolphins had over 1,000 yards of offense and 80 complete factors between the 2 groups, together with an epic fourth-quarter collapse by the Ravens, who misplaced 42-38. This season, the 2 meet once more at M&T Bank Stadium, however within the penultimate sport of the common season in a showdown that would have main playoff implications for one or each groups. If each quarterbacks are wholesome, this might one other high-scoring affair, even with Miami’s addition of All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
Preston: The Bengals have received the previous two AFC North titles, so they’re the staff to beat, particularly since they knocked the Ravens out of the playoffs final 12 months. The Bengals have upgraded their offensive line, so it is going to be barometer when Cincinnati hosts the Ravens in Week 2 at Paycor Stadium. Until confirmed in any other case, the highway to the AFC North title goes via Cincinnati.
Walker: The reply is perhaps the Week 16 sport in opposition to the 49ers if it was not on Christmas evening. But the good fascination with this staff will probably be coordinator Todd Monken’s new offense, with Jackson throwing to probably the most gifted set of targets he’s ever had. That unit will face a severe check virtually proper out of the chute with a Week 2 journey to Cincinnati. Early-season video games don’t come way more intriguing than that one.
Schwartz: The Week 2 sport in opposition to the Bengals will inform us rather a lot concerning the pecking order of the AFC North. But I’m taking a look at Week 7 in opposition to the Detroit Lions. The Oct. 22 sport is concerning the time of 12 months that the league separates among the contenders from pretenders, and if the Lions are as legit as some analysts suppose they’re, that would form as much as be a enjoyable sport to look at. Both groups have comparatively straightforward schedules to that time, too, so the data on paper may make this the sport of the week (hi there, flex schedule).
Who’s one of the best staff on the Ravens’ schedule?
Wacker: The 49ers went 13-4 final season, acquired to the NFC championship and will probably be contenders once more this season. Their protection is elite and so they’ll have a full season of shock star quarterback Brock Purdy and do-everything working again Christian McCaffrey.
Preston: The 49ers seem like probably the most balanced. They have some good weapons on offense and San Francisco may need one of the best protection within the NFL. The 49ers fly to the soccer, and so they get the Ravens at house on Christmas evening. Plus, the Ravens play Jacksonville the week earlier than. It will probably be check to see if the Ravens are playoff prepared.
Walker: The 49ers most likely have one of the best all-around roster. The Bengals have one of the best quarterback in Joe Burrow. So, slight nod to the reigning kings of the AFC North.
Schwartz: The 49ers are loaded. The Bengals are loaded. The Chargers must be higher. The Seahawks must be an NFC contender. The Dolphins are nonetheless scary. But let’s be trustworthy … a lot of the NFL’s elite received’t face the Ravens this 12 months.
Which opponent with a shedding document final 12 months (Houston, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Tennessee, Arizona, Los Angeles Rams) ought to the Ravens worry most?
Brian Wacker: The Ravens are 35-13 all-time in opposition to the Browns, however Cleveland has received six of the previous 10, together with the previous two in Cleveland. They’ll even have a full season from quarterback Deshaun Watson, who final 12 months was suspended for 11 video games, paid a $5 million high-quality and underwent skilled analysis and therapy as a part of a settlement with the NFL after he was sued by greater than two dozen ladies for sexual harassment and assault throughout massages.
Preston: It’s positively Cleveland. The Browns may have quarterback Deshaun Watson for all the season and so they have all the time had a robust working sport. Most of the opposite groups may have quarterbacks who’re unproven, however the Browns normally play the Ravens powerful. Plus, it’s an AFC North sport. I like what the Browns have on their inside strains, so it is going to be a bodily sport. Houston, Indy, Arizona and even the Rams are in a rebuilding stage however it is going to be fascinating to see how the Titans play Baltimore in England. The final time the Ravens traveled abroad they bombed in opposition to Jacksonville in London’s Wembley Stadium, 44-7, in 2017. Cleveland, although, presents the hardest problem.
Walker: Fear? None of them. The Titans nonetheless have fangs, and the Ravens should overcome dispiriting recollections of their final journey to London. But the Browns are the logical reply if Watson can come wherever near his peak type from Houston. They nonetheless have the front-line expertise to make a playoff push.
Schwartz: With Watson having a standard offseason and preseason, it must be the Browns. But a wholesome Matthew Stafford ought to make the Rams nearer to a contender within the NFC. But the Ravens received’t worry any of these groups, particularly Houston and Indianapolis, merely primarily based on schedule. Getting rookie quarterbacks in Weeks 1 and three is music to John Harbaugh’s ears.
Will all of the journey (25,422 miles) be an element on the finish of the season?
Wacker: These guys aren’t sitting in center seats in coach. The greater drawback for the Ravens than how far they’ll journey is who they’ll play within the second half of the season with 4 prime-time video games in six weeks, together with powerful matchups on the Los Angeles Chargers, on the Jacksonville Jaguars and on the 49ers on Christmas evening earlier than ending the season at house in opposition to the rival Steelers.
Preston: It actually doesn’t make a distinction. Schedules are accomplished upfront and each staff has to journey to the West Coast finally. Last 12 months, the Ravens acquired a break taking part in New England on the highway in addition to the Giants and Jets in New York. The furthest sport was taking part in the Saints in New Orleans, so there aren’t any complaints right here. It’s simply their 12 months to play groups within the NFC West, so cope with it. It is what it’s, so the journey can’t be used as an excuse.
Walker: They don’t have lengthy journeys sandwiched across the London sport. The Week 13 bye will assist, splitting up their final two journeys to the West Coast. And they’ll end up with two house video games. So no, it received’t be an enormous issue in the long run.
Schwartz: It’s the NFL, proper? They must be high-quality. But there are all the time questions on Jackson’s routine and preparation, so there could possibly be some fear about that with a whole lot of journey.
What’s your way-too-early prediction on the Ravens’ document?
Wacker: There’s each motive to imagine the Ravens ought to begin the season 8-2. Then the schedule will get powerful. Still, given solely a mildly tough total schedule, a wholesome Jackson, the additions of Odell Beckham Jr. and Zay Flowers, and being superb on protection, the offensive line and particular groups, 12-5 feels simply attainable.
Preston: 11-6. It all comes right down to if Jackson can keep wholesome for all the season. Again.
Walker: 11-6.
Schwartz: I’ll say 12-5. Way-too-early prediction? They lose to the Bengals (Week 2), Steelers (Week 5), Lions (Week 7), Chargers (Week 12) and 49ers (Week 16). Optimism!
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Source: www.bostonherald.com