The Ravens are listed to win eight games in 2018, and they are favored on the odds board to go over that number. But in the AFC North, will that be enough to make the playoffs? Can the Baltimore Ravens win more than eight – perhaps nine or ten – games? Let’s look at what the Ravens need to be successful in 2018.
Remember, with NFL betting quickly becoming legal throughout the Northeast, there are plenty of online sportsbooks where you can find the odds. Today we are using Bovada for our information, so here is a Bovada review so you can see what they offer.
It’s All About That D
A few years ago the Ravens were the 25th ranked defensive team in the league. But last season, the Ravens climbed back to prominence with the No. 6 defense overall. It is obvious that Coach Harbaugh and the Ravens organization have been making a lot of moves to once again become one of the league’s premier defensive units.
This has to continue. The Ravens had the 5th best defense per points allowed in 2017 at just 18.94. But the Ravens need to improve at stopping the run. In 2017, Baltimore was just below league average in total rushing yards allowed per game and yards per rush at 111.25 and 4.09 respectively (it was the first time in team history they had allowed more than 4.00 yards per rush for a season). If teams can consistently move the ball on the ground, it will be hard to get those extra wins that will secure a wild card slot. Baltimore ranked 9th in passing yards, so just imagine how much better passing defense would be if the secondary weren’t worried about stepping up to assist with the run. Marlon Humphrey led the league in lowest completion percentage allowed, and this secondary is deep. The guys up front just need to step it up a little.
There is so much depth and talent in the secondary that the Ravens can utilize various sub packages. This is especially true because these are all physical defensive backs. They are not just a group of speedsters who have a great feeling of where the ball will be who are afraid of heavy contact. They all can wrap up and tackle opponents: Humphrey, Brandon Carr, Jimmy Smith, Tony Jefferson, etc.
The defensive front is loaded. But despite the talent, it seemed a bit one-dimensional last season. I am hoping that Wink Martindale mixes up the fronts and finds ways to improve the relatively weak run D. The talent is there; it just needs to be utilized correctly. I am almost positive that we’ll see an immediate impact on the pass rush, which was already pretty stout in 2017. If Brandon Williams and Brent Urban can put on more consistent pressure, we will likely see Mathew Judon and the boys getting more penetration and stopping the run in the backfield or just on the defensive side of the line of scrimmage.
The key to success in 2018 lies in tightening up the run defense. If that happens, everything else will fall into place. It can even help to offset any inconsistencies on offense.
Beat up on a Weak Strength of Schedule
The schedule bodes well for Purple Pain. The Ravens are back in around 21st in strength of schedule, so eight wins shouldn’t be too difficult. But if the Ravens don’t lose any of the games on the schedule that they “shouldn’t” (like the Bills and Browns, then the Bengals and Raiders in Baltimore in Weeks 11 and 12 and the Bucs in Week 15) a 10-win season and a trip to the playoffs doesn’t seem far-fetched at all.
