The Ravens' 2022 schedule is out. Before we dive in, here's the full list:
| Week | Date | Time | Opponent | Stadium | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Sun., Sep. 11 | 1:00 PM ET | at Jets | MetLife Stadium | FIND TICKETS |
| Week 2 | Sun., Sep. 18 | 1:00 PM ET | vs. Dolphins | M&T Bank Stadium | FIND TICKETS |
| Week 3 | Sun., Sep. 25 | 1:00 PM ET | at Patriots | Gillette Stadium | FIND TICKETS |
| Week 4 | Sun., Oct. 2 | 1:00 PM ET | vs. Bills | M&T Bank Stadium | FIND TICKETS |
| Week 5 | Sun., Oct. 9 | 8:20 PM ET | vs. Bengals | M&T Bank Stadium | FIND TICKETS |
| Week 6 | Sun., Oct. 16 | 1:00 PM ET | at Giants | MetLife Stadium | FIND TICKETS |
| Week 7 | Sun., Oct. 23 | 1:00 PM ET | vs. Browns | M&T Bank Stadium | FIND TICKETS |
| Week 8 | Thu., Oct. 27 | 8:15 PM ET | at Buccaneers | Raymond James Stadium | FIND TICKETS |
| Week 9 | Mon., Nov. 7 | 8:15 PM ET | at Saints | Caesars Superdome | FIND TICKETS |
| Week 11 | Sun., Nov. 20 | 1:00 PM ET | vs. Panthers | M&T Bank Stadium | FIND TICKETS |
| Week 12 | Sun., Nov. 27 | 1:00 PM ET | at Jaguars | TIAA Bank Stadium | FIND TICKETS |
| Week 13 | Sun., Dec. 4 | 1:00 PM ET | vs. Broncos | M&T Bank Stadium | FIND TICKETS |
| Week 14 | Sun., Dec. 11 | 1:00 PM ET | at Steelers | Heinz Field | FIND TICKETS |
| Week 15 | Dec. 17 or 18 | TBD | at Browns | FirstEnergy Stadium | FIND TICKETS |
| Week 16 | Sat., Dec. 24 | 1:00 PM ET | vs. Falcons | M&T Bank Stadium | FIND TICKETS |
| Week 17 | Sun., Jan. 1 | 1:00 PM ET | vs. Steelers | M&T Bank Stadium | FIND TICKETS |
| Week 18 | Jan. 7 or 8 | TBD | at Bengals | Paul Brown Stadium | FIND TICKETS |
| Preseason 1 | Thu., Aug. 11 | 7:30 PM ET | vs. Titans | M&T Bank Stadium | FIND TICKETS |
| Preseason 2 | Sun. Aug. 21 | 8:00 PM ET | at Cardinals | State Farm Stadium | FIND TICKETS |
| Preseason 3 | Sat., Aug. 27 | 4:00 PM ET | vs. Commanders | M&T Bank Stadium | FIND TICKETS |
With backloaded AFC North schedule, Ravens must avoid last year's fade.
Baltimore ended last season with a six-game losing skid. Of course, a big reason was Lamar Jackson's injury, the final straw in a season full of ailments. Still, the brutal finish to the schedule played a part in dashing the Ravens' playoff hopes. This year, the Ravens will once again finish the season with a tough stretch thanks to a backloaded AFC North schedule.
The Broncos are a Super Bowl contender now with Russell Wilson, the Steelers are always tough, and there's two road games against talent-rich divisional foes Cleveland and Cincinnati. It wouldn't be surprising if the AFC North title came down to the finale in "The Jungle." The AFC North is loaded and four of the six divisional games are in the final five weeks.
Baltimore must gain steam in November.
Before heading down the back stretch, the Ravens have a chance to rattle off some wins and get some rest. Baltimore has three games in November against the Saints, Panthers and Jaguars – three teams that, combined, lost twice as many games as they won (17-34) last season – with a bye (actually, kind of two) sandwiched in between.
