The Baltimore Ravens’ season opener is right around the corner. They’ll travel to Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday to face the Indianapolis Colts.
On paper, this looks like a matchup the Ravens should win. Going position by position, they have the edge in several areas. After a stellar offseason, things should look much better in Charm City in 2026.
Here is how we ranked these two teams in each position room ahead of their Week 1 showdown.
Comparing the Baltimore Ravens and Indianapolis Colts at every position
Quarterback: Ravens
Lamar Jackson or Daniel Jones? I mean, this just isn’t a question.
No disrespect to Daniel Jones. He was putting together the best season of his career before going down with an Achilles injury late in the year. However, this is Lamar Jackson we’re talking about.
Jackson’s coming off an injury of his own, but when healthy, he’s a perennial MVP candidate. He remains lethal on the ground when his legs are fresh and has become one of the league's best passers, too.
When opposing defenses line up against Jackson, sometimes all they can do is pray.
Jones is certainly a capable quarterback—he looked like the perfect fit for Shane Steichen’s offense in 2025. Jackson’s just on another planet.
Running back: Ravens
This might be the closest call on the list. Derrick Henry vs. Jonathan Taylor. It’s like comparing a Ferrari to a Lamborghini. You’d be lucky to have either.
And honestly, I don’t think there’s a wrong answer here. They’re both undoubtedly top-five running backs in the NFL, and both ran for over 1,500 yards in 2025. You can hand it to Taylor if you want because he makes a bigger impact through the air, but I think the Ravens’ depth pushes them back in front.
No matter how you feel about Justice Hill, he’s the type of back any team would want in their backfield. Pass blocking, receiving skills, special teams play…he truly does it all. Indianapolis’ Seth McGowan and D.J. Giddens haven’t really done much to prove they can be leaned on if Taylor comes off the field.
Advantage Baltimore.
Wide receiver: Ravens
Both teams find themselves in a similar spot here. Both their WR1s got PAID this offseason, their WR2s saw a dip in production in 2025, and their backups aren’t sure things. The Ravens have the better high-end talent, though.
Zay Flowers turned it up yet another notch last season. He totaled 86 receptions (11th) and 1,211 yards (7th), all while playing for the team that attempted by far the fewest passes with 422. For context, that was 47 attempts behind the 31st-place Washington Commanders.
Alec Pierce, on the other hand, is solid. He’s a legit deep threat that can change the state of a drive with one reception. A career-high 47 receptions and 1,003 yards isn’t really true WR1-caliber, though.
Maybe there’s more in store for Pierce, Josh Downs, and even Keenan Allen, but entering the season, Baltimore holds an edge here.
Tight end: Colts
This is where the Colts get the Ravens big time.
Tight end was once a position that Baltimore dominated. It doesn’t look like that anymore with the losses of Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar, and Mark Andrews’ regression. As for the Colts, they’re on the come-up at this spot.
Tyler Warren alone is better than any tight end in the Ravens’ room. He was a Pro Bowler in his rookie campaign, tallying 76 receptions for 817 yards. And the best part of his game? His ability after the catch. He’s dynamic.
Credit where credit is due, Baltimore’s Durham Smythe is an exceptional blocker, but they need rookies Matthew Hibner and Josh Cuevas to look competent if Baltimore wants to even hold a candle to Indianapolis.
Offensive line: Colts
This unit could swing the outcome of Sunday’s matchup. The Ravens come into 2026 with three fresh faces along their offensive line, while the Colts have four of their five guys returning.
It’s a tale of two fronts. Baltimore had one of the worst groups in the league last year, and although John Simpson and Vega Ioane were brought in, the interior still has many questions to answer, most notably with Jovaughn Gwyn starting at center.
Indianapolis doesn’t have much to worry about. They had the second-best offensive front last year, per Pro Football Focus. Sure, the team is replacing Braden Smith with Jalen Travis at right tackle; however, Travis showed promise as a rookie.
This one’s not even close.
Defensive line: Colts
With a fully healthy squad, I’d say the Ravens here. Unfortunately, Nnamdi Madubuike was ruled out for Week 1. That puts pressure on the depth behind Travis Jones and Calais Campbell that isn’t necessarily strong.
Jones and Campbell can prove to be a dynamic duo. Against a Colts’ defensive line that occupies DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart, and Adetomiwa Adebawore, though? Give me the Colts.
