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Baltimore Ravens
Last Season: 5-11
Third, AFC North
Preseason power ranking: 15
.Quarterback Joe Flacco has shown no effects from a season-ending knee injury and returns to an upgraded offense. The Ravens are able to better protect Flacco after using the No. 6 overall pick on left tackle Ronnie Stanley, who has been nearly flawless this preseason. Baltimore can attack defenses more with its receivers after signing free agent Mike Wallace and the return of 2015 first-round pick Breshad Perriman. If nothing else, history says the Ravens will make the playoffs. The last time Baltimore failed to reach the postseason in back-to-back seasons was 2004 and 2005, when Brian Billick was the coach and Kyle Boller was the starting quarterback.
The Ravens already lost tight end Benjamin Watson (right Achilles) for the season, and Baltimore hopes last year’s trend of 30-something players getting hurt doesn’t continue. More than one-quarter of the Ravens’ roster is players 30 and older. The other concern is the cornerback position. Jimmy Smith is coming off a foot procedure in the offseason, and Shareece Wright has struggled in the preseason. The Ravens have to figure out how to slow down the likes of Antonio Brown, Odell Beckham Jr., A.J. Green, Brandon Marshall, Allen Robinson and Amari Cooper. Baltimore allowed 26 touchdowns to wide receivers last season, which was second most in the NFL.
Ravens’ percentage chance to win each game
Sept. 11 vs. Buffalo: 59.5
Sept. 18 @ Cleveland: 63.1
Sept. 25 @ Jacksonville: 47.3
Oct. 2 vs. Oakland: 61.0
Oct. 9 vs. Washington: 65.1
Oct. 16 @ N.Y. Giants: 46.7
Oct. 23 @ N.Y. Jets: 44.6
Nov. 6 vs. Pittsburgh: 49.7
Nov. 10 vs. Cleveland: 78.6
Nov. 20 at Dallas: 46.0
Nov. 27 vs. Cincinnati: 54.3
Dec. 4 vs. Miami: 67.9
Dec. 12 @ New England: 28.9
Dec. 18 vs. Philadelphia: 67.9
Dec. 25 at Pittsburgh: 33.2
Jan. 1 at Cincinnati: 35.6
Jamison Hensley’s game-by-game predictions
Hey, remember Flacco’s 2012 playoff run to the Super Bowl? His performance since then hasn’t been the same. And did you know he’s never passed for 4,000 yards? The Ravens were 2–4 without him last season but only 3–7 with him. -- Dan Graziano
Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti says losing linebacker Terrell Suggs to a season-ending injury in last year’s opener derailed the entire season. The Ravens say Suggs elevates the play of others around him, much as Ray Lewis did. The numbers back it up. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Baltimore is 11-15 (.423) and gives up 23.7 points per game since 2003 without Suggs. The Ravens are 109-73 (.598) and allow 17.9 points per game with Suggs.
Perriman’s two significant knee injuries have overshadowed the fact that he is the only receiver on the Ravens roster who has the unique combination of size and speed. Baltimore invested the No. 26 pick in Perriman last year for a reason. Steve Smith Sr. and Wallace will begin the season as the starters, but no one should be surprised if Perriman comes close to putting up comparable numbers.
In order to rebound this season, the Ravens need to find playmakers who can step up at critical times. Baltimore lost an NFL-worst nine games by eight points or fewer last season. It would’ve been a different season if the Ravens came through in the red zone (26th in the league) and generated turnovers (NFL-low six). Whether it’s Flacco or Smith or Suggs, the Ravens have to find players to deliver when it matters most or they’ll miss out on the playoffs for the third time in four seasons.