Another NFL season begins in just a few days and the schedule makers figured why not start the proceedings with a “revenge” game.
Kansas City halted Lamar Jackson’s first attempt at a Super Bowl by defeating the Ravens at the Bank 17-10 for the AFC Championship in a game that some Ravens fans still haven’t recovered from. The pundits will continue to point at Jackson’s failings in the playoffs and they wouldn’t necessarily be wrong. I wrote earlier this year that the only accomplishment left for number eight to put on his resume is a Super Bowl championship. So, expectations will once again be sky high for Baltimore in a competitive American Football Conference.
Baltimore lost fifteen players from last season AFC North champion, which ties them for most in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings. Fact remains that Charm City is still loaded with talent on both sides of ball and if they remain healthy they should have a shot at another fantastic season.
While the focus will always be on Jackson, Derrick Henry should get a fair amount of attention this year as well. In a move that seemed reserved for a video game, Eric DeCosta added King Henry to a backfield that has had the best rushing attack in the league for several seasons. I cannot wait until they run the first RPO with those two superstars.
The running game isn’t the concern on offense but rather the passing attack and if the front office has given their two-time MVP enough weapons. Mark Andrews returns from injury for his seventh season and should be one of Lamar’s favorite targets as usual. Second year man Zay Flowers had a superb rookie campaign and should only get better with experience. After that the questions begin: Will former first rounder Rashod Bateman finally become the consistent target that the team needs from a number two wide receiver? Will OC Todd Monken find a way to get Tight End Isiah Likely more involved? Can vet Nelson Agholor become the third option to supplant the loss of OBJ to free agency? Will Tylan Wallace finally get a chance to prove he belongs in the offensive game plan? The answers to these questions will have huge implications for a possible title run.
Perhaps the biggest question for Baltimore’s offense is a retooled offensive line that decided to get younger this year. Three possible new starters are in play from Andrew Vorhees, Daniel Faalele, and rookie Roger Rosengarten. I’d probably expect more of a rotation with Ben Cleveland and Patrick Mekari as this new group attempts to gel.
On defense the loss of Mike MacDonald to Seattle is the biggest on the sidelines. Zach Orr steps up into the role and I expect early growing pains as he finds his way, but I also expect a philosophy similar to Mac which created a real problem for opposing offenses.
Baltimore has All Pro level talent on each level of the defense in Justin Madubuike who got a huge bag in the off-season, Roquan Smith patrolling the middle and Kyle Hamilton as a multi-talented budding superstar.
They also have one of the best trios in the league at cornerback with Marlon Humphrey, Brandon Stephens and rookie Nate Wiggins.
The concern is the pressure off the edges. MacDonald was adept at creating possibilities for multiple players to get home and hopefully Orr took detailed notes because Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh are expected to pick up the slack. Hopefully David Ojabo can stay healthy and fulfill the promise that DeCosta had in mind when they selected him so high several drafts ago.
This edition of the Ravens will have to watch and wonder what could have been as the KC throws another post championship party to start the season. So, can the Ravens crash the party just as the Lions did a year earlier?
It’s certainly possible.
The acquisition of Henry is about finally getting a true starter at running back. Over the past several seasons even though they led the league in rushing yards the running back position was one by committee. I think Henry (1,167 yards – 2023) will finally unseat Jackson (5.5 ypc 1st NFL) as the team’s rushing leader and we should see that strategy unfold on Thursday. Henry has had some big games against Kansas City as their primary weakness is defending the run. The Ravens should attempt to control the clock early, wear down the Chiefs defense and keep Patrick Mahomes on the sideline.
After establishing the run, then the Ravens can look to take shots off play action and look to Andrews and Flowers. Todd Monken also talked about utilizing the screen game more this season and as fate would have it Henry and Justice Hill can both be utilized in that way. This plan will help slow the KC Blitz and hopefully negate Chris Jones and George Karlaftis who both had an impact on the last time these teams met in February.
All eyes will be on the revamped line and as I mentioned earlier expect a rotation situation to help the rookie Roger Rosengarten or perhaps sliding Pat Ricard in as an extra blocker.
Mahomes is crafty and regardless of what anyone says he’s the best Quarterback in the league until further notice. He’s 4-1 against Jackson head-to-head and he just won another ring with what could be defined as an average offense statistically. As Roquan Smith said earlier this week the plan is to make them one dimensional. Baltimore will need to take the run away and that means keeping Isiah Pacheco under wraps.
Mahomes has his favorite target in Kelce who last time these teams met gave a master class in veteran leadership. He made several big catches and got the better of Kyle Hamilton in their first matchup. First round speedster Xavier Worthy and top outside threat Rashee Rice will keep the Ravens secondary busy, but Mahomes can be picked off as he threw 14 interceptions in 2023.
Maybe it’s the positive vibes of Opening Week but I think Baltimore wins in a close contest 26-24. Not only beating the three-point spread but gaining some momentum into the first quarter of the season.
But what do you think? Make sure to put your comments on the message board and we’ll see how it all unfolds Thursday night.
Happy Football and Go Ravens!
Matt has lived in Maryland his entire life and is a graduate of Calvert Hall and Towson University. has always been an avid Baltimore sports fan. Since 2007, he has been writing and talking about Baltimore sports, especially the Ravens. His work has appeared on Ravens Gab, Russell Street Report, and he currently co-hosts a podcast “The Blitz- A Ravens podcast” with Brent Harris.