National writer has Ravens starting strong, knocking off the NFL's gold standard in season predictions
If everything goes as Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr predicts, the Baltimore Ravens may want to end the season after six games. Orr took a stab at guessing the result of every game this season, and it spells good news early on for the Raven faithful. In Orr's prediction, the Ravens storm out to a 5-1 record, with […]
If everything goes as Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr predicts, the Baltimore Ravens may want to end the season after six games.
Orr took a stab at guessing the result of every game this season, and it spells good news early on for the Raven faithful.
In Orr's prediction, the Ravens storm out to a 5-1 record, with a critical win over the Kansas City Chiefs in the season opener. But following the hot star, Orr sees the Ravens struggling throughout the dog days of November, dropping four of their next five games.
"Despite offensive line turnover and the ever-present risk of an injury derailing their season, I have the Ravens coming out with a bang and avenging their AFC championship game loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the opener," Orr wrote. "I like this win for Baltimore because last year's season-ender was far more than a playoff loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion. It was physical and it was personal. Baltimore runs into Kansas City again and can return a hard jab, setting the season off on the right foot.
"A dangerous pocket for Baltimore spans Weeks 10 to 12. Seeing the Bengals a second time, then traveling to Pittsburgh, then flying cross-country for the Harbaugh Bowl is a tough stretch no matter how underwhelmed by the Los Angeles Chargers I am right now."
Despite having the Ravens bouncing back in the final weeks of the season, Lamar Jackson's crew finished with a 10-7 record – good enough for third in the AFC North.
His projected finish in the division? The Cincinnati Bengals (11-6), Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7), Ravens (10-7) and the Cleveland Browns (9-8).
It is easy to look at Orr's predictions as a net negative. However, it could serve Baltimore well to be doubted during the season. They could sneak up on a few teams.
