The Baltimore Ravens are coming off a 5-11 season, their worst under coach John Harbaugh, and they're looking to avoid missing the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2004-05, when their starting quarterback was Kyle Boller. The Ravens signed safety Eric Weddle, wide receiver Mike Wallace and tight end Benjamin Watson to rebound from a season that included nine games lost by single digits. Here are game-by-game predictions for the 2016 season:
Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 11, vs. Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m. ET
The Ravens kick off the 2016 season against the Bills and some old friends: coach Rex Ryan, quarterback Tyrod Taylor and new assistant coach Ed Reed. Baltimore is 3-0 against Ryan, outscoring him 53-20 at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens are also 4-1 under Harbaugh when starting the season at home. And remember Doug Flutie? Not from "Dancing With The Stars." Flutie was the last Buffalo Bills starting quarterback to win in Baltimore. That was 17 years ago. Record: 1-0.
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 18, at Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m. ET
This is advantageous way to start the road schedule. The Browns' starting quarterback will still be learning the system, whether it's Robert Griffin III or a rookie draft pick. No team has won more times in Cleveland since Harbaugh became Ravens coach in 2008. Baltimore is 7-1 over that span. How impressive is that? The Ravens won in Cleveland last season with Matt Schaub, who had lost his previous eight starts. Record: 2-0.
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 25, at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET
Last season's controversial loss to the Jaguars is still on the Ravens’ minds: Harbaugh referenced the missed false-start penalty earlier this month. Plus, the Jaguars have the league’s fifth-worst home mark (25-39) since 2008. Record: 3-0.
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 2, vs. Oakland Raiders, 1 p.m. ET
Oakland has the NFL’s second-worst road record (31-81) over the past 13 years, but this is one will defy the numbers. These aren’t the same old Raiders. Oakland is looking like a team that will return to the playoffs for the first time since 2002 after adding three of the top free agents available in former Ravens offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele, pass-rusher Bruce Irvin and cornerback Sean Smith. Record: 3-1.
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 9, vs. Washington Redskins, 1 p.m. ET
Surprisingly, this is just the second time the Redskins will make the short trip up the interstate to play a regular-season game at M&T Bank Stadium. History says it will be a long trip back for Washington. The Redskins have beaten only one AFC North team on the road since 2004. Washington also hasn’t put together back-to-back winning seasons since 1996-97. Last season, only three teams allowed more points on the road than the Redskins (28.7). Record: 4-1.
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 16, at New York Giants, 1 p.m. ET
The Giants invested $105 million to try to fix the NFL’s worst defense. But what about Eli Manning? He has never completed more than 14 passes in any of his three games against Baltimore, and his 51.0 passer rating against the Ravens is his worst against any team. This is one of 12 Super Bowl rematches on the 2016 schedule. Record: 5-1.
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 23, at New York Jets, 1 p.m. ET
The Meadowlands will start to feel like home for the Ravens at this point. It’s difficult to pick the Jets after franchise left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson retired and with star defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson remaining a no-show at offseason workouts. Oh, and Geno Smith is currently the starting quarterback. Record: 6-1.
Week 8: Bye
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 6, vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m. ET
Sure, it’s illogical to predict the Steelers will win in Baltimore after losing their previous three trips there. But how do you explain the Ravens’ injury-depleted JV team upsetting Pittsburgh in late December? In other words, expect the unexpected in this no-holds-barred rivalry. Record: 6-2.
Week 10: Thursday, Nov. 10, vs. Cleveland Browns, 8:25 p.m. ET
The Ravens are 5-0 in prime-time games against the Browns, including last season's thriller, when Will Hill returned a blocked field goal for the winning score. Hue Jackson, the first quarterbacks coach for Joe Flacco, faces a major challenge as the latest head coach looking to turn around the Browns. The past five Browns coaches all lost their first trips to Baltimore, getting outscored by a total of 104-36. The Ravens have limited the Browns to 19 offensive touchdowns in 17 games in Baltimore. Record: 7-2.
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 20, at Dallas Cowboys, 1 p.m. ET
Just like the Ravens, the Cowboys are primed to rebound with a healthy starting quarterback. Last season, Dallas was 1-11 (.083) in games that Tony Romo didn't start. Compare that to the 15-4 record (.789) the previous two seasons with Romo. This shapes up to be a tough road game for the Ravens, who have lost their past five road games outside their time zone.Record: 7-3.
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 27, vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. ET
The Ravens have lost their past two home games to the Bengals. They’ve never dropped three in a row. The key is slowing down A.J. Green, who has single-handedly beaten the Ravens. In the past two wins in Baltimore, Green has produced 358 yards receiving (22.4 yards per catch) and three touchdowns. The Ravens are in better shape to keep Green in check with a healthier Jimmy Smith and having added Weddle this offseason. Record: 8-3.
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 4, vs. Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m. ET
Flacco has owned the Dolphins, winning all five meetings with Miami (including the playoffs). His 97.8 passer rating is the highest of any quarterback who has played more than two games against the Dolphins since 2008, including Tom Brady (95.4). The last time Adam Gase came to Baltimore was last offseason, when he lost out on the Ravens' offensive coordinator job to Marc Trestman. And the last time the Dolphins won in Baltimore was 1997, when Jimmy Johnson was their coach. Record: 9-3.
Week 14: Monday, Dec. 12, at New England Patriots, 8:30 p.m. ET
The Ravens have no fear playing in New England, winning twice there in the playoffs since 2010 (and it would’ve been three victories if not for Lee Evans' failed catch). But there’s no tougher team at home than the Patriots. New England has the NFL’s best home record since 2001, losing just 19 times in Foxborough, Massachusetts, over the past 15 seasons. Record: 9-4.
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 18, vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 1 p.m. ET
Many will wonder who will be quarterbacking the Eagles at this point. Sam Bradford? Chase Daniel? A highly drafted rookie? Does it matter? Philadelphia returns eight starters from a defense that ranked 30th in the NFL last season and allowed more than 25 points nine times. Record: 10-4.
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 25, at Pittsburgh Steelers, 4:30 p.m. ET
Nothing says Christmas more than two of the NFL's fiercest rivals colliding. The Ravens have made themselves at home at Heinz Field, where they have won five times since 2010, including last season on Justin Tucker's 52-yard game winner in overtime. But that was against Michael Vick. Ben Roethlisberger has the NFL’s fifth-best home record since 2004. He’s also 9-3 (.750) including playoffs against the Ravens at home, with 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Record: 10-5.
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 1, at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. ET
Making the Ravens end the season in Cincinnati has become a cruel joke. Baltimore has finished at Paul Brown Stadium in five of the past six years with typically terrible results. The Ravens have lost more games in Cincinnati than anywhere else in the eight-year John Harbaugh era. In Baltimore’s past four trips there, the Ravens have averaged 18.5 points and thrown eight interceptions. It’s as though this part of the Ohio River has turned into the Ravens’ personal Bermuda Triangle. Record: 10-6.