The Ravens' 2024 schedule has arrived.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Time/Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 5 | at Kansas City Chiefs | 8:20 PM | NBC |
| 2 | September 15 | vs. Las Vegas Raiders | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 3 | September 22 | at Dallas Cowboys | 4:25 PM | FOX |
| 4 | September 29 | vs. Buffalo Bills | 8:20 PM | NBC |
| 5 | October 6 | at Cincinnati Bengals | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 6 | October 13 | vs. Washington Commanders | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 7 | October 21 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 8:15 PM | ESPN |
| 8 | October 27 | at Cleveland Browns | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 9 | November 3 | vs. Denver Broncos | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 10 | November 7 | vs. Cincinnati Bengals | 8:15 PM | Prime Video |
| 11 | November 17 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 12 | November 25 | at Los Angeles Chargers | 8:15 PM | ESPN |
| 13 | December 1 | vs. Philadelphia Eagles | 4:25 PM | CBS |
| 14 | BYE | ||
| 15 | December 15 | at New York Giants | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 16 | December 21 | vs. Pittsburgh Steelers | 4:30 PM | FOX |
| 17 | December 25 | at Houston Texans | 4:30 PM | Netflix |
| 18 | TBD | vs. Cleveland Browns | TBD |
Here are my top takeaways:
Get ready for primetime.
The Ravens have five primetime games, plus a Christmas Day game and a Saturday game. So that's seven nationally-televised games.
In addition to kicking off the NFL regular season against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Ravens play under the lights at M&T Bank Stadium against the Bills and Bengals, and on the road in Tampa Bay and versus the Los Angeles Chargers. Baltimore will be in Houston for Christmas and against the Steelers on Saturday in Week 16. Baltimore only has seven 1 p.m. kickoffs.
It comes as no surprise considering the Ravens are one of the league's premier teams and are led by electrifying two-time MVP Lamar Jackson. Simply put, Jackson is one of the most fun players in the NFL to watch.
More primetime games are fun, but it also means an unusual lineup. The Ravens have seven Sundays off as of now and play three games in 10 days in December against the Giants, Steelers, and Texans. That's a tough final stretch.
Christmas … again!
Speaking of the primetime games, having a Christmas Day game for a second straight year is unusual. Having it on a Wednesday makes it even rarer.
This will be the fourth time in Ravens history that they've played on Christmas. Only two teams, the Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys, will have played more Christmas games.
Thursday games are already tough on players' bodies with a short recovery turnaround. This Wednesday game isn't tougher since the league gave the Ravens a Saturday game (vs. Steelers) the week before, so it still leaves four days between just like a typical Sunday-Thursday turnaround. But it means back-to-back weeks of short rest and, as stated above, three games in 10 days.
The Ravens' opponent, the Texans, will have the same disadvantage. So will the rival Chiefs and Steelers, who play in the other Christmas game.
Some fans may like adding even more sizzle to the holiday. Others, specifically those who don't subscribe to Netflix, won't like this.
What makes you feel better about it is that the Ravens won in San Francisco on Christmas last year, making for a jolly holiday. The Ravens and fans will hope for the same result against a challenging foe that Baltimore defeated in last year's divisional playoffs.
P.S. – It's surprising that the HarBowl between the Ravens and Chargers isn't on Thanksgiving or Christmas. That seemed to be a slam dunk. Instead, one Harbaugh brother will have bragging rights at the Thanksgiving table three days after they play. John is 2-0, including Super Bowl XLVII.
Kansas City Chiefs
Head Coach: Andy Reid
2023 record: 11-6 (Super Bowl champions)
Key additions: WR Marquise Brown, TE Irv Smith Jr.
