Baltimore Ravens 2020 season preview: Lamar Jackson poised for championship run
The Baltimore Ravens are ranked No. 2 in ESPN’s Football Power Index ahead of the 2020 NFL season. With no preseason games this year amid the coronavirus pandemic, Week 1 is the first time we’ll see new acquisitions and rookies for every team. Week 1 will also give us the first NFL games since Super Bowl LIV in February.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Ravens heading into the season, from the big question to answer and the toughest stretch on their schedule to a bold prediction and potential breakout fantasy football stars.
Jackson made tremendous strides throwing the ball during his NFL MVP campaign last season, when he led the NFL with 36 touchdown passes. But he’s been an uneven quarterback when teams limit him as a runner. Since Jackson took over as a starter midway through the 2018 season, he’s 5-4 when rushing for less than 70 yards. His focus in training camp has been improving his downfield passing. So, when teams crowd the box, Jackson can make them pay with the big play. — Jamison Hensley
Not having fans: The Ravens announced they won’t be allowing fans for the initial part of the 2020 season, which hurts one of the NFL’s best home-field advantages. Over the past decade, Baltimore is 60-20 (.750) at M&T Bank Stadium. Only the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers have better home marks. The Ravens have left open the possibility of hosting fans later in the season. — Hensley
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Overall ranking: 2
Offensive ranking: 3
Defensive ranking: 8
Special teams ranking: 8
Total wins: 10.9
AFC North title chances: 68.6%
Chances to make playoffs: 90.7%
Super Bowl chances: 15.7%
2021 draft pick: No. 31
FPI’s strength of schedule rank: 27
Toughest stretch: After the bye, Baltimore lines up against five teams whose playoff probability is 57% or higher by Caesars Sportsbook. The Ravens play at Indianapolis (where they’re 0-6 in franchise history), at New England (where they haven’t won since the 2012 AFC Championship Game), home against Tennessee (which delivered the playoff upset in Baltimore last season), at Pittsburgh (where they’ve lost to Ben Roethlisberger in four of the past five regular-season meetings) and home against Dallas (which beat Baltimore in the teams’ last meeting with a then-rookie QB Dak Prescott).
Over or under 10.9 wins? Over. The Ravens return 11 Pro Bowl players from last year’s 14-2 team and play the NFL’s easiest schedule, whether you look at last year’s opponents’ records or travel. Baltimore plays teams whose combined 2019 winning percentage was .438 (worst in the NFL) and travel a total of 6,310 miles, the lowest of any team over the past four years. As a result, the Ravens are the only team favored in every game this season, according to Caesars Sportsbook. — Hensley
Just like Patrick Mahomes a year earlier, Jackson follows up an NFL MVP season by spearheading his team to the Lombardi Trophy. After Jackson has gone one-and-done in the playoffs the past two years, winning the Super Bowl has become “an obsession” for him, according to quarterbacks coach James Urban. Last year, Jackson quieted the critics who said he couldn’t become a legitimate NFL quarterback. This time, he silences those who don’t believe he can win when it matters the most. — Hensley
Brown appeared to be on the verge of a breakout as a rookie when he exploded for a 4-147-2 receiving line in his NFL debut last season. Instead, the speedy first-round pick missed a pair of games and dealt with inconsistent target numbers en route to a WR46 finish in fantasy. Brown added weight during the offseason and is primed for a larger and more-consistent role in a Baltimore offense that led the NFL in touchdowns last season. He’s safest as a WR3, but has WR1 upside. — Mike Clay
ADP for the top players:
Lamar Jackson, QB: 18.2
Mark Andrews, TE: 41.3
Mark Ingram II, RB: 71.3
Marquise Brown, WR: 80.9
Justin Tucker, K: 100.9
Super Bowl odds: 7-1 (opened 8-1)
Over/under: 11.5
Playoff odds: Yes -900, No +600
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The Ravens went 14-2 last season (won last 12 games; finished 10-6 ATS), easily hitting the over on wins (8). Despite being the NFL’s highest scoring team (531) and having a league-best +249 point differential, only nine games hit the over. Last year, they were 45-1 to win the Super Bowl; this season they are among the favorites. — ESPN Chalk staff
Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill as of Sept. 1.
No. 3: Lamar Jackson, QB
No. 43: Ronnie Stanley, OT
No. 74: Marlon Humphrey, CB
No. 98: Justin Tucker, K
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