We all know why power rankings are constructed- they are clickbait in the purest sense. Well, prepare to be baited, and maybe do some extra clicking. Earlier this week, ESPN produced its preseason NFL power rankings, and the Baltimore Ravens are No. 2, behind only the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
By the metrics that ESPN used, the Ravens accumulated an overall score of 92.1, which was just 0.5 lower than the Eagles. Their overall roster, minus the QB, scored 91, second in the NFL. Their QB score was 96.8, good for third in the league.
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Overall, you really can’t ask for a rosier outlook than this if you’re a Ravens fan. This projection is about as bullish as it gets. The season opener, a Sunday Night Football on NBC affair at the Buffalo Bills, is only 22 days away. Right now, expectations are sky high for that evening.
However, every team on this power rankings has a “Reason for Concern” section, and ESPN Analyst Louis Riddick nailed it:
“Going forward, the concern is about the team’s postseason headspace, and whether the Ravens can collectively play their best football when the stakes are the highest. Everything else is in place from a roster construction standpoint.”
Couldn’t agree more.
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On paper, the Ravens have little to worry about. Sure, they gave up way too many pass yards last season, but
1. That statistic was a little misleading, and in Baltimore’s favor
2. They did what they needed to do to fix that this offseason.
However, it does feel like there is a mental hurdle that still needs to be cleared. There is an emotional weight present, and it won’t be lifted until the Ravens win the Super Bowl again.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens are highest ranked AFC team in ESPN’s NFL power rankings