Five thoughts on the Ravens' 2017 schedule:
Ravens Can Shout, "Finally!"
If allotted just one word to describe it, I would use "finally." The Ravens finally have a Monday Night Football home game, their first since 2012. They finally get to play in London, where 23 NFL teams have gone before them. Most importantly, they finally don't have to travel to Cincinnati and play the Bengals in their season finale. That's how they've concluded the past two seasons and five of the past six: by going on the road to face one of their toughest divisional rivals, usually with playoff ramifications involved. I'm not going to say it was unfair, but the schedule makers were overdue to come up with a new idea, and it's fitting that that idea is a simple reversal: the Bengals coming to Baltimore to finish the 2017 season. Hey, if they do it five times in the next six years, we'll call it even.
**Be Careful What You Wish For
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It was reported that the Ravens asked the league NOT to give them a bye after they play in London on Sept. 24. Some teams take a post-London bye to give them more time to recover from the lengthy trip, but the Ravens apparently prefer to take their bye later in the season, presumably because their players are more banged up and in need of a break. Well, the league gave the Ravens what they wanted, a November bye in Week 10, as opposed to post-London in Week 4. But the Ravens are going to pay a price for continuing without a break after travelling to London and back. They'll play at home the following Sunday, but it's a huge game, against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Then, seven days after that AFC North showdown, the Ravens will play the Oakland Raiders in California, nine time zones away from London. That's some serious travel in a short time. (And no, none by boat.)
Nothing Outrageous To Complain About
If allotted just one other word to describe the schedule, I would use "sane." Unlike in prior years, there's nothing outrageous on it like a bunch of cross-country trips early in the season, a gauntlet of late-season crucibles or a crazy-long homestand. It's just … normal. The Ravens' entire slate of divisional games is located in the first and final quarters of the season, as (I think) it should be. They'll simply alternate home and road games well into November. In fact, they don't play at home or on the road in successive weeks until they face Houston and Detroit at M&T Bank Stadium within six days in late November. (An earlier pair of back-to-back road games against the Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans is broken up by the bye.) All in all, it's your basic, straightforward schedule.
**Joining The Applause For A Monday Night Home Game (I Guess)
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I'll be honest: I've never quite gotten the anger that has welled up over time because the Ravens seldom host a Monday night game. They've hosted plenty of games on Sunday night, which long ago surpassed Monday night as pro football's premier primetime stage. They've also hosted plenty of Thursday night games. Monday Night Football was once a larger-than-life media event that could shine a light on your city and team, but that was a long time ago, and things have changed. The only reason to get upset now was the sheer ridiculousness of the disparity. i.e., the fact that the Ravens have played 16 road games and just six at home on Monday night since 1996. What's that about? So I guess I'll join the applause for the rare sight of a Monday night home game this year: Houston at Baltimore on Nov. 27. I guess what goes around doesn't always come around, but it does occasionally.
Quick-Hit Things To Like And Dislike
Things to like about this schedule: opening the season with three straight games and five of seven against teams that didn't make the playoffs in 2016; closing the season with a pair of home games (after closing with a pair of road games in 2016); playing in Green Bay before winter sets in; a home schedule dominated by seemingly winnable games. Things not to like about this schedule: opening in Cincinnati, where the Ravens have struggled; playing five of the last six road games against teams that went .500 or better in 2016; the "London, Baltimore and Oakland in two weeks" journey referenced above; the home-and-home series with the Steelers concluding with a December trip into Pittsburgh, where life is never easy.
A look at the Ravens' history with each upcoming opponent, what happened in their last meeting and a key matchup to watch.
Week 1, Sept. 10: @ Cincinnati BengalsRegular-season series: Tied, 21-21Last meeting: 1/1/17 – Bengals 27, Ravens 10Key matchup: CB Jimmy Smith vs. WR A.J. GreenThe Ravens dodged Green both times last season as he was injured. He's been a thorn in Baltimore's side over the years, however.
Week 2, Sept. 17: vs. Cleveland Browns Regular-season series: Ravens lead, 27-9 Last meeting: 10/10/16 – Ravens 28, Browns 7 Key matchup: WR Breshad Perriman vs. CB Joe Haden Perriman had one of his best games last year against the Browns, catching three passes for 64 yards and a touchdown. He'll look to get behind Haden, who is sometimes vulnerable to big plays.
Week 3, Sept. 24: @ Jacksonville Jaguars (London) Regular-season series: Jaguars lead, 11-9 Last meeting: 9/25/16 – Ravens 19, Jaguars 17 Key matchup: WR Mike Wallace vs. CB Jalen Ramsey Ramsey is an up-and-coming NFL talent, and did a solid job against Steve Smith Sr. last year. Now Wallace will have the task of trying to burn the brash, young corner.
Week 4, Oct. 1: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Regular-season series: Steelers lead, 22-20 Last meeting: 12/25/16 – Steelers 31, Ravens 27 Key matchup: S Eric Weddle vs. WR Antonio Brown Remember who was hanging off Brown as he stretched over the goal line last year to send the Steelers to the playoffs instead of the Ravens? It was Weddle, who will surely be looking to atone for that loss.
