Fansided

5 bold predictions for the Baltimore Ravens in 2018

By Rucker Haringey

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) throws on the run against the Indianapolis Colts in the second quarter at M & T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Saturday, Dec. 23, 207. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun/TNS via Getty Images)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) throws on the run against the Indianapolis Colts in the second quarter at M & T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Saturday, Dec. 23, 207. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun/TNS via Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – DECEMBER 31: Outside Linebacker Terrell Suggs #55 of the Baltimore Ravens looks on prior to the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – DECEMBER 31: Outside Linebacker Terrell Suggs #55 of the Baltimore Ravens looks on prior to the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

3. Time will catch up with Sizzle

Terrell Suggs is awfully difficult to beat, but Father Time is undefeated. 2018 should be the season where the Ravens start to see real slippage for their Hall of Fame defender.

Suggs isn’t going to fade into oblivion, but his production level is going to start to slip. It might be due to injury, or it might be simply a result of losing a step. Either could cause him to finish well below last year’s sack total of 11.

Seven sacks in 12 games seems like a pretty reasonable projection for Suggs next season. He’s still going to have his impactful moments out there. He’ll just become easier to handle with double teams.

We are talking about a player who’s going to turn 36 during the season. It’s pretty amazing that he was a Pro Bowl caliber defensive player last year. There’s no question Suggs has kept great care of his body. Every human being has limits though. In a way, all the talk about Suggs being in the shape of his life this summer seems more like hope than actual reporting. He’ll have a good year for the Ravens defense, but it’ll be a sharp decline from what he gave Harbaugh in 2017.

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