2017 NFL win/loss projections for all 32 teams
By John Buhler
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens may not be the most talented team in the AFC, but they will be playing in a weak AFC North this fall. Their rivals in the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns should not be expected to win a combined 10 games this year. Look for Baltimore to benefit considerably from reeling rivals in 2017.
That being said, Baltimore isn’t even really close to besting the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North. Yes, the Ravens came up a yard short of winning the division in Week 16, but the Steelers’ 2017 ceiling is higher that Baltimore’s. So where is the Ravens’ ceiling and where could that take them?
Baltimore is fortunate to be a team with a very high floor. It’s almost impossible to think this team will be any worse than 7-9 should everything hit the fan. If everything goes right and Baltimore can win these close, one-score games, maybe the Ravens can go 11-5 and steal the division crown away from Pittsburgh?
Adding Jeremy Maclin to the receiving corps is huge for Joe Flacco’s passing game. Flacco has a total cannon for a right arm, but needs a reliable possession receiver to open up the passing game. Baltimore should be stout in the back-end of its defense. Safety Eric Weddle continues to shine. Adding Tony Jefferson from the Arizona Cardinals in free agency was huge, as could be drafting one of Ozzie Newsome’s Alabama guys in Marlon Humphrey in the first round of the draft.
In short, the Ravens are a step-up franchise that find ways to win when they don’t have their A game. They will garner a favorable second-place schedule with the weak AFC South and lopsided NFC North in the conference rotation. If Baltimore can pound the rock and stop the run, this is a wild card team, potentially capable of beating a No. 4 seed in the AFC on the road.
Projected Record: 10-6, AFC Wild Card (No. 5 seed)