The 2018 campaign brought seismic change to Baltimore, as longtime starting quarterback Joe Flacco found himself on the bench behind rookie Lamar Jackson, first as a result of injury but then down the stretch because the Ravens just kept winning. Their 2019 schedule is somewhat friendly, ranked as the 19th toughest schedule among the 32 teams. Their opponents in 2019 combined to go 125-127-4 in 2018. Can Lamar Jackson take the next step and make better throws down the field this season? The option look gave the Ravens some opportunities last season, but you can believe that the Ravens’ opponents will have the solutions to stop the option this season. One that comes to mind is the tactic that the University of Miami used against Oklahoma when Jimmy Johnson’s Hurricanes bested Barry Switzer’s Sooners — hitting the quarterback hard every play, even when he pitched it. That slowed down the Sooner attack, and Miami won. What will the Baltimore Ravens do this year? Take a look at what the NFL betting experts think about the Ravens’ win total (8 ½ games).

Baltimore Ravens 2019 NFL Win/Loss Betting Predictions

Scroll down to the Ravens’ 2019 schedule. Notice anything unusual? The National Football League went to a 16-game schedule in 1978, and the 2019 Ravens are just the fourth team in that era to have a schedule that alternates home and away games. The others were the 1985 Atlanta Falcons (4-12), the 1991 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-13) and the Falcons again in 2012 (13-3). Baltimore has three prime-time games at this writing: a Sunday night affair against New England, a Monday night game in Los Angeles and a Thursday tilt with the Jets. The schedule begins with its easiest stretch, and the Ravens must make hay there if they want to get over that win total and have a shot at contending in the AFC North. In their first six opponents, just one team (Kansas City) made the postseason last year. After that, it gets a lot saltier, with four playoff teams from 2018 in five games: at Seattle, New England and Houston, and at the Rams. The Ravens will face four starting quarterbacks for those teams who have appeared in 23 Pro Bowls combined.

Baltimore Ravens 2019 NFL Season Schedule

• Week 1: at Miami
• Week 2: Arizona
• Week 3: at Kansas City
• Week 4: Cleveland
• Week 5: at Pittsburgh
• Week 6: Cincinnati
• Week 7: at Seattle
• Week 8: BYE
• Week 9: New England
• Week 10: at Cincinnati
• Week 11: Houston
• Week 12: at L.A. Rams
• Week 13: San Francisco
• Week 14: at Buffalo
• Week 15: N.Y. Jets
• Week 16: at Cleveland
• Week 17: Pittsburgh

Opening against Miami means that the Ravens get to take on a team with a new head coach and a new starting quarterback in Ryan Fitzpatrick, unless Josh Rosen can take the job in training camp. Fitzpatrick tends to start seasons very well, so this could be a tough game, especially on the road. Going to Arizona is promising, given that the Cardinals only won three games last year and will be breaking in Kyler Murray at quarterback. The third game will be in Kansas City, and the Chiefs will test the Ravens’ defense. Then come the Browns at home — again, another dangerous matchup because of the resurgence that quarterback Baker Mayfield has brought.  Then comes a trip to Pittsburgh and a home game to Cincinnati. The Ravens need to be at least 4-2 at this point to get over 8 ½ wins — and I’m not sure they do it, as teams start to figure out Jackson. I’m taking the under. I like Jackson’s arc so far, but he needs to work on his accuracy throwing the ball down the field before we can take him seriously as a franchise quarterback threat. The Ravens’ defense should be solid once again, but Baltimore will have to break the 20-point barrier more regularly this season if they want to contend.