By: Michael Higgins

The Baltimore Ravens have had an impressive run of success in both roster construction and on-field production. Finishing the season 13-4 was a regular season success, but they are yet to make it to the big game with the current core.

The Baltimore Ravens have had quite a bit of turnover both in their personnel and their roster. They lost Defensive Coordinator Mike McDonald as well as multiple position coaches. In terms of player losses, they also lost a ton. On defense, they lost Jadeveon Clowney, Patrick Queen, and Geno Stone. On offense, they lost JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards to the Chargers, while Kevin Zeitler signed with the Lions, and Odell Beckham Jr. signed with the Dolphins.

Baltimore did not take these losses lightly and wanted to make a splash in free agency. The most notable signing was that of former Titans’ RB Derrick Henry. The team also directly addressed their needs in the draft. Clemson CB Nate Wiggins fell to them at the end of the 1st, while they also got value picks with Adisa Isaac, Tez Walker, and TJ Tampa.

While the team still has a deep roster, there is an argument to be made that they are not as talented as years past. Combine that with the fact that there are plenty of new coaches in Baltimore, this season is somewhat of an unknown.

The Ravens open up the season with a tough matchup on the road in Kansas City for the first game of the season on Thursday Night Football. They then host the Raiders, before going back on the road to take on the Cowboys, and finally close out September at home against the Bills. With a tough start to the season, I still have the Ravens starting with an impressive 3-1.

In October, the Ravens travel to Cincinnati to take on their biggest divisional competition, followed by a home date against the Commanders, a Week 7 Monday Night Football matchup in Tampa Bay against the Buccaneers, and then a trip to The Dog Pound to take on the Browns. I am penciling in the Ravens as 2-2 for the month of October.

November sees the Ravens host the Broncos in Week 9, the Bengals in Week 10 on Thursday Night Football, travel to play the Steelers, and travel across the country to play the Chargers. The Ravens hit their groove midseason and go 4-0 in November.

Baltimore hosts the Eagles before a late Week 14 bye. They travel to East Rutherford to play the Giants, host the Steelers, play the Texans in Houston, and host the Browns to end the season. As a team with more than just aspirations to make the playoffs, the Ravens lose focus and drop a winnable game against a bad team. The Ravens will go 2-3 to end the season.

Saying the Ravens go 11-6 does not mean I don’t think they can win the Super Bowl. Their record may regress due to coaching changes and different focuses. They also seem to deal with a variety of injuries every season. At this point it is more than coincidence and needs to be factored in to what they can accomplish.

2023 Record: 13-4

2024 Prediction: 11-6