Ravens Way-Too-Early Schedule Predictions for 2024
The 2023 NFL season concluded on Sunday as the Kansas City Chiefs were crowned champions for the second straight year as they defeated the San Francisco 49ers in overtime 25-22.
The Ravens finished the 2023 regular season with an NFL best 13-4 record before defeating the Houston Texans in the divisional round to move on to their first AFC championship appearance since 2012. Unfortunately the Ravens were up against the eventual champion Chiefs losing at home in the AFC championship putting an abrupt end to what otherwise was a special season.
The Ravens will have a new look come 2024 as much of their coaching staff, specifically on the defensive side of the ball will need to be replaced. Along with many of the impending free agents set to hit the open market. The Ravens will play a first place schedule in 2024, which based on their opponents combined record in 2023, 155-134 (.536), means they will have the second hardest schedule in the NFL next season.
The Ravens will face off against the entire AFC west and NFC east, with other notable matchups including a playoff rematch against the Texans and a Harbaugh family reunion as the Ravens travel to take on Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers, as well as facing off against eight teams that made the playoffs in 2023. With free agency and the draft in the coming months lets predict the Ravens 2024 record as it stands today.
Home:
• Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)* W- This one is tricky as the Ravens and Steelers have faced off in the last week of the year, a lot recently often with the Ravens resting their starters. Assuming this game means something give me the Ravens at home.
• Cleveland Browns (11-6)* L- The Browns will be back and reloaded and history says they play their best against the Ravens when they are coming to Baltimore. I see this being an early season matchup giving the Browns the advantage.
• Cincinnati Bengals (9-8) W- What is always expected to be a candidate for a primetime game the Ravens have done their part to limit Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and the high powered Bengals offense. I expect this game to have great importance for the end of the season, give me the Ravens at home.
• Denver Broncos (8-9) W- The Broncos are in disarray and I cant see them being a threat to many teams they face this season.
• Las Vegas Raiders (8-9) W- The Raiders have a solid foundation especially defensively and could give the Ravens some problems depending on their acquisitions this offseason. But for right now I will take the Ravens here at home.
• Philadelphia Eagles (11-6)* W- The Eagles appear to be regressing after an impressive start in 2023, that saw them collapse late down the stretch. The Ravens can take advantage of the Eagles in a likely early season matchup.
• Washington Commanders (4-13) W- The Commanders will make the short trip up to Baltimore as they take on the Ravens in a rare regular season matchup. The Commanders are in a rebuild with a new head coach, and I expect the Ravens to overpower the Commanders.
• Buffalo Bills (11-6)* W- The Bills and Ravens have had some very completive games the last few times they have played and I expect this one to be no different. The Bills seem to have found themselves a run game, but I think the Ravens will be able to limit Bills quarterback Josh Allen as best as a team can. I can see this game being very important for AFC playoff seeding, give me the Ravens in a close one.
Away:
• Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)* W- The Ravens have struggled against the Steelers since 2018, but have played them much better on the road in Pittsburgh. I think the Ravens get revenge in 2024 and overcome the Steelers completing the sweep.
• Cleveland Browns (11-6)* L- The Browns will be hard to beat and I can easily see them sweeping the Ravens in 2024.
• Cincinnati Bengals (9-8) L- It always tough to win on the road in the AFC north making a lot of these divisional games toss ups. It will be very hard for the Ravens to sweep the Bengals two years in a row, so I will give the slight edge to the Bengals at home.
• Dallas Cowboys (12-5)* W- The Cowboys much like the Ravens the past few seasons have been a juggernaut throughout the regular season. What also has the billing for a possible primetime game, I think I like the Ravens here as they can be more physical with the Cowboys something they don’t often see a lot.
• New York Giants (6-11) W- The Giants similar to many of their NFC east counterparts look to be in a spot were even more regression and uncertainty surrounds the team. Daniel Jones returns for the Giants, but is he the answer. I like the Ravens here despite the Giants being the only NFC team to beat Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson as a starter.
• Kansas City Chiefs (11-6)* L- The Ravens travel to Kansas City to take on the reigning Super Bowl champions in what could possibly be the season opener. The Ravens tend to hang with the Chiefs but until proven otherwise its hard to go against the Chiefs here.
• Los Angeles Chargers (5-12) W- The Harbaugh Bowl. With Jim Harbaugh returning to the NFL he will get to face off against his brother John as the Ravens travel to L.A. for the second year in a row. Jim has never beaten John, and I still have not fully bought into the Chargers. I see a win for the Ravens here.
• Houston Texans (10-7)* L- A surprise team in 2023, the Houston Texans are a young team looking to exceed expectations again in 2024. The Texans held strong with the Ravens in the playoffs and another year with quarterback C.J Stroud the Texans will be a force. This game as the potential to be the game of the year, but I will give the advantage to the Texans at home.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8)* W- The Buccaneers are an interesting team heading into 2024, as Baker Mayfield is expected to lead the charge in hopes of returning them to playoffs for the second straight season. This game has the making of being a close game for the Ravens, while never feeling like it will be in doubt, Ravens win.
Final record 12-5, 3-3 in the AFC north. The Ravens take a slight dip in terms of wins losing one more then they did in 2023, but will equal their division record. If the Ravens are able to finish with this record in 2024, its very likely they will be in the mix once again for the number one seed in the AFC.
()-2023 Record
*-Made Playoffs
