Nov 24, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) talks to Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) after the game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Ravens defeated the Saints 34-27. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Preseason Game 1: Ravens vs. Saints
When: Thursday, 8/13/2015 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: M&T Bank Stadium
Live Stream: NFL.com
Radio: 98 Rock, Westwood One
Local Radio Crew: Gerry Sandusky, Stan White, Qadry Ismail
TV:
WBAL (NBC/11 – Baltimore)
Comcast Sportsnet Plus (Mid-Atlantic)
WJLA (ABC/7 – Washington)
WHTM (ABC/27 – Harrisburg PA)
Preview: The Ravens host the Saints at home to kick off their 2015 preseason, and it’s a foe they are quite familiar with. These two teams squared off in week four of the 2014 preseason, a game which the Ravens won 22-13. They also faced each other in November of last season, which the Ravens also won, 34-27.
Both teams come into the 2015 having faced some pretty big changes. The Ravens are rolling with yet another new offensive coordinator, Marc Trestman, after Gary Kubiak fled to become the head coach of the Denver Broncos. The Ravens also lost a host of notable players to free agency, including wide receiver Torrey Smith and linebacker Pernell McPhee.
The Ravens will look to get their new offense on track ahead of week one, despite the probable absence of first round draft choice Breshad Perriman. The talented and speedy wide receiver, expected to replace Torrey Smith, has missed over a week of practice with a knee bruise.
Meanwhile, the Saints are trying to adjust their philosophy after another disappointing season from a team that expects to be competing for Super Bowl championships.
Following the shocking trade of Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham, the Saints are going to try and become a team that relies on defense and the running game to win games rather than the arm of quarterback Drew Brees.
Though the first preseason game of every NFL team’s season typically features vanilla playcalling and minimal scheming, both of these teams have a lot to accomplish over the next several weeks. If nothing else, it’s worth watching just to see how quickly each team can adjust to their new, respective strategic approaches to the 2015 season.
Prediction: Ravens 23, Saints 21
Next: 3 Ravens on the roster bubble
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