3 trap games the Ravens should be wary of in 2022
By Kristen Wong
Ravens’ Trap Game No. 3: Week 1 vs. New York Jets
The Ravens aren’t the same team they were in 2021, but neither is the New York Jets.
Both the Ravens and Jets enjoyed incredibly successful offseasons, making crucial roster additions in both the 2022 draft and free agency.
This opening day matchup in New York is seen as a Morgan Moses revenge game for the Gang Green, but revenge is the name of the game for the Ravens’ entire 2022 season, and beating a lowly NFL team is the first challenge Baltimore must overcome.
Pound for pound, the Ravens boast more talent and experience in Lamar Jackson, Mark Andrews, and their elite defense, but the team was also heavily injured in 2021, and several rehabilitating starters (Dobbins, Edwards, Humphrey, Peters, etc.) may not perform well out of the gate.
If football games are won and lost in the trenches, the Jets may actually have an advantage over the Ravens’ shaky offensive line. Rookie Tyler Linderbaum will have to prove his value at center in probably his first NFL start while established vet Ronnie Stanley will look to stay productive in his first game back from injury.
On the other side, the Jets’ interior defense has fangs in the likes of Quinnen Williams, John Franklin-Myers, and others, with New York’s young roster having just as much to prove across all positions.
Rashod Bateman could break out, but so could Garrett Wilson. Lamar Jackson could regain his accurate form, but so could Zach Wilson. The only clear-cut edge for the Ravens is the pass defense, but that won’t exactly win the game for them.
This Week 1 matchup pits two very hungry teams against one another, and Baltimore has to find the will and the way to come out on top.