Key losses: LB Willie Gay Jr., G Nick Allegretti, P Tommy Townsend
Top Pick: WR Xavier Worthy
Las Vegas Raiders
Head Coach: Antonio Pierce
2023 record: 8-9
Key additions: DT Christian Wilkins, RB Alexander Mattison, QB Gardner Minshew, TE Harrison Bryant
Key losses: RB Josh Jacobs, QB Jimmy Garopollo, WR Hunter Renfro, DT Bilal Nichols, TE Austin Hooper
Top Pick: TE Brock Bowers
Dallas Cowboys
Head Coach: Mike McCarthy
2023 record: 12-5
Key additions: LB Eric Kendricks
Key losses: OT Tyron Smith, RB Tony Pollard, LB Leighton Vander Esch
Top Pick: OT Tyler Guyton
Buffalo Bills
Head Coach: Sean McDermott
2023 record: 11-6
Key additions: WR Curtis Samuel, QB Mitch Trubisky, S Taylor Rapp, S Mike Edwards
Key losses: WR Gabe Davis, S Jordan Poyer, LB Tyrel Dodson, LB Leonard Floyd
Top Pick: WR Keon Coleman
Cincinnati Bengals
Head Coach: Zac Taylor
2023 record: 9-7
Key additions: S Geno Stone, RB Zack Moss, OT Trent Brown, DT Sheldon Rankins, TE Mike Gesicki
Key losses: RB Joe Mixon, OT Jonah Williams, DE D.J. Reader, CB Chidobe Awuzie
Top Pick: OT Amarius Mims
Washington Commanders
Head Coach: Dan Quinn
2023 record: 4-13
Key additions: RB Austin Ekeler, C Tyler Biadasz, G Nick Allegretti, LB Frankie Luvu, LB Bobby Wagner, DE Danter Fowler Jr., TE Zach Ertz, S Jeremy Chinn, QB Marcus Mariota, DE Dorance Armstrong, LS Tyler Ott
Key losses: CB Kendall Fuller, S Kamren Curl, WR Curtis Samuel, RB Antonio Gibson
Top Pick: QB Jayden Daniels
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Head Coach: Todd Bowles
2023 record: 9-8
Key additions: CB Bryce Hall, OL Ben Bredeson, G Sua Opeta, CB Tavierre Thomas
Key losses: LB Devin White, LB Shaquil Barrett, CB Carlton Davis, G Nick Leverett, G Aaron Stinnie
Top Pick: C Graham Barton
Cleveland Browns
Head Coach: Kevin Stefanski
2023 record: 11-6
Key additions: WR Jerry Jeudy, QB Jameis Winston, QB Tyler Huntley, LB Devin Bush, LB Jordan Hicks, RB Nyheim Hines, RB D'Onta Foreman
Key losses: QB Joe Flacco, DT Jordan Elliott, LB Anthony Walker Jr., CB Mike Ford Jr.
Top Pick: DT Michael Hall Jr.
Denver Broncos
Head Coach: Sean Payton
2023 record: 8-9
Key additions: S Brandon Jones, LB Cody Barton, DE Malcolm Roach
Key losses: QB Russell Wilson, WR Jerry Jeudy, C Lloyd Cushenberry, LB Josey Jewell, DT Jonathan Harris
Top Pick: QB Bo Nix
Pittsburgh Steelers
Head Coach: Mike Tomlin
2023 record: 10-7
Key additions: QB Russell Wilson, QB Justin Fields, LB Patrick Queen, S DeShon Elliott, WR Van Jefferson, CB Donte Jackson
Key losses: WR Dionte Johnson, QB Kenny Pickett, CB Patrick Peterson, WR Allen Robinson II
Top Pick: OT Troy Fautanu
Los Angeles Chargers
Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh
2023 record: 5-12
Key additions: RB Gus Edwards, C Bradley Bozeman, TE Hayden Hurst, LB Denzel Perryman, TE Will Dissly
Key losses: WR Keenan Allen, WR Mike Williams, RB Austin Ekeler, LB Eric Kendricks, LB Kenneth Murray Jr.
Top Pick: OT Joe Alt
Philadelphia Eagles
Head Coach: Nick Sirianni
2023 record: 11-6
Key additions: RB Saquon Barkley, DE/LB Bryce Huff, WR Parris Campbell, LB Devin White, QB Kenny Pickett
Key losses: C Jason Kelce, DT Fletcher Cox, S Kevin Byard, RB De'Andre Swift, G Sua Opeta
Top Pick: CB Quinyon Mitchell
New York Giants
Head Coach: Brian Daboll
2023 record: 6-11
Key additions: LB Brian Burns, RB Devin Singletary, G Jon Runyan Jr., G Aaron Stinnie, CB Jalen Mills, OL Jermaine Eluemunor
Key losses: RB Saquon Barkley, S Xavier McKinney, OL Ben Bredeson, WR Parris Campbell, QB Tyrod Taylor, LB Jihad Ward, DT A'Shawn Robinson, OT Matt Peart
Top Pick: WR Malik Nabers
Houston Texans
Head Coach: DeMeco Ryans
2023 record: 10-7
Key additions: DE Danielle Hunter, DE Denico Autry, LB Azeez Al-Shaair, CB Jeff Okudah, LB Del'Shawn Phillips
Key losses: DE Jonathan Greenard, RB Devin Singletary, DT Sheldon Rankins, LB Blake Cashman
Top Pick: CB Kamari Lassiter
The AFC North won't be settled for a while.
