Sports Illustrated Predicts Ravens Start Season With Bang, Then Stumble
Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr predicted the result of every game this season, and there's good news and bad news for the Ravens if his forecast proves accurate.
Orr has the Ravens knocking off the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL season opener at Arrowhead en route to a 5-1 start.
Then comes a rough patch. Orr sees the Ravens losing four of their next five games, including three consecutive defeats in November.
"Despite offensive line turnover and the ever-present risk of an injury derailing their season, I have the Ravens coming out with a bang and avenging their AFC championship game loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the opener," Orr wrote. "I like this win for Baltimore because last year's season-ender was far more than a playoff loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion. It was physical and it was personal. Baltimore runs into Kansas City again and can return a hard jab, setting the season off on the right foot.
"A dangerous pocket for Baltimore spans Weeks 10 to 12. Seeing the Bengals a second time, then traveling to Pittsburgh, then flying cross-country for the Harbaugh Bowl is a tough stretch no matter how underwhelmed by the Los Angeles Chargers I am right now."
Orr has the Ravens bouncing back to win four of their final five games, including Week 17 at the Houston Texans and Week 18 at home against the Cleveland Browns.
Orr's final record for the Ravens is 10-7, putting them in third place in the AFC North behind the Cincinnati Bengals (11-6) and Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) and making them the sixth seed in the AFC. Orr also has the Browns (9-8) making the playoffs.
Pundit Says Isaiah Likely Could Emerge As Ravens' Second-Leading Receiver
While Zay Flowers is widely regarded as the Ravens' No. 1 receiver, ESPN's Dan Graziano said it wouldn't be a surprise if Isaiah Likely emerges as Baltimore's second-leading pass-catcher.
"Likely, who filled in at tight end when franchise stalwart Mark Andrews was hurt last season and developed a rapport with quarterback Lamar Jackson, is a guy the Ravens want to get on the field even with Andrews healthy," Graziano wrote. "He caught 21 passes for 322 yards and five scores after taking over for Andrews in the TE1 role in Week 12.
"The Ravens tried out a lot of multiple-tight end looks this offseason, and when I was at Ravens camp, Likely told me he was 'learning every position, because in this offense, they want me to be able to go everywhere, whether it's in the backfield, in line, in the slot, out wide or whatever. So just learning everything and being that chess piece to move around.' The Ravens view Likely as a playmaker who creates mismatches at various parts of the field, and they'd like to use him all over their offense."
Ravens' Offensive Triplets Ranked in Top Five
NFL.com’s Gennaro Filice ranked all 32 teams' offensive triplets (top quarterback, running back, and pass-catcher). The Ravens' trio of Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and Flowers landed at No. 4.
"Surprised this group doesn't make the top three? Yeah, I hear ya," Graziano wrote. "After all, the Ravens boast the reigning MVP under center, a future Hall of Famer at running back and an emerging star at wide receiver. So, what gives? Well, I'm a little worried about how those first two components fit together. Over the past five seasons, Jackson and Henry have been two of the most dynamic — and unique — players in the NFL. So, naturally, there was plenty of fanfare when Henry signed with the Ravens in March.
"But here's the thing: They've largely been operating in divergent offensive systems. Since his first full season as Baltimore's starting quarterback in 2019, Jackson has primarily operated out of the shotgun. But over that same span, Henry took 69.4 percent of his snaps with a QB under center, per PFF. So, will the Ravens be able to find a happy medium that maximizes both players? Asked about this during a press conference this offseason, Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken didn't seem all that concerned. It goes without saying that Monken has forgotten more about offensive strategy than I'll ever know, but I still need to see this combo flourishing together before I fully buy in."
Henry was asked recently if it's a challenge to play out of the shotgun or pistol formation.
"Not at all," he said. "We ran pistol before [while I was with] Tennessee and ran out of shotgun. My biggest thing is doing my job and doing my job effectively [while] being efficient."
Jackson Is No. 2 in Players' Quarterback Rankings
Eyebrows were raised earlier this week when Jackson was rated as a Tier 2 quarterback in The Athletic's survey of general managers, head coaches, coordinators, executives, assistant coaches, and coaching/analytics personnel.
Jackson's peers gave a more accurate assessment of where he stands in the quarterback hierarchy. ESPN asked more than 100 players to rank their top three quarterbacks, and Jackson finished at No. 2 behind only the Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes.
The rankings were weighted, with No. 1 being worth three points, No. 2 being worth two, and No. 3 being worth one. Jackson (124 points) finished well ahead of the quarterbacks ranked directly behind him: the Bengals' Joe Burrow (51), Bills' Josh Allen (39), and Jets' Aaron Rodgers (32).
Jackson also was among the leading vote-getters for the most underrated quarterback. Allen was voted the most overrated.
