Last season, the Baltimore Ravens fell short in their playoff run as they got eliminated by the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional Round. Head coach John Harbaugh and his men have another shot at redemption as they commence the new season when they go up against the Las Vegas Raiders come Week 1. In this post, we're making our Ravens Week 1 predictions as they are set to face the famed Las Vegas Raiders.
However, before their campaign even began, the Ravens were already slowed down as they lost their key players to season-ending injuries. With a depleted lineup, the team will certainly have to brace a tough challenge ahead of them for the rest of the way. Despite the odds, Baltimore will still try to snag an opening game victory on their opponent's home turf to begin the season on a good note.
Here are four bold predictions for their Ravens-Raiders Week 1.
Baltimore Ravens Week 1 Predictions
4. Baltimore Ravens defense will hold their ground against Las Vegas.
Aside from having a prolific offensive rotation, the Ravens also boast a stacked defensive unit on the other side of the field. They recently lost cornerback Marcus Peters to a season-ending torn ACL injury a few days before their opening game. However, they still have a ton of talent left on their roster who can step up and fill the void left by the three-time Pro Bowler.
Calais Campbell, Patrick Queen, and Marlon Humphrey are just some of the names who are expected to deliver the goods for defensive coordinator Don Martindale. Ultimately, having a stellar outing from the entire unit will surely put Baltimore in a great position to come up with a W on Monday.
3. Lamar Jackson will lead the ground game for the Baltimore Ravens.
The injury bug that haunted Baltimore has been the talk of the town for the Ravens over the past few days. The depth of their running back unit has been cut short as J.K. Dobbins, Justice Hill, and Gus Edwards all suffered season-ending injuries before entering Week 1 of their campaign.
Without them, star QB Lamar Jackson will definitely have to utilize his two-way play and handle the rushing duties for the team in their coming games. With his effectiveness as a runner on the field, the Ravens are still poised to have a decent ground attack against the Raiders, even with the absence of their running backs. Jackson will certainly have a lot on his plate for the upcoming season as he tries to be efficient both as a passer and a rusher for the Ravens throughout their 2021 campaign.
2. Hollywood Brown will score a touchdown in the game.
Another player that is expected to step up for Baltimore is wide receiver Hollywood Brown. He has always been a reliable contributor for Harbaugh ever since he came to the league back in 2019. Last season, Brown notched a total of 769 receiving yards on 58 receptions and eight touchdowns in 16 games played. Now, the 24-year-old is expected to take the next step and continuously improve as he enters the third campaign of his pro career in 2021.
Compared to the rest of the league, it is evident that the Ravens are not utilizing their receiving corps as often as their competitors do. However, they are now forced to utilize their aerial attack much more, given the injuries sustained by their running backs. Brown will certainly benefit from the situation as he is poised to receive more passes from Jackson in their coming games.
Given his usability, the Oklahoma product will surely be in a great position to score a touchdown against the Raiders. There is no doubt that an additional scoring load is now put on Hollywood Brown's shoulders and the Ravens will expect him to step up to the role and lead their scoring attack from the wings moving forward.
1. The Baltimore Ravens-Raiders Game Results In Purple Victory
The injury situation has dealt a huge blow to Harbaugh's squad as of late. They even had to sign reinforcements in Le'Veon Bell, Devonta Freeman, and Latavius Murray in order to get sufficient support on the field.
These talents are a shell of their former selves but they can potentially provide contributions that might just lift the Ravens over the hump this season. Despite everything, it is safe to say that the Baltimore Ravens remain to be the more talented team on both offense and defense as compared to the Raiders.
They still have enough talent left on their roster as they are still favored to win their Week 1 matchup in Sin City. Ultimately, Lamar Jackson and the rest of the team will all have to deliver and exert more effort in order to start their 2021 campaign with a victory against the Raiders.
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