Week 5, Oct. 8: @ Oakland RaidersRegular-season series: Ravens lead, 6-3Last meeting: 9/29/16 – Raiders 28, Ravens 27Key matchup: CB Brandon Carr vs. WR Michael CrabtreeThe Ravens did a good job limiting top Oakland receiver Amari Cooper last year, but Crabtree caught three touchdowns on the other side, including a game-winning 23-yard score in the final minutes. Carr should help the Ravens fare better when facing two talented wideouts.
Week 6, Oct. 15: vs. Chicago Bears Regular-season series: Bears lead, 3-2 Last meeting: 11/17/13 – Bears 23, Ravens 20 (OT) Key matchup: LT Ronnie Stanley vs. OLB Pernell McPhee McPhee has just 10 sacks in two seasons in Chicago. The Ravens know how dangerous of a pass rusher he can be, however, considering he played his first four years in Baltimore. Stanley could see McPhee and speed rusher Leonard Floyd.
Week 7, Oct. 22: @ Minnesota Vikings Regular-season series: Ravens lead, 3-1 Last meeting: 12/8/13 – Ravens 29, Vikings 26 Key matchup: S Eric Weddle vs. WR Stefon Diggs Diggs is a local Maryland product who finished his sophomore season with 903 receiving yards. He's a big-play threat the Ravens and secondary leader Weddle need to keep a cap on.
Week 8, Oct. 26: vs. Miami Dolphins Regular-season series: Series tied, 6-6 Last meeting: Ravens 38, Dolphins 6 Key matchup: NT Brandon Williams vs. RB Jay Ajayi Ajayi was dominant at the end of last season, but was shut down in a Week 13 trip to Baltimore. He was held to just 61 yards on 12 rushes. Williams will try to replicate that effort.
Week 9, Nov. 5: @ Tennessee Titans Regular-season series: Series tied, 9-9 Last meeting: 11/9/14 – Ravens 21, Titans 7 Key matchup: NT Brandon Williams vs. RB DeMarco Murray Murray finished third in the NFL in rushing yards last season (1,287). The Titans love to run the ball to take pressure off quarterback Marcus Mariota. Williams is in charge of shutting down opponents' running games.
Week 11, Nov. 19: @ Green Bay Packers Regular-season series: Packers lead, 4-1 Last meeting: 10/13/13 – Packers 19, Ravens 17 Key matchup: S Eric Weddle vs. QB Aaron Rodgers Rodgers is one of the best quarterbacks in the league, and he can carve up a secondary. Weddle runs Baltimore's defensive backfield, and will playing mind games with the Packers gunslinger.
Week 12, Nov. 27: vs. Houston Texans Regular-season series: Ravens lead, 6-2 Last meeting: 12/21/14 – Texans 25, Ravens 13 Key matchup: RG Marshal Yanda vs. DE J.J. Watt Watt may be the best defender in the NFL when he's healthy. Yanda may be the best offensive lineman in the league when he's 100 percent. This is a clash of two physical, nasty titans.
Week 13, Dec. 3: vs. Detroit Lions Regular-season series: Ravens lead, 3-1 Last meeting: 12/16/13 – Ravens 18, Lions 16 Key matchup: K Justin Tucker vs. K Matt Prater Tucker beat the Lions with a 61-yard field goal in their last meeting. In last year's Pro Bowl, Tucker made headlines with a 75-yard boot in practice. Well, Prater one-upped him with a 76-yard bomb.
Week 14, Dec. 10: @ Pittsburgh Steelers Regular-season series: Steelers lead, 22-20 Last meeting: 12/25/16 – Steelers 31, Ravens 27 Key matchup: LB C.J. Mosley vs. RB Le'Veon Bell In large part, Bell makes the Steelers offense tick. He's a dynamic weapon both running and catching the ball. Mosley is suited to stop both, and will have his sights squarely in the backfield.
Week 15, Dec. 17: @ Cleveland Browns Regular-season series: Ravens lead, 27-9 Last meeting: 10/10/16 – Ravens 28, Browns 7 Key matchup: RB Danny Woodhead vs. LB Jamie Collins Woodhead was brought to Baltimore to create mismatches in the passing game. Collins is one of the league's most talented linebackers, especially in coverage.
Week 16, Dec. 23: vs. Indianapolis Colts Regular-season series: Colts lead, 8-3 Last meeting: 10/5/14 – Colts 20, Ravens 13 Key matchup: S Tony Jefferson vs. QB Andrew Luck Luck can beat teams with his arm or legs. Jefferson could draw the assignment of stopping his scrambling, as well as shutting down his easy intermediate passes.
Week 17, Dec. 31: vs. Cincinnati Bengals Regular-season series: Tied, 21-21 Last meeting: 1/1/17 – Bengals 27, Ravens 10 Key matchup: OLB Terrell Suggs vs. OT ??? Suggs battled Andrew Whitworth for the past 11 years, but the former Bengals left tackle is now in Los Angeles. Cincinnati has a hole at left tackle that Suggs will look to exploit.
