Ravens Schedule Released: 5 Takeaways & Analysis
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The Baltimore Ravens still have nearly four months until kicking off the regular season, but business is starting to pick up with rookie minicamp and OTAs looming.
And now, the Ravens have officially set their 17-game regular season schedule, putting names and dates to the tour they hope ends with their fifth playoff appearance in six years.
But what should be made of the Ravens' slate? Is it favorable for a hot start? What about the bye week or closing stretch? Here are five takeaways ...
Early Season Opportunities Aplenty
Baltimore begins the season at home against the Houston Texans, who finished last season at 3-13-1 and will be rolling out No. 2 overall pick C.J. Stroud for his NFL debut at quarterback. The Texans, off of last year's records, are the worst team on the Ravens' schedule, leading to an advantageous start.
In Week 3, the Ravens host the Indianapolis Colts, fresh off a 4-12-1 season and potentially starting rookie first-round pick Anthony Richardson under center, creating another favorable matchup.
A road matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals sandwiches the two AFC South foes, while a pair of road contests with the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers follow, meaning Baltimore plays each of its AFC North rivals within the first five weeks.
Most pundits will lean heavily in favor of the Ravens and quarterback Lamar Jackson for the AFC South battles and starting at worst 2-1 seems probable ... but with the inner division matchups so early, there's a real opportunity for Baltimore to set the tone.
Biggest Game Comes vs. Biggest Rival
How about Week 18 vs. the Steelers?
Both Baltimore and Pittsburgh will enter the season with playoff aspirations and have grown accustomed to playing late-season contests with one another.
Of course, it's certainly possible - if not guaranteed - this shifts between now and early January, and mid-season turning points will arise ... but on paper, this has a chance to be a division- or even playoff-deciding affair between two rivals.
A Well-Timed Bye Week?
Baltimore has a late-season bye, coming in Week 13, the first weekend of December. It comes after a Sunday Night Football matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers and will be followed by a home game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Dec. 17.
The Ravens' bye came in Week 10 last year and was followed by three wins in four games. The later bye may cause some fatigue, but it presents the opportunity to get much-needed time off before hitting the home stretch.
Tough Stretch at Season's End
After hosting the Rams, Baltimore faces a difficult closing four games - road games against the Jacksonville Jaguars (Sunday Night Football) and San Francisco 49ers (Monday Night Football) followed by home contests with the Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Jacksonville, San Francisco and Miami all made the playoffs in 2022, while Pittsburgh has been tabbed to take a step forward with quarterback Kenny Pickett entering his second year.
By this point, the Ravens are expecting to be firmly in the mix for a postseason bid, and facing three AFC teams likely to be in the same conversation during the final few weeks will create high stakes and playoff-like atmospheres in late December and early January.
Strength of Schedule: Not-So-Rough Road
According to NFL Research, the Ravens face the league's 12th-easiest schedule based off last year's results, as their opponents finished with a record of 138-147-2, good enough for a winning percentage of .484.
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