7 replies to this topic

[BSLChrisStoner]

Baltimore Ravens.com: http://blogs.baltimo...le-takes-shape/

Home games: Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants.

Away Games: Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, San Diego Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles.

Hard to make too many pronouncements this far in advance. You have to see what happens in the draft, FA, and how healthy these teams (and the Ravens) are when these games are played.

That said, I see a pretty challenging schedule there. Pittsburgh will be competitive as always. Cincinnati has that talented young roster which will benefit from the post-season experience they are about to get.

Coming into Baltimore and winning will never be an easy game for teams, but Cleveland is really the only potential 'push-over' type home game. Palmer will be familiar with playing here.

With the road games, I'm a big believer in the talent of Houston, and SD. If the Texans had Schaub and Williams right now they would be scary. I'll be looking forward to that SD game. The Chargers always have a lot of talent, and Baltimore should be hungry to avenge the beating they took awhile back. I hope the KC game is earlier in the season, as Arrowhead becomes a very hard venue to play in later in the season. KC will get Berry and Charles back, and have another draft. I could see them rebound into a playoff caliber team. It was somewhat impressive for Philly to get back to .500. I think they made the right decision not getting rid of Reid. With lowered hype going into next year, perhaps they become the team they thought they were going to be this year.

Another initial thought I have is the QB's Baltimore will face next year:

Big Ben (2), Dalton (2), Schaub, Rivers, Palmer, Romo, E. Manning, Brady, Vick. That will be quite a test for the Ravens defense.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Initial impressions?

[SportsGuy]

11-12 wins if Ravens do what they need to in the offseason.

But will that be good enough to get a bye? Right now, NE and Houston are the likely byes next year due to schedule/division.

[bnickle]

No way I'm going more than 10 wins though it's certainly possible. I'd set the over/under at 10 wins on the nose.

[SportsGuy]

....features 13 games against a team with a pro bowl QB.

I remember they had a schedule like this a few years ago...I believe that was the year they finished 9-7 and made the playoffs.

[Mackus]

Getting a bye is going to be very difficult, but I still think we've got a real good shot at winning the division.

1st place schedule isn't easy, but the Steelers' 2nd place schedule won't be a cakewalk either (Ravens play Patriots & Texans, Steelers play Jets & Chiefs) and I think the Ravens have passed the Steelers and are the better team and can overcome the tougher schedule there. I'm still also hoping that the Bengals can't quite take that next step up and really threaten yet, but you can't write them off completely. Winning games within the division will be very important next year.

[BSLZackKiesel]

I think our biggest problem this year (within the division) will be the Bengals. They have a ton of money to spend (if Paul Brown chooses to do so), and will be better than the Steelers this year IMO. I see the Ravens still finishing in 1st place, and the Bengals and the Steelers fighting over 2nd place. However, I don't see the AFC North getting 3 playoff teams like last year. I think the Ravens can win this division, simply because of how well they do at home. Plus, our defense is solid. The Linebackers might not be quite as stellar as in the past, but our Secondary is top-notch, and will give those QBs headaches.

[ravens8589]

It's a tough schedule but lets be honest here, what teams did Baltimore beat up on last season? They beat the cream of the crop teams last season and lost to the teams they shouldnt lose to. They play up to competition which i believe bodes well for them. Baltimore, in my honest opinion, is a lot more talented than those teams.

My initial prediction is 11-5 or 12-4. At first glance, we lost a lot of talent but has that held us back in recent history? It really hasn't and as an avid football fan, i don't see any steps back this season.

Obviously, there is still a draft to be had. I believe we will see a more talented Ravens team next season.