No game can be taken for granted, but the starting quarterbacks (as of now) for that group is Jameis Winston, Sam Darnold and Trevor Lawrence. Baltimore's stacked secondary should have a good time. By the way, under John Harbaugh, the Ravens have a 36-21 record against NFC teams.
There's a funky start to the schedule.
It seems every year has its oddity. This season, it's that the Ravens start by playing all four teams in the AFC East. Baltimore opens the season with a road trip for the second straight season. Last year it was Vegas, this year New York (technically New Jersey) vs. the Jets. Then it's a rematch with the Dolphins, who blitzed past Baltimore last season in Miami, followed by a Tom Brady-less matchup with the Patriots and a heavyweight clash with the Bills.
Considering three teams from the AFC East (Bills, Patriots, Dolphins) were either in the playoffs or in contention last season, this is a time for the Ravens to get a leg up in the conference race. It's also kind of strange that there are three straight games against NFC South teams from Weeks 8-11.
With Super Bowl LVI in the books, here's an updated preview of Baltimore's 2022 schedule.
Buffalo Bills (home)
The Bills will visit M&T Bank Stadium, the place where Josh Allen made his NFL debut as a rookie in 2018. The Ravens dominated Buffalo that day, 47-3, but Allen is a far different quarterback four years later and has become one the NFL's most dynamic players. He last beat the Ravens in Buffalo in the 2020 divisional playoffs. The Bills are one of the AFC's most complete teams and present one of the biggest challenges on Baltimore's 2022 schedule.
Cincinnati Bengals (home and away)
The young and talented Bengals are the team to beat in the AFC after winning the North and going on an impressive playoff run. Their explosive offense led by Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase scored 41 points twice against Baltimore last season. Burrow threw for 525 yards in their second meeting. All-Pro cornerback Marlon Humphrey said he couldn't wait to play Cincinnati next season. The Bengals will be motivated to get back to the Super Bowl, but they'll also have a target on their backs as the defending conference champs.
Pittsburgh Steelers (home and away)
With Ben Roethlisberger out and rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett in, the Ravens-Steelers rivalry will have a different feel in 2022. But their matchups should still be pivotal in the AFC North. Pittsburgh's legacy of great defensive players is being upheld by T.J. Watt, the NFL Defensive Player of the Year who tied the all-time single-season record with 22.5 sacks. The Steelers have a four-game winning streak over Baltimore and have never had a losing season in 15 years under Head Coach Mike Tomlin.
New England Patriots (away)
Baltimore will renew acquaintances with outside linebacker Matthew Judon, the former Raven who took his Pro Bowl game to another level (12.5 sacks) with New England. Mac Jones had a solid rookie season as a starting quarterback, helping the Patriots get back to the playoffs. Head Coach Bill Belichick has won at least 10 games in all but one season since 2003, and any Patriots-Ravens game has potential playoff implications.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (away)
Tom Brady retired, then un-retired to put the future Hall of Famer back on the Ravens' schedule. The Buccaneers are just a year removed from winning the Super Bowl and are built to make a run at it again. It will be Brady's second career meeting against Lamar Jackson, who won the first.
Cleveland Browns (home and away)
The Browns made a huge splash in free agency by trading for quarterback Deshaun Watson. They still have one of the NFL's most talented rosters on both sides of the ball. On defense, they're led by All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett. Baltimore's last three games against Cleveland have been decided by six points or fewer, and the Ravens-Browns matchups in 2022 figure to be just as competitive.
Miami Dolphins (home)
Mike McDaniel is Miami's new head coach and wide receiver Tyreek Hill is his new toy. McDaniel hopes to maximize the talents of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, the fifth overall pick in 2020 who has yet to play with consistency. Miami loaded up in free agency to make a run at the AFC East title.
New Orleans Saints (away)
Dennis Allen is the new head coach in New Orleans after Sean Payton stepped away following a successful 16-year run. As the Saints' defensive coordinator the past seven seasons, Allen is very familiar with the Saints' personnel and he has previous experience as a head coach with the Raiders. Lamar Jackson has never started a game at quarterback against the Saints, so it will be interesting to see what Allen schemes up when he faces Baltimore.
