The NFL saddled the 2021 Baltimore Ravens with the second-toughest strength of schedule of any team, a daunting task for any franchise.
It’s a dramatic change from a 2020 season when the Ravens were gifted the league’s easiest strength of schedule.
As the Ravens try to break through in the top-heavy AFC, they’ll need to knock off some of the NFL’s powerhouses. Five of those games, in particular, are filled with an extra level of intrigue.
Let’s take a look at five of the most interesting games the Ravens will play in 2021.
5. Baltimore Ravens vs. Green Bay Packers – Week 15
Will Aaron Rodgers be the quarterback by the time the Green Bay Packers travel to Baltimore?
Rumors about the future Hall of Famer’s displeasure with the Packers’ front office have littered the NFL talking heads all offseason, culminating with this tweet from Adam Schefter the first day on of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers is so disgruntled with the Green Bay Packers that he has told some within the organization that he does not want to return to the team, league and team sources told ESPN on Thursday.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 29, 2021
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Though Rodgers still hasn’t been traded, his relationship with the Packers is tenuous at best. He didn’t report to OTAs or mandatory minicamp.
And the Packers front office doesn’t appear to be willing to change its approach to building its team — or to extend and increase the value of Rodgers’ contract — both issues that have led to the rift between the team and its star quarterback.
For his part, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst has made clear that he has no intention of trading Aaron Rodgers.
"“I’m not gonna get into contract specifics, but Aaron’s our guy. He’s gonna be our quarterback for the foreseeable future.”"
Those words, of course, don’t jive with the Packers’ selection of quarterback Jordan Love with the 26th pick of the 2019 NFL Draft — the pick that seemingly jumpstarted Rodgers’ dissatisfaction with the Packers’ organization.
So perhaps the Packers will trade Rodgers after all. Regardless, the excitement for this contest will be palpable.
Either the Baltimore Ravens will be playing against one of the best quarterbacks of all time — in possibly the last season he’ll be wearing the green and yellow — or they’ll be facing a green quarterback who’s attempting to fill Rodgers’ Canton-bound cleats.
Either way, M&T Bank will be rockin’.