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          NFL Nation

          Backup QBs, significant injuries didn't alter Ravens' season prediction

          • Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff WriterJan 5, 2018, 03:00 PM
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              Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.
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          The Baltimore Ravens ended their season on Sunday with a 31-27 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Here’s a look back at how I predicted their season would unfold.

          My predicted record: 9-7

          Ravens' actual record: 9-7

          How I fared: My predictions in April and August were the Ravens would finish 9-7. And guess what? Baltimore ended the season at 9-7. This was hardly a predictable season, though. I predicted the outcome of only half of the games correctly. The fact that the Ravens faced three backup quarterbacks instead of Aaron Rodgers, Andrew Luck and Derek Carr likely altered the results of those matchups. Injuries along the offensive and defensive lines (especially defensive tackle Brandon Williams) made an impact on early-season losses to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears. In the end, the Ravens finished with a mediocre record, which about sums up this season and Baltimore's track record since winning the Super Bowl.