BALTIMORE RAVENS
2020 Record - 11-5-0
Head Coach - John Harbaugh
Key Additions - Sammy Watkins (WR), Justin Houston (DL), Kevin Zeitler (OL), Alejandro Villanueva (OL)
OFFENSE - Lamar Jackson is back at the quarterback position after passing for 2,757 yards with 26 touchdowns and nine interceptions last season. Jackson led the Ravens in rushing with 1,005 yards (6.3 ypc average) and scored seven touchdowns. Running backs J.K. Dobbins (805, 6.0 ypc and nine TD) and Gus Edwards (723, 5.0 ypc and six TD) form a formidable one-two punch in the backfield.
Marquise Brown (58 receptions for 769 yards and eight TD), Sammy Watkins (37, 421, two TD), Miles Boykin (19, 266, four TD) and rookie Rashod Bateman (Minnesota) will be the primary wide receivers along with Devin Duvernay, who had 20 receptions for 201 yards. The tight ends are Mark Andrews (58, 701, seven TD) and Nick Boyle, who had 14 receptions for 113 yards and two scores.
Baltimore led the NFL in rushing last year, gaining an average of 192 yards per game while the passing offense was last in the league overall, getting just 171 yards per game. The Ravens scored an average of 29.3 points per game while ranking 19th in the league on offense with an average of 363 yards per game.
DEFENSE - Calais Campbell (four QB sacks), Derek Wolfe and Brandon Williams man the defensive front while Patrick Queen (team leading 106 tackles), L.J. Fort, Pernell McPhee and Tyus Bowser (three interceptions) are the linebackers. Justin Madubulke, Justin Ellis and Broderick Washington provide depth up front. Reserve linebackers include Chris Board, Malik Harrison, Jaylon Ferguson and rookie Odafe Oweh (Penn State). Rush End/linebacker Justin Houston (eight QB sacks with Indianapolis last season) was recently signed as well and will be ready to go for the Ravens.
In the secondary are cornerbacks Marcus Peters (four INT) and Marlon Humphrey and safeties Chuck Clark and DeShon Elliott. Defensive backs Jimmy Smith, Tavon Young, Anthony Levine and rookie Brandon Stephens (SMU) will play as well.
2021 SEASON OUTLOOK - The Ravens made it to the divisional round of the AFC playoffs last year as Lamar Jackson got the monkey off his back with his first post-season victory. If they want to move on further this season in the playoffs, the offense has to improve. Head Coach John Harbaugh has seen his quarterback (Jackson) gradually improve in the passing game since his rookie season three years ago, but the team needs more balance on offense.
Baltimore brought in Sammy Watkins from Kansas City and are hoping he can get back to the form he displayed in prior seasons with both the Chiefs and Buffalo Bills. The other wideouts have to step up as well because it seems the go to target is tight end Mark Andrews and a deep threat has to come through to open things up. As long as the running game keeps pounding away, Baltimore can maintain a ball control attack, but they only scored 23 points over the two playoff games and that doesn't get it done.
The defense is certainly capable of keeping the team in many games and last season the Ravens ranked in the top ten of the NFL in four areas. They allowed 18.9 points per game (2nd) along with finishing seventh in total defense, giving up an average of 330 yards per game. The run defense allowed 109 YPG (8th) and the pass defense finished sixth overall, allowing 221 yards per game. The Ravens had 39 QB sacks and picked off ten passes while getting a plus-four turnover ratio.
Playing in the AFC North is never an easy task with the likes of arch-rival Pittsburgh and now the Cleveland Browns are a formidable opponent and even the Cincinnati Bengals look to be improving as well. Winning those divisional games is key to a successful season and an 11-6 record looks to be what might come about this year. That should definitely be enough to get a wild card playoff spot and possibly a division crown as well. How far the team can go in the playoffs will ride on the arm and legs of Lamar Jackson and that up and down offense.
2021 SCHEDULE
Week 1 - at Las Vegas
Week 2 - vs. Kansas City
Week 3 - at Detroit
Week 4 - at Denver
Week 5 - vs. Indianapolis
Week 6 - vs. L.A. Chargers
Week 7 - vs. Cincinnati
Week 8 - BYE
Week 9 - vs. Minnesota
Week 10 - at Miami
Week 11 - at Chicago
Week 12 - vs. Cleveland
Week 13 - at Pittsburgh
Week 14 - at Cleveland
Week 15 - vs. Green Bay
Week 16 - at Cincinnati
Week 17 - vs. L.A. Rams
Week 18 - vs. Pittsburgh
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