With the Ravens set to kick off the first of 11 straight weeks of football, we’re examining the remaining games on the schedule.
The Ravens are 1-5 and have an 11-game sprint to close out the regular season after some trial and tribulations through the first seven weeks of the season. The bye week is complete, and as the team prepares to face the much-improved Chicago Bears, several familiar and critical faces have returned to the practice field. Lamar Jackson was on the practice field for three straight sessions, a sign he’s nearing a return to the lineup.
Jackson was a limited participant on Wednesday, his first action in 24 days after exiting the Ravens’ loss in Kansas City early with a hamstring injury. Joining Jackson back at practice was cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who returned to the field after missing Wednesday’s practice due to an illness. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle), linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring), fullback Patrick Ricard (calf), and cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (hamstring) were full practice participants on Wednesday and Thursday. Ricard’s return could be the most impactful for a Ravens offense looking to regain physicality.
With the Ravens set to kick off the first of 11 straight weeks of football, we’re examining the remaining games on the schedule.
Ravens’ remaining schedule
Chicago is 4-2 and third in the complex and jam-packed NFC North.
Week 9 @ Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins are 1-6 without Tyreek Hill, and the only team worse is the winless New York Jets.
Week 10 @ Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota is currently 3-4 and looking to stay afloat in the NFC North with J.J. McCarthy set to return to the lineup.
The 2-5 Browns are third in the AFC North. Baltimore won the first meeting 41-17.
Week 12 vs. New York Jets
Aaron Glenn’s team is 0-7 and set to make a quarterback switch.
The Bengals are 3-4 and looking to stay afloat in the AFC North with Joe Flacco at quarterback in place of injured Joe Burrow.
The Steelers are 4-2 and hold a three-game record over Baltimore in the AFC North. These two teams will meet twice over the final four weeks.
Week 15 @ Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals are 3-4 and looking to stay afloat in the AFC North with Joe Flacco at quarterback in place of injured Joe Burrow.
Week 16 vs New England Patriots
New England is 5-2, and flourishing with Mike Vrabel as the new head coach, and second-year star Drake Maye among the top five players right now.
Week 17 @ Green Bay Packers
Week 17 offered a potential Super Bowl preview at the beginning of the season. While Baltimore has struggled, Green Bay acquired Micah Parsons and is atop the NFC North with a 4-1-1 record.
The Steelers are 4-2 and hold a three-game record over Baltimore in the AFC North. These two teams will meet twice over the final four weeks.
Final analysis
With 11 games remaining, Baltimore needs to win at least nine to secure the likely double-digit wins required to earn one of the final AFC wild-card spots. In prior years, Week 8 would have been an easy victory; now, the Ravens will need to exit the bye week focused and prepared to face a confident, multifaceted Bears team.
Pittsburgh leads the AFC North with a 4-2 record, and the Ravens have the fifth-lowest strength of schedule remaining (.442), with their most challenging matchups being the Steelers (twice), Packers, and Patriots. Baltimore will face Cincinnati twice and Cleveland once more.