Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) looks to pass during the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
The Baltimore Ravens are hoping to bounce back in 2026 after a tough 2025 campaign in which they missed the playoffs altogether. The Ravens have one more preseason game to go, this weekend against the Washington Commanders, as they make their final preparations for the new year.
Recently, former NFL quarterback and current ESPN talking head Dan Orlovsky made a bold prediction for how things will go in Baltimore this season.
“With Lamar Jackson healthy the Ravens can get to the Super Bowl. There's no doubt about it. This is a very good football team,” said Orlovsky, per First Take on X, formerly Twitter. “I think there are some question marks about the Baltimore Ravens that are fair. It's a new interior offensive line… I think the wide receiver core is probably the biggest question mark for me.”
The Ravens made a big commitment to their wide receiver room this offseason by signing Zay Flowers to a massive extension, but beyond him, the options at Jackson's disposal start to get sparse.
Meanwhile, Jackson himself is hoping to stay healthy after missing a big chunk of time in 2025 with a hamstring injury. Jackson is no longer a young quarterback, and with his game relying so heavily on athleticism and speed, the clock is ticking on how much longer the Ravens can count on having the MVP-level version of their star quarterback.
Still, if things fall into place this year, it's not hard to envision the Ravens being among the best teams in the AFC, with an elite defense, one of the game's best players in Jackson, and a new voice at head coach in Jesse Minter.
The Ravens will kick off their season on September 13 vs the Indianapolis Colts.