The Baltimore Ravens are set to take on a familiar foe when they travel to Las Vegas to face the Raiders in Week 1 of the 2021 season. And it’ll all go down under the bright lights of Monday Night Football.
The NFL released its full slate of Week 1 games on Wednesday morning ahead of the official schedule release later tonight. And for Lamar Jackson and company, they couldn’t have asked for a better spotlight.
The Raiders will open up their season at home in Allegiant Stadium, this time with fans in attendance. Meanwhile, the Ravens will make the cross-country trip out West and face a very notable former player.
Or rather, a few notable former players.
The Baltimore Ravens will face Yannick Ngakoue in Las Vegas
The most notable of which will, of course, be former star pass-rusher Yannick Ngakoue. Ngakoue spent the second half of 2020 with the Ravens where he finished with three sacks in nine games.
Along with teammate Matthew Judon, Ngakoue departed in the offseason and signed a two-year, $26 million deal with the Raiders. Now, he’s set to face his former team in the very first game of the season.
Ngakoue won’t be the only former Ravens player that Baltimore will see on that Monday, however. Tight end Darren Waller, who began his career in Baltimore, will square off against his former team.
Others such as John Brown and Willie Snead will take on their former team as well. It’ll be somewhat of a reunion, if you will.
It’ll also be a homecoming for star left tackle Ronnie Stanley. Stanley is set to return from the ankle injury he suffered in Week 8 of last season, and he’ll do so in his hometown.
The Notre Dame product was born and raised in Las Vegas adding to what could be an emotional night for both teams.
The Ravens will be looking to return to the postseason for the fourth straight season after an 11-5 campaign took them to the Divisional Round a year ago.
As for the Raiders, 2021 will be a crucial season for the team with the futures of both head coach Jon Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock uncertain.
It’s set to be an important matchup for both sides — one that will feature plenty of narratives. And it’ll all go down under the bright lights of Las Vegas on Monday Night Football.
The Ravens couldn’t have asked for a better Week 1 game.