The Ravens (0-1) will face the Las Vegas Raiders (0-1) in their home opener at 1 p.m. Sunday. Here are game predictions from The Baltimore Banner’s sports staff.
Kyle Goon, columnist
However you spin it, facing the Chiefs in Week 1 was not a normal game. The unique pressures of a grudge match made the Ravens, in my opinion, act a bit out of character. I suspect there will be a heavier emphasis on Derrick Henry, especially after J.K. Dobbins went wild last week against this Raiders defense. Even though Las Vegas’ pass rushers are really, really good, the defense as a whole is far less equipped to deal with Baltimore’s playmakers. It should be a chance for Rashod Bateman and Mark Andrews to get more involved.
In their home opener, expect the Ravens to dictate the game from the start, especially putting pressure on Gardner Minshew (who was sacked four times last week). The biggest X factor Baltimore must worry about is Davante Adams getting behind the defense. But the Raiders simply don’t have a lot of weapons that make the Ravens sweat. The talent gap is overwhelming here, and Baltimore should get back to business at M&T Bank Stadium.
Ravens 33, Raiders 13
Giana Han, reporter
Headlined by Maxx Crosby, the Raiders’ defensive line may give the Ravens’ young offensive line trouble. But, without the all-around defense and Kansas City’s powerhouse of an offense, the Raiders shouldn’t be able to overwhelm Lamar Jackson. The reigning MVP has his first game in months under his belt, so the rust should be off and he’ll be hungry for a win. Should the Ravens utilize all their offensive weapons, they’ll have what it takes to balance any offensive line hiccups.
On defense, the Ravens already went through the ringer, so a Gardner Minshew-run offense should seem like a walk in the park. Don’t expect them to ease up, even with the step down in competition. New defensive coordinator Zach Orr and his players have something to prove.
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Ravens 24, Raiders 10
Jonas Shaffer, reporter
Oh, man. There aren’t a lot of drop-offs in quarterback ability bigger than Patrick Mahomes to Gardner Minshew. The Raiders have the weapons at wide receiver and tight end to stress the Ravens’ secondary, but Minshew’s limitations as a passer can be prohibitive. He ranked 24th in success rate in Week 1 against a questionable Chargers defense, and in the preseason he completed less than half of his passes.
Las Vegas’ best hopes for an upset rest in its Christian Wilkins-Maxx Crosby partnership up front. Wilkins, one of the NFL’s highest-paid defensive tackles, and Crosby, a three-time Pro Bowl selection at defensive end, often lined up over the right side of the Chargers’ offensive line in Week 1, creating trouble with pass rush games. If the Ravens aren’t secure at right guard and right tackle, their ground game will suffer and Lamar Jackson could be on the run again.
Ravens 27, Raiders 14
Paul Mancano, ‘Banner Ravens Podcast’ co-host
Giana and Jonas seem to be willfully ignoring Gardner Minshew’s brilliant 22-19 overtime victory in Baltimore a year ago as a member of the Indianapolis Colts. Have they forgotten about Uncle Rico’s iconic one-touchdown, 227-yard master class on a rain-soaked field at M&T Bank Stadium?
In all seriousness, say what you will about Uncle Rico, but he went 7-6 while filling in for Anthony Richardson last season. He’s not awful, and he’s buoyed by the impressive wide receiver tandem of Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers. Ravens linebacker Trenton Simpson is coming along, but the middle of the field was left open far too often in Week 1. Adams, Meyers and rookie tight end Brock Bowers can exploit that. Still, I expect Baltimore’s defense to limit explosive plays more effectively than it did against the Chiefs.
Ravens 23, Raiders 17
Chris Korman, editor
The Ravens are angry, coming home and looking to prove the Derrick Henry signing is going to help them be a better team. I think they’ll get him going early (say, 100 yards in the first half) and then feed Zay Flowers, who will find space this week. I’m expecting big plays on defense from Kyle Hamilton and Roquan Smith, too. The problems are going to be there — an overwhelmed offensive line, an underwhelming pass rush from the edge — but the Ravens should pull away easily. If you want to add drama to the day, try to guess at which point in the game Gardner Minshew will magically turn into Beautifully Mustachioed Joe Montana for exactly seven to nine plays. If you’re right, treat yourself to a cold one.
Ravens 35, Raiders 10
Brandon Weigel, editor
Folks, I still believe in the offensive line rebuild. Yes, even after that less-than-stellar performance blocking against the Kansas City Chiefs (shoutout to running back Justice Hill, of all people, for doing the tough work of picking up Chris Jones on the last drive). It’s worth highlighting that left tackle Ronnie Stanley and center Tyler Linderbaum were perfect in pass protection, according to ESPN’s pass block win rate rankings. The other three spots on the line will get sorted out in due time, as young guys such as Andrew Vorhees and Roger Rosengarten gain experience, and the unit will work in sync.
But Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and defensive end Maxx Crosby present a really, really tough test for this group as the guards and right tackle continue to get sorted. And, remember, it was Minshew Mania who capitalized on Baltimore’s mistakes last season in that clunker of a Colts game.
Let’s be serious, though. Baltimore is 13-3 in home openers under John Harbaugh, the Raiders have to travel to the East Coast for a 1 p.m. game, and the Ravens’ roster has more talent.
Ravens 27, Raiders 13
