If the Baltimore Ravens are to return to the postseason in 2026, Jesse Minter and Lamar Jackson are going to have to hit the ground running.
And the Ravens' early-season schedule has done them a favor, but only if they take advantage of it.
After a poor 2025 season that saw the Ravens start 1-5 and were swimming upstream all year, the franchise can't afford a similar start to the 2026 season.
For CBS Sports' John Breech, the Ravens have to take advantage of their "easy" schedule early in the year because the tough games are coming like a freight train.
"The Ravens better take advantage of their first seven weeks, because they have a pretty rough stretch starting in Week 8 with the Bills," Breech wrote. "From that point on, they'll play five straight games against teams that made the playoffs last year, including two division winners (Jaguars and Panthers). Overall, this feels like a pretty favorable schedule for Baltimore."
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No slow start for Ravens
The one thing teams all want to do is to start fast, and bank wins early in the year before injuries and the natural wear and tear of the season take hold.
The Ravens have winnable games in the first six weeks, and coming out of that at 4-2 or better would be ideal.
Because, as Breech wrote, Baltimore than has a gauntlet that could see them pull away in the division and playoff picture, or be dragged into the chasing pack like last season.
Ravens fans won't want a repeat of last season, and the NFL has given them a chance to hit the ground running in Year 1 with Minter.
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