BALTIMORE, Md. – The Baltimore Ravens veterans reported to training camp last week, ready for another great season in 2024. However, the Ravens come in with the second hardest schedule in the NFL by 2023 opponent win percentage. While the Ravens expect to make another postseason appearance this year, these games will be the hardest for Baltimore this coming season.
Kansas City – Week 1 (at KC)
A matchup in Kansas City against the two-time reigning Super Bowl champions is hard in its own right. Add in the fact that it will be the first game of the NFL season against the team just ended Baltimore’s 13-win year, and it’s complete chaos. Things are going to get heated at Arrowhead Stadium. There are endless storylines going into the matchup.
The reigning MVP Lamar Jackson versus the reigning Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes. How will Jackson perform on the big stage? Or how about Marquise Brown, performing against his former team, now with their arch nemesis? Or the drama that occurred between Travis Kelce and Justin Tucker pregame that carried on after the AFC Championship affair?
It’s going to be a battle. Both teams added weapons in the offseason, and both teams are seeking Super Bowl championships. To watch them open up the season will be must-see TV and probably the toughest test the Ravens will have on the 2024 schedule.
Pittsburgh – Week 11 (at Pitt)
The Ravens have a tough schedule this year. They play teams like Philadelphia and Dallas, and quarterbacks like Josh Allen and C.J. Stroud. The Steelers are not the most talented team Baltimore will play this season. However, they will be one of the toughest matchups.
Although the Ravens-Steelers rivalry is one of the greatest in NFL history, Pittsburgh has won seven of the last eight meetings between these two. This includes sweeping Baltimore in 2020, 2021, and 2023. While many of those games have included injured quarterbacks and resting players due to postseason seeding clinched, it’s still domination in favor of the Steelers.
Not only that, but Pittsburgh added Baltimore’s homegrown star, Patrick Queen, in free agency. And Queen has already taken shots at Baltimore on social media since joining their longtime rival. No matter what the matchup is or who’s playing in it, Ravens-Steelers and Harbaugh-Tomlin rivalry games are always entertaining. And it will always be a challenge for Baltimore to come into enemy territory and come away with a win, never knowing what the matchup has in store.
Los Angeles Chargers – Week 12 (at LAC)
We may as well call the Chargers the Ravens at this point! That’s because the construction of the Chargers roster is surrounded with ex-Raven pieces.
For one, the Chargers grabbed the Ravens director of player personnel, Joe Hortiz, to be their general manager. They then hired Jim Harbaugh, the brother of Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, to be their head coach. But, it didn’t stop there.
Harbaugh then hired longtime Ravens offensive coordinator, Greg Roman, to be their OC. And the offense he will be working with is a recreation of the offense Roman had in Baltimore. Los Angeles added Ravens running backs Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins along with Ben Mason, who were all on the Ravens in 2023. They also signed players who previously suited up in purple and black such as Hayden Hurst, Bradley Bozeman and Tony Jefferson.
The hype around the game itself is too hard to not put on the list. It’s the fourth edition of the Harbaugh-Bowl with John currently sitting at a 3-0 record. It’s a revenge game for many former Ravens, and it’s a battle between two of the best signal callers in the NFL in Jackson and Justin Herbert on a nationally televised primetime slot. The Chargers may have not had great success last season, but the hype alone and the amount of ties LA has to Charm City makes this one of the more intriguing matchups of the year.
Chase Coburn
Chase Coburn is an aspiring sports reporter and journalist who's already achieved some great things in the industry. At just 13 years old, Chase has already started his own podcast, interviewing celebrities such as ESPN's Adam Schefter, Baltimore Ravens' Justin Madubuike, ESPN's Dan Graziano, and many others. Chase is even experienced in writing for his websites, chasessportsnews.com & chasecoburn.substack.com. He runs his schools broadcast department, and is also a freelance writer for The League Winners, covering Ravens football and UConn football.Chase, who resides in Fairfield, CT, hopes to continue his dream as a broadcaster, and inspire others to CHASE their dreams like he has.