2017 Record - 9-7-0
Head Coach - John Harbaugh
2017 Offensive Ranking - 27th (305 ypg, 24.7 points per game)
2017 Defensive Ranking - 12th (325 ypg, 18.9 points allowed per game)
OFFENSE - Joe Flacco returns as the starting quarterback after passing for 3,141 yards with 18 touchdowns and 13 interceptions last year. Rookie Lamar Jackson (Louisville) is a dual threat who will likely be the backup to Flacco. Robert Griffin III is attempting a comeback with the Ravens and could get a roster spot as well.
Alex Collins rushed for 973 yards and scored six touchdowns and is the top running back. Javorius Allen (591 rushing yards, four TD and 46 receptions, including two receiving TD) is a solid number two runner.
There is a new group of wide receivers this year as Michael Crabtree (58 receptions, 618 yards and eight touchdowns with Oakland), John Brown (21, 299, three TD in only 10 games with Arizona), Chris Moore and Willie Snead will be the targets for Flacco. The tight end is Nick Boyle, who had 28 receptions for 203 yards.
Rookies Jaleel Scott (New Mexico State) and Jordan Lasley (UCLA) along with rookie tight ends Hayden Hurst (South Carolina) and Mark Andrews (Oklahoma) will be ready when needed.
DEFENSE - Linebackers Terrell Suggs (eleven QB sacks), Matthew Judon (eight sacks) and C.J. Mosley (two interceptions) lead the defense, which ranked 12th overall last season. Up front are Michael Pierce, Brent Urban and Brandon Williams.
The secondary is a solid unit with corners Jimmy Smith (three interceptions) and Brandon Carr (four picks) and safety Eric Weddle (six interceptions and one sack). Tony Jefferson and Marion Humphrey (two INT) add depth. Baltimore led the NFL with 22 interceptions and had 41 QB sacks while leading the league with a plus-17 in the turnover category.
OUTLOOK - The Ravens just missed the playoffs last year and are looking to re-tool the offense on the fly as QB Joe Flacco has many new weapons to throw to this season.
Head Coach John Harbaugh would like to see more consistency in the passing game, which ranked 29th overall (189 yards per game) last season. With the turnover in personnel at wide receiver, it could take some time to mesh, but Flacco has shown in the past he can get things done.
The defense is still very good, implementing the bend, but don't break approach. The Ravens finished sixth in the NFL in scoring defense (18.9 points allowed per game) while ranking 12th overall, giving up 325 yards per game.
After splitting the six division games last season, Baltimore has to do better if they want to overtake the Pittsburgh Steelers for the AFC North crown. A playoff spot is possible, but another 9-7 season is looming unless the offense picks it up from last season to take some pressure off the defense.
2018 TEAM SCHEDULE
Week 1 - vs. Buffalo
Week 2 - at Cincinnati
Week 3 - vs. Denver
Week 4 - at Pittsburgh
Week 5 - at Cleveland
Week 6 - at Tennessee
Week 7 - vs. New Orleans
Week 8 - at Carolina
Week 9 - vs. Pittsburgh
Week 10 - Bye
Week 11 - vs. Cincinnati
Week 12 - vs. Oakland
Week 13 - at Atlanta
Week 14 - at Kansas City
Week 15 - vs. Tampa Bay
Week 16 - at LA Chargers
Week 17 - vs. Cleveland
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