Last season the Baltimore Ravens could never quite piece it together. When their defense was good, Joe Flacco was playing without a back. By the time Flacco finally started to get healthy (and I’m not sure he ever really was), the defense fell apart.
This year, Baltimore has a new defensive coordinator, promoting Don “Wink” Martindale to the job from linebackers coach. And, just in case you think I’m being funny with the nickname (and let’s be honest, I’d call him Wink regardless), this is what the team calls him. And people wonder why I write about the NFL.
The Ravens finished 9-7 and right outside the playoffs last season. Here are the odds from BetDSI Sportsbook on how they’ll finish this year.
Baltimore Ravens 2018-19 Regular Season Win Total
Over 8.5 (+100)
Under 8.5 (-130)
First off, let’s talk about Flacco. Unlike Ben Roethlisberger’s complaints about the Pittsburgh Steelers selecting Mason Rudolph in the third round of the 2018 draft, Flacco has reason to be concerned since his team grabbed Lamar Jackson by trading up for the final pick in the first round.
Flacco hasn’t had an elite QB year since 2014, but he’s not been bad. Last year he completed 64.1 percent of his passes for 3,141 yards, 18 touchdowns and 13 picks. Flacco was hurt three years ago and missed six games, so I don’t think selecting a QB was a bad idea for the Ravens. I mean, hell, look at the mess the Green Bay Packers are in every time Aaron Rodgers stubs his toe against an ottoman.
https://twitter.com/smartfootball/status/994633832841338880
But unlike the rest of NFL punditry, I’m not ready to write off Flacco just yet. People seem to forget the guy is one of the best postseason QBs of his era. He just hasn’t had the chance to show that off since 2014. Jackson likely won’t see the field this season even if Flacco does go down. Robert Griffin III is the back up and as long as John Harbaugh thinks the team can compete for a playoff spot, he won’t go with the rookie.
Wink’s defense is pretty much the same unit the team fielded last season, but older. Defenses like this seem to drink from the wrong Grail at any moment and crumble to dust, so I’m not ready to think everything’s been fixed. They didn’t add any real free agents or draft picks that will contribute much.
Joe Flacco says he understands Ravens drafting Lamar Jackson. Says offense is “boring” and “excites no one.”
— 𝗥𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝙇𝙄𝙑𝙀 (@LIVERavenNation) May 7, 2018
This is a team that really needs to work Phase Two of free agency, especially at running back. I’m not sold on Alex Collins carrying the load and Flacco needs the help.
Perusing their 2018 schedule, are there nine wins on there? I can honestly see them opening the season 3-0. They always seem to be able to pick off the Steelers at least once.
To secure at least a 9-7 finish or better for sure, they’ll need to sweep the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns, which should be entirely possible, but Marvin Lewis seems to always find a way to ruin things for Baltimore. I can’t count on a Bengals sweep.
Look- it’s Lamar Jackson coming for Joe Flacco’s job! pic.twitter.com/ahiad4yiGs
— Kyle Brandt (@KyleBrandt) May 5, 2018
Still, with a healthy Flacco, Baltimore has won nine or more games all but twice in his 10-year career. I think the over is a safe bet.
