In a few days, the NFL is set to release the full 2021 schedule, revealing when organizations will play their opponents for the upcoming season. There are plenty of reasons why knowing when and where a team will play is important, but some franchises value certain stretches more than others.
When asked by Mike Florio on the “PFT PM” podcast to give insight on the first thing that he looks at when the schedule is put out, Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said that he first glances at December.
“I look at December games because I know those are going to be critically important and those can really impact your team,”
DeCosta pointed to Baltimore’s schedule in 2020, recalling that the team had an easier slate down the stretch, which helped the Ravens end the season on a five-game winning streak.
“Last year was a great example. Our schedule was very tough at the beginning of the year and our December schedule was pretty fortuitous. We ran the table. That was a great thing for us to get into the playoffs, momentum and all those kind of things. I think the December games are very, very big. We’ll look at the home and aways in December. I’ll look at that and we’ll see what it looks like.”
In 2021, the Ravens will face off against the AFC North teams twice, the AFC West and the NFC North, plus the Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts, and Los Angeles Rams. Much like last season, the month of December could once again determine if Baltimore makes the playoffs depending on who they end up facing and whether they play the majority of the games at home or on the road. Every month is important in the NFL, but DeCosta seems to believe that December is the one that carries the most weight.