Buckner is still a serious threat in the middle, Stewart eats space easily and stuffs the run, and Adebawore is an athletic freak who seemed to unlock a new gear in his third year. That doesn’t even include Jerry Tillery, who is solid rotational depth, having played 17 games in each of the last three seasons.
If the Ravens really want to make an impact here, someone on the bench needs to step up. Broderick Washington, John Jenkins, Aeneas Peebles. It might be your time to shine.
EDGE: Ravens
It’s crazy how big a transformation Baltimore went through this offseason. In 2025, their pass-rush was an absolute embarrassment. In 2026, it could be one of the more formidable units that the NFL has to offer.
Trey Hendrickson is the lead dog of the pack. He strikes fear into opposing offensive lines, and his presence should help free up young outside linebackers Mike Green and Zion Young off the edge. Even Tavius Robinson provides versatility to win against the pass and run.
The Colts can’t say the same.
For Indianapolis, it looks like it’ll be Laiatu Latu or nothing. He took major strides in 2025, but he’s still a ways away from Trey Hendrickson level. And Arden Key is probably the best they have opposite Latu, and he’s nothing more than average.
The Colts would need a second-year breakout from Jaylahn Tuimoloau, and after a very quiet preseason, it doesn’t look like that’s coming.
Linebacker: Ravens
Despite not having Teddye Buchanan on Sunday, that doesn’t stop the Ravens from bringing the better linebacker corps into Lucas Oil Stadium. Roquan Smith and Trenton Simpson should do the job just fine.
After a 2025 campaign that left fans less than satisfied, Smith should be back to his usual self this time around under Jesse Minter. Simpson could also be used as a mean chess piece with his pass-rushing chops.
The big names for the Colts are Akeem Davis-Gaither and CJ Allen. Davis-Gaither seemed to have a pretty solid year with the Arizona Cardinals in 2025, and comes over to Indy looking to keep the momentum pumping. Allen could develop into a really good linebacker, having been praised as one of the best at his position in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Indianapolis is a big question mark, though. Baltimore has a high floor at the very least.
Cornerback: Colts
The Ravens just can’t compete at cornerback. They have what could be some really solid depth. But do they have a 1-2 punch like the Colts? Heck no.
Indianapolis has Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward. That’s a hard corner duo to compete with. There’s even a conversation about that being the best pairing in the NFL. And as a whole, their group ranks eighth in the league, according to ESPN.
Baltimore is somewhat searching for answers. Nate Wiggins, Marlon Humphrey, and Chidobe Awuzie read like a nice trio on paper, but their secondary went through endless struggles last year. Is Nate Wiggins capable of transforming into a star? Is Marlon Humphrey starting to regress? Those are questions that need to be answered.
Safety: Ravens
Almost no one can match what the Ravens are running out there at safety in 2026. Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks, Jaylinn Hawkins, and Keondre Jackson. That’s the textbook definition of loaded.
The Colts may have a loaded safety room of their own. Cam Bynum is electric and is always a threat to force a turnover, and they drafted A.J. Haulcy in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, who brings outstanding instincts and intelligence on every down. That could create a formidable duo.
It’s nothing like Baltimore's, though. They might hold the best safety room in the NFL.
Special teams: Colts
This is the Ravens’ weak point. In fact, quite possibly their weakest point.
Tyler Loop is as shaky as it gets entering the regular season, Ryan Eckley is a rookie punter, and there’s not really an answer at kick returner. Nick Moore is an ultra-reliable long snapper, and LaJohntay Wester can provide plenty of explosiveness on punts, but overall, it’s a questionable group.
The Colts don’t have as many question marks. Spencer Shrader is kind of in the same position as Loop, but has looked more serviceable in recent weeks. Then there’s Rigoberto Sanchez and Ashton Dulin, who have both been excellent—Sanchez averaged 48.8 yards per punt and dropped 22 punts inside the 20 last year, and Dulin made second-team All-Pro in 2021 and averaged 32.3 yards per kick return in 2025.
Baltimore might have trouble keeping up in that regard in Week 1.
Final tally
- Ravens: 6
- Colts: 5
In these rankings, the Ravens' roster has one step up on the Colts. They hold most of the advantages at the flashy positions, too. If you're looking for a big play in Week 1, Baltimore could certainly provide it.
However, in the same breath, there are clear problems for Baltimore on the offensive line and special teams. Those are two areas where poor play can wipe out the positives at several other spots. They need the players starting there to hit the right notes.
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