The Ravens don't play their first AFC North game until Week 5 (in Cincinnati) and only have one in the first seven weeks.
This is a dramatic departure from last season, when Baltimore had three divisional games (all on the road) in the first five weeks. That series of games put the Ravens in the driver's seat of the AFC North.
This year, there won't be a clear leader in the division until late in the season. Perhaps that's just the way the NFL likes it, as the best division in football is expected to be even more tightly contested this year.
The Ravens finish with five divisional games over their final 10, including a stretch from Weeks 8-11 when they play each of their AFC North foes.
Jump out in front or rebound in the second quarter.
It's been known for months that the Ravens have the second-most-difficult schedule in the league based on their opponents' win percentage from last season.
We already knew the Ravens would have a great test with an AFC Championship rematch against the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs to kick off the season. Beyond that, the Ravens' first five games will set the tone for the season. Per Sharp Football's Warren Sharp, the Ravens have the most difficult schedule in the first five weeks of any team in the league.
The Chiefs, Raiders, Cowboys, Bills, and Bengals were a combined 51-34 last year and all (except the Raiders) are expected to contend for a conference title in 2024. If the Ravens come out of the gates hot, they can take pole position in the AFC. If they don't, they'll need a strong rebound in quarter two.
There aren't any "soft" spots in the Ravens' schedule, but the lightest is from Weeks 6-9 when the Ravens play the Commanders, Buccaneers, Browns, and Broncos, who had a combined record of 32-36 last season. It's essentially the second quarter of the schedule if broken into four chunks.
It says something about the difficulty of the Ravens' schedule that two of those teams, the Bucs and Browns, were in last year's playoffs.
Late bye will test endurance but help late.
If you thought last year's Week 13 bye was late, it's in Week 14 this year. It's the last possible week to have the bye and the latest in Ravens history since 2000. That year turned out well with a Lombardi Trophy.
A stretch of 13 straight games to open the season is a long haul that will test Ravens players' endurance and physical recovery. Strength & Conditioning Coordinator Scott Elliott and Director of Sports Nutrition Sarah Snyder will be key figures.
However, the Ravens embraced last year's late bye because it got them a little fresher for the stretch run and playoffs and I expect them to do the same this year.
The Week 14 bye breaks up a stretch of three Ravens games in four contests that will be played on short rest (Eagles, Steelers, Texans). The NFL put six teams on bye in Week 14, tied for the most of any week, and has no teams on a bye in Week 13.
Another Week 13 bye would have been ideal. Then the Ravens could have had extra time to recover from a short week because of "Monday Night Football" and a long flight back from Los Angeles. But the schedule never gives you the best-case-scenario.
Check out the juiciest matchups to watch for during the Ravens' 2024 season.
RB Derrick Henry vs. Steelers ILB Patrick Queen
S Kyle Hamilton vs. Steelers QB Russell Wilson
TE Mark Andrews vs. Bengals S Geno Stone
CB Marlon Humphrey vs. Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase
LT Ronnie Stanley vs. Browns DE Myles Garrett
S Kyle Hamilton vs. Browns TE David Njoku
QB Lamar Jackson vs. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes
Head Coach John Harbaugh vs. Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh
DT Justin Madubuike vs. Bills QB Josh Allen
C Tyler Linderbaum vs. Raiders DT Christian Wilkins
CB Brandon Stephens vs. Texans WR Stefon Diggs
WR Rashod Bateman vs. Broncos CB Pat Surtain II
ILB Roquan Smith vs. Eagles RB Saquon Barkley
LT Ronnie Stanley vs. Cowboys DE Micah Parsons
DC Zach Orr vs. Commanders QB Jayden Daniels
WR Zay Flowers vs. Giants CB Deonte Banks
CB Marlon Humphrey vs. Buccaneers TE WR Mike Evans
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