At the beginning of the season, the Baltimore Ravens knew their schedule would be difficult to navigate. The Ravens had the second-hardest-ranked schedule heading into the season, with the Cleveland Browns the only team with a (projected) harder one.
Every team's strength of schedule for the season. 👀
— NFL (@NFL) May 14, 2024
Where does your team land?
📺: NFL Schedule Release — Wednesday 8pm ET on NFLN/ESPN2
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Luckily for the Ravens, the preseason strength of schedule is just a projection, mostly based on last year’s outcomes. Every NFL season brings changes, and things can shift quickly. While perception matters, it’s hard not to feel optimistic about the Ravens’ remaining schedule, given how this season has unfolded so far.
Baltimore is wrapping up a tough stretch of games, having faced the Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills, with the Cincinnati Bengals up next Sunday afternoon. Just a few weeks ago, Baltimore sat at 0-2, and hopes of turning the season around were dwindling. Now, after two dominant wins over the Cowboys and Bills, the Ravens are red-hot and looking like a team that can take on anyone.
Looking ahead, Baltimore is in a good position for a playoff spot. They're playing incredibly well, they're healthy and the remaining schedule looks much less daunting now than it did when it was released.
The Ravens have the 10th easiest remaining schedule in the NFL
According to Pro Football Network, the Ravens have the 10th easiest schedule remaining in the NFL. It's definitely an interesting position to be in, especially considering they still have games against the Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadephia Eagles, Washington Commanders, and Houston Texans remaining.
Strength of schedule for all 32 NFL teams heading into the first bye week of the season. 📊
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 2, 2024
*Ranked hardest to easiest* pic.twitter.com/Xbi65rp2M8
Regardless, the remaining schedule projections can provide Ravens fans with a moment of relief. After Week 2, analysts, fans, and experts suggested major roster and organization changes to fix this broken team. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and stayed patient and Baltimore now finds itself in a lucrative position to make the playoffs, especially considering the state of their division.
In the AFC North, the Cleveland Browns face an uphill battle, sitting at 1-3 with a brutal remaining schedule. The 3-1 Pittsburgh Steelers have a middle-of-the-pack challenge, ranked 15th in difficulty. Meanwhile, Cincinnati is the only team in the division with an easier schedule than the Ravens, but at 1-3 and with both matchups against Baltimore still ahead, their playoff hopes are fading fast.
When it comes to the division and playoff contenders, it’s shaping up to be a two-team race. The Browns can already be counted out, and if the Ravens beat the Bengals this Sunday, Cincinnati’s playoff hopes will likely collapse, too. With an easier remaining schedule and a more talented roster, the Ravens are in a better position than the Steelers, who still have a tougher path ahead.
This all sets up nicely for Baltimore’s playoff chances, but as the saying goes, games aren’t won on paper—they’re won on the field. The hope is that the Ravens capitalize on their relatively easy remaining schedule and turn their strong finish into a deep playoff run.