Ravens Way-Too-Early Schedule Predictions for 2023
The Baltimore Ravens finished the 2022 season 10-7 finishing in second place in the AFC north. The Ravens returned to the playoffs in after missing in 2021, falling to the Bengals in the Wild-Card round. The Ravens will play a second place schedule and matchup against teams from the AFC East, AFC South, AFC West, NFC West, NFC North, as well as their traditional matchup’s against the AFC north.
The Ravens have the 21st hardest schedule based on 2022 records with their opponents going a combined 138-147-2 (.484). The Ravens will make three trips out west and will make a return stop to Jacksonville who defeated the Ravens in 2022. The Ravens also welcome back the Miami Dolphins who also defeated the Ravens in 2022 with a comeback performance that saw Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa throw six touchdowns.
The Ravens welcome the AFC south opponents the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans, who are expected to take two of the top quarterbacks in this years NFL draft.
While the Ravens know who their opponents will be the official week-to-week schedule won’t be released until May. A lot can happen from now until the start of next season as far as roster personnel, but assuming the Ravens keep the core of their roster and add through the draft and free agency, lets make an early prediction for the Ravens in 2023.
Home:
• Pittsburgh Steelers (9-8) W- The Steelers will be much improved with second year quarterback Kenny Pickett, but the Ravens will be more prepared at home.
• Cleveland Browns (7-10) W- Another quarterback that should be much improved in 2022 is Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, but the Browns are just 5-19 all-time on the road against the Ravens.
• Cincinnati Bengals (12-4)* W- The Bengals and Ravens are quickly becoming the new rivalry in the AFC north. Both games against the Bengals have the chance to be in primetime. I’ll give the home edge to the Ravens.
• Houston Texans (3-13-1) W- Houston is expected to have a rookie quarterback, and the Ravens fair well against rookie quarterbacks especially at home. While the Texans should be improved they still have a long way to go to be competitive.
• Indianapolis Colts (4-12-1) W- The Colts are another team that is expected to have a rookie quarterback leading the way in 2023, and similar to the Texans they are still a few years out from being a real threat in the AFC.
• Seattle Seahawks (9-8)* W- Geno Smith is expected to the guy for the Seahawks moving forward into 2023. While the Seahawks and Smith had a magical run in 2022, I expect a regression for Smith and the Seahawks in 2023.
• Los Angelas Rams (5-12) W- After being hurt for the second half of 2022, Matthew Stafford should return as the full time starter in 2023 for the Rams. With the core of that roster that won the Super Bowl in 2021 expected to be gone, the Rams could be in for a rebuild beginning in 2023.
• Miami Dolphins (9-8)* L- The Dolphins have become the Ravens kryptonite as the Ravens have lost the past two meetings against the Dolphins. The Dolphins will continue to have a lot of firepower offensively in 2023, and will only continue to get better with a fairly young defense. The Ravens lose a third straight to the Dolphins in 2023.
• Detroit Lions (9-8) W- The Lions had an amazing second half of the season in 2022, one in which that fell just short of a playoff appearance. The Lions always play the Ravens close, but I trust the Ravens at home against what should be an inferior opponent. Hopefully the Ravens won’t need a record breaking field goal to beat them this time around.
Away:
• Pittsburgh Steelers (9-8) L- The Ravens got the home primetime game in 2022, so I would expect the NFL to give the Steelers the primetime game this time around. It’s always hard to sweep the Steelers and I don’t see the Ravens beating a good Steelers team at home.
• Cleveland Browns (7-10) L- Much like the Browns struggle playing in Baltimore, the Ravens have struggled playing in Cleveland going 2-3 since 2018. Once again its hard to sweep divisional opponents so i’ll give the Ravens a loss on the road.
• Cincinnati Bengals (12-4)* L- The Bengals and Ravens split their regular season matchup’s with each team winning at home. I gave the Ravens a home win against the Bengals, and would expect the Bengals to return the favor with the Ravens as the road team.
• Tennessee Titans (7-10) W- The Titans have a lot of questions entering 2022 especially at the quarterback position. The Titans regressed in 2022 largely due to injury but on paper the Ravens should have the better team heading into Tennessee to secure a road win.
• Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8)* L- The Jaguars were the surprise team of the AFC winning their division and making the playoffs for the first time in 2017. Behind quarterback Trevor Lawrence and all the offensive weapons they have the Jaguars will be a hard team to beat in 2023 even for the Ravens.
• Arizona Cardinals (4-13) W- The Cardinals are another team expected to have a lot of roster turnover come 2023. With the health of quarterback Kyler Murray who suffered a torn ACL ending his 2022 season, unknown on when he could return, as a new head coach in 2023. The Cardinals could be in for another down year giving the Ravens another road win.
• San Francisco 49ers (13-4)* L- The emergence of 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has been a surprise. With Trey Lance returning after a season ending broken ankle, who starts for the 49ers shouldn’t matter much as this team is loaded on both sides of the ball. Heading out west and against what is expected to be one of the best teams in the NFL, it will be tough to see a Ravens win here.
• Los Angelas Chargers (10-7)* L- The Ravens last played the Chargers in 2021 and held Justin Herbert to one of his worst performances that year. But Herbert has continued to look like an elite quarterback each year. Heading into his fourth season I would expect Herbert to continue to make the Chargers legitimate Super Bowl contenders. Unfortunately for the Ravens it will be another tough west coast matchup that I see likely ending in a loss.
Final record 10-7, the Ravens finish 2023 with the same record as 2022. The Ravens finish 3-3 in the AFC north winning all three divisional games at home but losing to their AFC north rivals on the road. A favorable home slate sees the Ravens losing just one game at home, but winning just two games on the road as four of their eight road games are against teams who made the 2022 playoffs.
10-7 should be enough to once again make the playoffs and be in contention to win their first division title since 2019.
()-2022 Record
*-Made Playoffs
