It was clear early on that 2021 would not be the year of the Baltimore Ravens. They’re one of the few NFL teams that can’t afford to be without their running backs. And indeed: JK Dobbins, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill systematically tore ligaments, which put each of them out of action for the entire season before the start of the regular season.
Ty’son Williams made a brief appearance in Week 1, but the Ravens went on to rely on Latavius Murray, Le’Veon Bell and Devonta Freeman to fuel their running offense. While the offense rose, injuries sent the defense into a tailspin. The secondary was weakened towards the end of the season in much the same way as the tailbacks were preseason.
The Ravens won eight games last season and are now favorites to win the AFC North. They are expected to hit 10 wins this season, according to forecasts.
The game plan
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Baltimore hasn’t lost a preseason game since 2015 — one of the craziest facts imaginable. This year, however, it’s all about staying healthy before the team goes into the away game at the New York Jets as favorites. Due to odd scheduling, the Ravens face the entire AFC East before facing another team. If starting the season healthy is important, ending the season with a full roster is crucial. The reason for this? Baltimore has four division games to play in their last five games.
Below is the Ravens SWOT analysis.
SWOT-Analyse
Strengths
Given the numbers from last year, the Ravens’ offense is their forte. We expect Lamar Jackson’s rushing game to be anywhere near what it was in 2020. Baltimore averaged 192 rushing yards per game this year, compared to 145.8 last season.
Jackson also showed significant improvements in his passing last season. After six games he was called “better than ever” but failed to maintain the momentum.
Left tackle Ronnie Stanley also missed the entire 2021 season and Line struggled to make up. Kevin Zeitler is the only other regular starting next season, while first-round pick Tyler Linderbaum takes over the center position.
Weaknesses
The Ravens secondary – Marcus Peters, Jimmy Smith, Marlon Humphrey, Anthony Averett, Tavon Young. Each of them missed at least some games. The result was that the Ravens fell from second in the league to last in yards per pass attempt, level with the Detroit Lions.
The veterans Marcus Williams and Kyle Fuller meet a secondary in which Peters should be fully operational again. The unit was also joined by first-round safety Kyle Hamilton (Defensive Rookie of the Year nominee) and Jalyn Armour-Davis.
The Ravens’ defense could easily return to strength, which would confirm them as a division favorite.
Opportunities
The odds come from an armada of key players recovering, players who came over the draft, and the fact that Baltimore is picking up where it left off in 2020.
Risks (Threats)
More injury chaos. More than any other team, the Ravens use their running offense to wear down opponents and keep their defense fresh because their quarterback drives can be extended, especially on fourth downs. Jackson was also absent last year, which topped the long list of reasons for the season’s failure.
The Ravens Sports Betting Guide 2022
Below we look at possible bets you could place around the Baltimore Ravens in the 2022 NFL Regular Season.
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