Denver Broncos (home)
The Broncos made a big-time trade for veteran quarterback Russell Wilson with the hope of quickly turning their team around. They also have a new head coach in Nathanial Hackett, Green Bay's former offensive coordinator. The Broncos have gone from last place in the AFC West in 2021 to a AFC title contender entering this season.
Atlanta Falcons (home)
The Falcons are rebuilding after trading Matt Ryan to the Colts this offseason. Atlanta has had four consecutive losing seasons and now will go with Marcus Mariota at quarterback and a room of talented playmakers around him.
New York Giants (away)
New Giants Head Coach Brian Daboll knows something about the Ravens as a former offensive coordinator with the Bills (2018-21) and former assistant coach with the Patriots. The Giants hope Daboll will maximize the ability of two key Giants weapons – quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley. The Giants have suffered five-straight losing seasons and hope that Daboll can lead them back to prominence.
Jacksonville Jaguars (away)
Doug Pederson, who won a Super Bowl as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, has taken over in Jacksonville after Urban Meyer failed to survive his first season as head coach. The Jaguars are building around quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the first-overall pick in 2021 who should benefit from Pederson's experience as a playcaller and quarterback teacher. The Jaguars were the league's biggest spender in free agency and will be looking for immediate improved results.
New York Jets (away)
The Jets had a 4-13 record in 2021, but former Ravens inside linebacker C.J. Mosley had a bounce back year, leading the team with 168 tackles. The Jets are rebuilding but hope to have a better season under second year Head Coach Robert Salah. Mosley hasn't faced the Ravens since leaving them in free agency following the 2018 season. If he's healthy and with the Jets when they host Baltimore next season, he'll be amped up to face his former team.
Carolina Panthers (home)
Head Coach Matt Rhule enters this season as a coach under pressure after winning just five games in each of his first two seasons in Carolina. Sam Darnold struggled in his first season as Carolina's starting quarterback and star running back Christian McCaffrey has only played 10 games the past two seasons.
Expect more than just three primetime games when all is said and done.
As of now, Baltimore has just three primetime games. The Ravens had that many through the first five weeks of last season (and five total). Even though the Ravens still have arguably the game's most exciting player in Jackson, it seems the networks are sleeping on their appeal after a last-place finish last season in the AFC North.
For the second straight year, Ravens-Steelers isn't on primetime, but when is the last time they've had two 1 p.m. kickoffs? Three of Baltimore's biggest games on paper, versus the Bills, Patriots and Broncos, are all 1 p.m. starts while two non-conference games (against the Bucs and Saints) are under the lights. Judging by the TBDs at the end of the Ravens' schedule, and with a strong finish to the year, it wouldn't be at all surprising to see Baltimore flexed to a national stage late in the season.
The Ravens will face some of the top quarterbacks in the league during 2022 NFL season.
Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Ravens will face the GOAT and seven-time Super Bowl champion after Brady un-retired this offseason. Brady is 6-2 against the Ravens over his career, with Lamar Jackson beating him in Baltimore in their last meeting in 2019.
Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos
Baltimore gets a date with Wilson after he was traded to Denver this offseason. The Ravens last beat him in Seattle in 2019 on Jackson's famous "Hell yeah, Coach. Let's go for it!" moment and Marcus Peters' pick-six on Wilson in his Ravens debut.
Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Allen's NFL rookie debut was at M&T Bank Stadium, when he entered in relief and went 6-of-15 for 74 yards. The last two meetings have been in Buffalo, including the Bills' 2020 divisional playoffs win when Jackson was sidelined early in the second half by a concussion.
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
The reigning AFC champion beat up on the Ravens twice last season, including a record-setting 525 passing yards and four touchdowns in the teams' last meeting.
Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
This matchup is pending a possible suspension, but it could be the first of what will be many matchups between the two after Watson inked a five-year deal with the Browns this offseason. He lost both of his previous matchups against the Ravens as a member of the Texans.
Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh Steelers
The rookie first-round pick will likely become the team's starter at some point this season if he doesn't win it at the start. If not, Baltimore would get another date with Mitch Trubisky, who beat the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium despite an ugly rookie performance in 2017.
Mac Jones, New England Patriots
Jones will be entering his second season and get his first taste of the Ravens. The efficient passer is looking to build off a strong rookie performance.
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
During last season's game at Hard Rock Stadium, Tagovailoa stepped in for Jacoby Brissett midway through the game and led a comeback win for the Dolphins that was mostly dominated by the defense. Now Tagovailoa has a dangerous new weapon in wide receiver Tyreek Hill.
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Lawrence only won three games last season but still threw for 3,641 yards. He tossed only 12 touchdowns to 17 interceptions, but the Jaguars were aggressive in giving in more weapons and protection in free agency.
Zach Wilson, New York Jets
Wilson is in a similar situation as Lawrence, looking to improve after a tough rookie season in which he won just three games. Wilson threw for 2,334 yards and tossed nine touchdowns to 11 interceptions as a rookie, but has a better cast around him now.
Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints
Winston will be coming off a season-ending knee injury and looking to hold off fellow veteran Andy Dalton for the starting job.
Marcus Mariota, Atlanta Falcons
Mariota will be looking to stay ahead of rookie third-round pick Desmond Ridder and revive his career as a starter. He has two highly-drafted targets in tight end Kyle Pitts and wide receiver Drake London.
Sam Darnold, Carolina Panthers
The Panthers could replace Darnold with third-round pick Matt Corral at some point. He struggled in his first season in Carolina, going 4-7 with nine touchdowns to 13 interceptions. Darnold is 0-1 against the Ravens, losing to them when he was a Jet in 2019.
Daniel Jones, New York Giants
Jones is entering a make-or-break fourth season after going 12-25 over his previous three years. The Ravens beat up on him in 2020, holding Jones to 24-of-41 passing for 252 yards and one interception with six sacks.
Ravens face two elite QBs, but potential for a lot of young guns.
Matchups against Brady (in primetime) and Wilson are certainly highlights. But the Ravens' loaded secondary will go against a lot of young quarterbacks and possibly several rookies this season. At the start of the year, it's three straight games against young first-round quarterbacks looking to blossom in Year 2/3 in the Jets' Zach Wilson, Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa and Patriots' Mac Jones. Baltimore's retooled defense has an opportunity to start strong.
There's also a distinct possibility that the Ravens get some rookie QBs down the stretch as Carolina and Atlanta could switch to their third-round picks (Matt Corral and Desmond Ridder) by Weeks 11 and 16, respectively, and it would be surprising if the Steelers don't have first-round pick Kenny Pickett under center at least by Week 14 (if not the start of the season). The late-season matchups with Pittsburgh do give Pickett more time to learn and adjust to the NFL.
Quick Hits
The Ravens ranked No. 23 on strength of schedule for 2022, but you'd be wise not to put too much stock into it. There are young, talented teams such as the Jets, Dolphins and Jaguars who could be better than people think. They're all trying to be this year's Bengals, who didn't look so tough when last year's schedule came out. ... Don't like facing Brady on a short week for Thursday Night Football. That's always a chess match and Baltimore will be coming off an always physical game against the Browns. … Also not ideal to get two teams' home opener, as the Week 3 game in New England will open the Patriots' Gillette Stadium slate. ... We already knew the Ravens weren't going to log many airline miles this season, but a trip to Arizona is the furthest the Ravens have ever traveled for a preseason game (and the first preseason matchup against the Cardinals). It's three weeks before the regular season, so plenty of time to rest up. … It's good that Baltimore doesn't get Miami in Week 1. The Ravens will have at least one game of tape on new Head Coach Mike McDaniel's offense. … Baltimore gets an extended mini bye (a medium bye?) between Weeks 8 and 9 since they have Monday Night Football after Thursday Night Football. … The odd tradition of finishing the year against the Bengals is back. Since 2010, the Ravens have been scheduled to end the season in Cincinnati seven of 13 years and play the Bengals in the finale nine times.
