Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys actually made the move that the whole NFL world was watching for in the past few weeks, trading superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers. While many Baltimore Ravens fans hoped to see Parsons land in Charm City, it was likely never a real possibility due to cap space issues. Now, the Ravens' schedule got a whole lot tougher.
Baltimore finishes the season by playing the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers twice apiece in the final six games. The two division rivals will be unleashing lethal pass rushers Trey Hendrickson and T.J. Watt on the Ravens’ offensive line, and with Parsons now a Packer, there is yet another All-Pro pass rusher ready to be a thorn in their side down the final stretch of the regular season.
Micah Parsons trade raises stakes for Ravens' grueling regular season finish
The Ravens have one of the toughest schedules in the NFL in 2025. They kick off the year facing five legitimate playoff threats in the first six games, and finish the campaign with five games in the final six that will undoubtedly have playoff implications for both sides. Their Week 17 matchup with the Packers was already going to be a grueling one, but Green Bay’s acquisition of Parsons just raised the stakes.
The Packers have a stellar defense, and while their corners are an area of worry going into the season, their new pass rush tandem of Micah Parsons and Rashan Gary is easily one of the best in the league. Even if their corners do struggle, their new duo on the defensive line should help cover up those mistakes by pressuring opposing quarterbacks early and often. That puts Baltimore tackles Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten in a challenging position.
With matchups against Myles Garrett, Hendrickson, Watt, and Parsons down the stretch, the Ravens tackle duo will have no rest. Some of the most elite will be giving them everything they have on every down, and Stanley and Rosengarten will have to prove they are up for the challenge. Stanley has proven to be one of the better offensive tackles, but the second-year pro Rosengarten will need to take major strides if Baltimore wants to finish strong.
Thankfully, the team has one of the best quarterbacks at navigating the pocket in Lamar Jackson. It seems whenever pressure is thrown his way, he finds a way to wiggle out of it. Still, adding Parsons to the mix of the late-season schedule is going to make Baltimore’s run to the playoffs an agonizing one.