With the release of the 2019 NFL schedule, we now know exactly how the Baltimore Ravens season is shaping up. While there’s no telling how things will actually go during the season, there are some immediate takeaways from the Ravens’ schedule release.
Ravens after dark
Baltimore gets three prime-time games this season. They’ll take on the New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams and New York Jets on the national stage. But the Ravens also get one late-afternoon game against the Seattle Seahawks as well.
Closing out against the AFC North again
This will mark the fifth consecutive year in which Baltimore has closed out the regular season with a game against a division rival. The AFC North has routinely been one of the more interesting and fierce divisions in football, with Week 17 usually deciding the fate of at least one of the four teams in it. It appears the NFL expects things to play out similarly as the Ravens take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in their finale.
Plenty of reunions
Baltimore lost a large number of free agents this year. The Ravens will get chances to go up against some of their former teammates this season.
Linebacker Terrell Suggs is with the Arizona Cardinals (Week 2), safety Eric Weddle is with the Los Angeles Rams (Week 12), wide receiver John Brown is with the Buffalo Bills (Week 14) and linebacker C.J. Mosley is with the New York Jets (Week 15).
As fair as a schedule can be
The Ravens have gotten the short end of the scheduling stick in recent years. From having to spend several weeks across the country to a game on a different continent, Baltimore has had it tough. In 2019, things are a lot more even-keeled for the Ravens.
Baltimore alternates away and home games the entire season. While there’s little that can be done about the teams the Ravens have to play this season, not getting a slate of away games in a row helps a lot.
Baltimore also has a Week 8 bye — close to the middle of the season. Given the extent of the injuries the Ravens have had in recent years, having that rest time in Week 8 gives Baltimore the best of both worlds. They won’t have to limp along too far either to begin the season or end it, which should mean they’ll stay healthier overall through the entire season.
December is essentially the playoffs
The Ravens have four of five games in December against AFC opponents, including two against AFC North rivals. Barring Baltimore already being eliminated from contention or locking in a playoff spot incredibly early, those four games are going to define the Ravens’ season.
Games within the conference have more weight than the four contests against NFC opponents. If Baltimore is in the running for a playoff berth, December could be filled with must-win games.
