Ravens Season Win Total Prediction
The Baltimore Ravens have been the epitome of a .500 team since winning the Super Bowl in 2013. Will the additions they made to their offense this offseason give them enough of a boost to win nine games in 2018?
Baltimore Ravens Season Odds
Oddsmakers have set the Ravens’ over/under win total for 2018 at 8. The team is also 40/1 to win the Super Bowl, is 18/1 to win the AFC, and is 17/4 to win the AFC North Division.
Offseason Recap
The Ravens kicked off their offseason by re-signing guard James Hurst to a new, four-year, $17.5 million contract. They also exercised cornerback Brandon Carr’s 2018 option, signed receiver John Brown, formerly of the Cardinals, to a one-year deal, and inked free agent Michael Crabtree to a three-year contract worth $21 million. Finally, at least from a free agency standpoint, the team signed restricted free agent receiver Willie Snead to a two-year, $10.4 million contract.
In the draft, the Ravens selected South Carolina tight end Hayden Hurts with the No. 25 overall pick then traded up with the Eagles to take Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson with the No. 32 overall pick. With the 83rd overall pick, the team took Orlando Brown, an offensive tackle from Oklahoma, then with the No. 86 pick they took another tight end and Brown’s Sooners teammate Mark Andrews.
Season Win Prediction
It was clear at the end of last season that the Ravens needed a major injection of talent on offense. So in his final offseason as the team’s general manager, Ozzie Newsome sought to build more around quarterback Joe Flacco. That included the signings of veteran receivers Michael Crabtree, John Brown, Willie Snead IV and the drafting of tight ends Hayden Hurts and Mark Andrews.
The question now is: Will those additions lead to more success?
The over/under total of 8 is perfect, especially considering this team is 40-40 in the regular season since winning the Super Bowl in 2013. If any team represents .500 in the NFL, it’s this one. That said, I also think they’re closer to 9-7 than 7-9 after adding those pieces offensively. This is a critical season for Flacco’s career but even if he sputters, I think Jackson will give this team an injection of life.
Seriously, don’t underestimate the Ravens’ desire to get Jackson in games. The organization reached out to unhappy fans this offseason in efforts to figure out why there were so many empty seats at MT&T Bank Stadium at the end of the season and one response they got back was that the team wasn’t fun to watch. What better way to draw fans than to insert the electric Jackson into the offense from time to time? He’s going to play and he will give them an element they have never had with Flacco.
Baltimore Ravens NFL Season Prediction: Over 8