Now that we know the 2024 NFL schedule, we all have thoughts about how things will play out. Here are five predictions based off the Ravens' 2024 schedule:
Lamar Jackson's primetime games will boost his chances of winning another MVP.
Lamar Jackson will bask in the national spotlight in 2024, giving pundits across the country ample opportunities to appreciate his talent in real time.
The Ravens have seven nationally televised games – five in primetime, plus their Christmas Day matchup against the Texans and a Saturday game against the Steelers.
Living on the big stage gives Jackson ample opportunities to produce memorable moments, with all eyes on him. On Christmas night last year, in front of a national television audience, Jackson locked up his second MVP award with a mic-drop performance against the 49ers that included seven straight scoring drives in a 33-19 victory.
In 2024, Jackson will open the season on national television going head-to-head against the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes. He'll also face potential MVP candidates like Josh Allen of the Bills (Week 4), Joe Burrow of the Bengals (Week 10), Justin Herbert of the Chargers (Week 12), and C.J. Stroud of the Texans (Week 17) with a national audience watching. The Ravens' 4:25 p.m. kickoffs against Dak Prescott and the Cowboys (Week 4) and Jalen Hurts and the Eagles (Week 13) will also have huge national audiences.
Another superb season from Jackson could easily lead to more MVP hardware in his trophy case.
Here are the quarterbacks the Ravens defense is set to take on this season.
QB Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
QB Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
QB Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers
QB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
QB Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
QB Gardner Minshew, Las Vegas Raiders
QB Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
QB Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
QB Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
QB Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
QB Daniel Jones, New York Giants
QB Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
QB C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
QB Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A tough early schedule won't sink Baltimore's season.
No doubt, Baltimore has a challenging early schedule facing the Chiefs, Cowboys, Bills and Bengals during the first five weeks.
Some pundits believe the Ravens will be 2-3, or worse, after five games. However, don't bet against their ability to start fast again under Head Coach John Harbaugh, who has a 35-18 record in September during his16 seasons.
Seeing those NFL heavyweights early on the schedule doesn't intimidate the Ravens. It will serve as motivation in the locker room and on the practice field, and should bring out quality football.
Meanwhile, even if the Ravens drop a few games early, it won't ruin their season. They started 3-2 last season but finished 13-4 with the best record in the AFC. There's no reason to panic about facing strong opponents off the bat.
The Week 14 bye will help the Ravens finish stronger.
Derrick Henry has rushed for more than 200 yards in a game six times, and four of those games have been in either December or January.
Henry does some of his best work late in the season, pounding his way to daylight against defenses suffering from late-[add]season fatigue. Having a late bye is going to present a challenge for Baltimore, because players who get banged up early in the season will have a long wait for a week off.
However, the Ravens can withstand injuries better than most teams because of their deep roster. The Week 14 bye will give players a chance to refresh before the final four games against the Giants, Steelers, Texans and Browns. And if Henry is healthy, he'll be a hammer the Ravens can use to drive them to a strong finish. I expect the Ravens to go no worse than 3-1 after their bye and won't be surprised if they go 4-0.
The most crucial non-conference game will be Week 13 vs. Philadelphia.
It's hard to imagine Week 13 at M&T Bank Stadium against the Eagles not being a pivotal game for the Ravens. It comes after Baltimore plays road games against the Steelers (Week 11) and Chargers (Week 12), and the Ravens will be returning to Baltimore facing a short week after the Harbaugh Bowl on Monday Night Football.
Jackson has an incredible 20-1 record against NFC teams as a starter, and the Ravens need him to keep that success going against Philly. Losing to the Eagles earlier in the season wouldn't feel so bad. But a loss to Philly in Week 13 could haunt the Ravens down the stretch and would be a momentum killer heading into the Week 14 bye.
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
Ravens vs. Browns in Week 18 will have playoff implications for both teams.
The odds are against anyone clinching the AFC North before Week 18 like the Ravens did last year.
The Browns made the playoffs last season without having Deshaun Watson at quarterback down the stretch. If he's healthy, they're likely to be a better team in 2024, and Watson beat the Ravens in Baltimore last year playing with an injured shoulder in the second half.
Playing a meaningful game against a divisional rival is a stressful but fitting way to end the season. That's the scenario the Ravens are likely to face in 2024.
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