Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Expectations are going to be set high for the Baltimore Ravens in 2020. Which five games can the Ravens not afford to lose?
John Harbaugh has gotten the Ravens back onto winning ways. After missing the playoffs from 2015-17, the team has won back-to-back AFC North divisional titles.
Last season, it was the Lamar Jackson show. His playmaking led to numerous jaw-dropping highlights, and he marched the Ravens to the top seed in the AFC and netted himself the MVP award.
With all that good, the season ended on a sour note in the Divisional round. The Tennessee Titans came in and shockingly beat the Ravens at home. Just like that, season over. Two divisional titles and no playoff wins to show for it.
That won’t fly in Baltimore this year. The expectation is Super Bowl or bust. In order to get there, these five games must be won by the Ravens in 2020.
5. Away: Houston Texans
When it comes to getting wins on the road, you have to get them where you can. Here, for instance, is one of those scenarios.
The Ravens will venture to Houston to play the Texans this season and they need to come back to Baltimore with a win. Bill O’Brien has done about everything he can to regress the Texans.
Deshaun Watson is still there, yes. But the offense might be an absolute disaster without DeAndre Hopkins around. Not to mention the offensive line still acts like a revolving door for pass rushers on their way to hit Watson.
Without knowing the schedule layout, this has trap game written all over it for the Ravens. The perfect opponent for the team to potentially overlook. Harbaugh can’t let that happen.
The last time these two teams played it was Week 11 of last season. The Ravens routed the Texans by a score of 41-7. On that day, Jackson led the offense to 491 total yards.