2019 Record - 14-2-0
Head Coach - John Harbaugh
New Players in 2020 - Calais Campbell (DL), D.J. Fluker (OL), Derek Wolfe (DL), Jake Ryan (LB)
Players opting out for 2020 season (COVID-19) - De'Anthony Thomas (KR/WR), Andre Smith (OL)
OFFENSE - Quarterback Lamar Jackson won the NFL Most Valuable Player award in 2019 by doing it all on offense. He passed for 3,127 yards with 36 touchdowns and only six interceptions while also setting a new NFL record for rushing yards by a quarterback in a single season, getting 1,206 yards (6.9 ypc average) and scored seven touchdowns. Veteran Robert Griffin III is the primary backup.
Mark Ingram (1,018 yards, 5.0 ypc, 10 TD) and Gus Edwards (711, 5.3, two TD) handle the rushing duties. Rookie draft pick J.K. Dobbins (Ohio State) will be in the fold as well.
Tight ends Mark Andrews (64 receptions, 852 yards, 10 TD) and Nick Boyle (31, 321, two TD) form a solid duo in the passing game. The wide receivers include Willie Snead (31, 339, five TD), Marquise Brown (46, 584, seven TD), Miles Boykin (13, 198, three TD) and rookies Devin Duvernay (Texas) and James Proche (SMU).
DEFENSE - Derek Wolfe (seven QB sacks) and Calais Campbell (6 1/2 sacks) join Brandon Williams on the defensive line this season. The linebackers are Matthew Judon (9 1/2 QB sacks), Tyus Bowser (five sacks), Jake Ryan, Jaylon Ferguson and rookie Patrick Queen (LSU) who is expected to have an immediate impact on a solid defense.
The secondary features corners Marlon Humphrey (three interceptions) and Marcus Peters (three picks with two for touchdowns) along with safeties Chuck Clark and Earl Thomas, who had two interceptions. Jimmy Smith and Anthony Levine provide depth.
The Ravens allowed 17.6 points per game a year ago (third in NFL) and their defense finished fourth overall, allowing 300 yards per game while getting 37 sacks and intercepting thirteen passes and also had a plus-10 in the turnover category. They were fifth against the run (93 yards per game allowed) and sixth against the pass, giving up 207 yards per game.
OUTLOOK FOR 2020 - While Jackson and company ran roughshod over the entire league in 2019, topping the NFL in rushing yardage (206 yards per game for a new league single season record) and also topping the NFL in scoring with 33.2 points per game, they again struggled in the playoffs and were one-and-done.
Baltimore ranked second overall in total offense, averaging 408 yards per game, but for the Ravens to achieve success in the playoffs, a more balanced offense is needed (Ravens were 27th in passing with only 202 yards per game) for the 2020 season.
Head Coach John Harbaugh took a gamble two years ago when the team decided to restructure the offense around Jackson. And while that has paid huge dividends in the regular season, opponents simply stack their defense and focus on containing Jackson by forcing him to throw the ball and making mistakes. That happened for the second consecutive season in their loss to Tennessee in the divisional round of the playoffs.
Make no mistake, this team is loaded on both sides of the line of scrimmage and as long as key players don't get injured or have to quarantine for any lengthy periods in 2020, they should have success again and make the playoffs. A Super Bowl appearance is a definite possibility, but how far they go this time around will depend on the Ravens adjusting their own game plan to counter their foes.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - vs. Cleveland
Week Two - at Houston
Week Three - vs. Kansas City
Week Four - at Washington
Week Five - vs. Cincinnati
Week Six - at Philadelphia
Week Seven - vs. Pittsburgh
Week Eight - BYE
Week Nine - at Indianapolis
Week Ten - at New England
Week Eleven - vs. Tennessee
Week Twelve - at Pittsburgh
Week Thirteen - vs. Dallas
Week Fourteen - at Cleveland
Week Fifteen - vs. Jacksonville
Week Sixteen - vs. N.Y. Giants
Week Seventeen - at Cincinnati
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