Reviewing Ravens 2023 Bold Predictions
Back in September I made five bold predictions for the Ravens heading into the season, and with the Ravens entering their bye week in week 13, lets take a look at back at how good or bad these predictions were.
Zay Flowers will go over 1,000 yard receiving
Rookie first-round wide receiver Zay Flowers has lived up to the hype so far this season. Through 12 games Flowers has already broken the Ravens rookie record for receptions while finding the end zone twice through the air and one time on the ground. Flower’s speed and video game like moves has made him a key piece on a Ravens offense that currently ranks inside the top 10.
In 12 games Flowers has 58 catches for 613 yards, well on his way to breaking another Ravens rookie record for receiving yards which currently sits at 841. If Flowers maintains his current pace of 48 yards receiving per game he will surpass Torrey Smith’s 2011 record and finish with 853 yards. However, in order for Flowers to reach 1,000 yards receiving he would need to average just over 77 receiving yards per game, a 29 yard increase from his current average.
David Ojabo will have double digit sacks
After barely playing last season as he recovered from a torn Achilles, David Ojabo was looking to make in impact in his first full season. The year started out well for the 2022 second-round pick, as he recorded his first sack of the season in week one against the Houston Texans. After a quiet week two that saw Ojabo record only two tackles, and no sacks, week three was even worse for the Michigan product.
Ojabo would suffered an ankle injury during the Ravens week three game against Indianapolis, and was placed on injured reserve. The team appeared hopefully optimistic that Ojabo could possibly avoid surgery and return at some point this season. However, the Ravens announced just this week the Ojabo would miss the rest of the season as he has surgery to repair a partially torn ACL. 2023 is another lost season for Ojabo, who now must have a strong 2024 to avoid the bust label.
Lamar Jackson will break Joe Flacco’s team record for passing yards in a season
The current Ravens record for passing yards in a season set by Joe Flacco in 2016, as he passed for 4,317 yards in 16 games. Prior to the start of the season Lamar Jackson jokingly said he would pass for 6,000 yard which would not only break the Ravens record but would be a first in NFL history. So how close is Jackson to breaking the record?
Through 12 games Jackson has passed for 2,618 yards or just over 218 yards per game. With just five games remaining Jackson needs exactly 1,700 yards to break Flacco’s record. At Jackson’s current rate of roughly 218 yards passing per game he would fall about 609 yards short of the record. Meaning through these final five games Jackson would need to average 340 yards passing per game to beat the record by one yard. Possible? Yes. Likely? No.
Ravens will go undefeated in the AFC North
The Ravens are currently in first place in the AFC north after 12 weeks, but are not undefeated. A week five loss in Pittsburgh against the Steelers, and a week 10 loss at home against the Browns are the only two blemished thus far for the Ravens within the division.
Having swept the Bengals and split the season series with the Browns the Ravens are currently 3-2 in the AFC north with one final meeting scheduled with the Steelers in week 18. While the Ravens wont finish undefeated in the AFC north, they do look poised to win the division as the Bengals and Browns are starting backup quarterbacks for the remainder of the season, and the Steelers continued struggles offensively.
Patrick Queen will sign a long term extension to remain in Baltimore
The Ravens declined to pick up linebacker Patrick Queen’s fifth-year option before the start of the season as the team didn’t appear sold on the young linebackers ability to remain productive. Queen struggled in his first two seasons, and it wasn’t until the acquisition of fellow linebacker Roquan Smith before the trade deadline last season, did Queen’s production skyrocket.
Through the first 12 weeks Queen ranks second on the team team in tackles, only behind Smith, with 102. Queen has also added 3.5 sacks, while defending four passes and forcing one fumble. Queen is on pace pace to shatter his career high in tackles and his play style opposite of Smith have made them one of if not the best linebacker duo in the NFL. The Ravens as far as we know have currently not been in discussion with Queen about a new contract, but at this rate it will be hard to let Queen leave Baltimore.
