Nate Davis of USA TODAY Sports has the Baltimore Ravens once again leading in the regular season but they thrive in the playoffs this time
[jwplayer zollCBap-ThvAeFxT]
The Baltimore Ravens are once again the best team in the NFL. At least, that’s what Nate Davis of USA TODAY Sports has in his 2020 NFL season record predictions. Davis has Baltimore at 13-3, which leads not only the AFC but the entire league.
Not only does Davis have the Ravens with the best regular-season record, but he has also the Ravens finally getting over their playoff issues and making their way to Super Bowl LV against the New Orleans Saints. Sadly, Davis also predicts the Saints will be the winners of Super Bowl LV, which would give Baltimore its first loss in the big game since the Ravens were founded in 1996.
Still, the record prediction points to a belief Baltimore is only going to get better after a spectacular 2019 campaign that ended prematurely. Davis specifically noted the Ravens’ lack of travel this season and a weaker second half of the schedule, which should prime them for an easier path to the postseason. With the additions Baltimore made this offseason, it’s easy to argue that the Ravens have enough talent to make their way through the playoffs.
The top seed in last year’s AFC playoff bracket has a golden opportunity to make amends given it will travel a league-low 6,310 miles while playing this year’s easiest schedule (.438 opponent winning percentage in 2019) – one that wraps with non-playoff teams from last year over the final six weeks. Factor in the addition of veteran DL Calais Campbell and potential impact rookies in LB Patrick Queen and RB J.K. Dobbins … and this doesn’t seem like a fair fight.
Baltimore returns reigning MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson. While it might be unfair to expect Jackson to improve upon his 2019 season, his continued development, as well as the growth of wide receivers Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin, should do wonders. With running back J.K. Dobbins added into the mix, the Ravens should have more insurance in the backfield. That bit them in the playoffs against the Titans when Mark Ingram went down with a calf injury.
Defensively, Calais Campbell and Derek Wolfe’s additions completely revamped the defensive line. Combined with the selections of linebackers Patrick Queen and Malik Harrison in the 2020 NFL Draft, the middle of Baltimore’s defense should be dramatically improved over last season. For a defense that was already near the top of the league last season, those improvements could easily have them labeled as the best defense in the league in 2020.
Many expect the Ravens to do well this season but all eyes will be on the team come the postseason. After getting booted in their first playoff game the last two years, Baltimore has to at least win a postseason game or they’ll be looked at as paper champions yet again.
[vertical-gallery id=47631]
