Final Predictions for Ravens' 2025 Season

Team insiders Ryan Mink and Garrett Downing share their stat projections, breakout players, and other bold predictions ahead of the Ravens' 2025 season.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome into the Lounge, presented by DraftKings. I'm Ryan Mink
here with Garrett Downing and it is time Garrett to
make our final twenty twenty five predictions. We've talked about
it all off season, you know, we've we've thrown out
some I think this could happen. I think that could
have the pen, the paper time, the laminadum. What do

(00:24):
you think is gonna happen this season for the Ravens? Garrett, And, uh,
we're only two days away now, so you know there's
no change in it from here.

Speaker 2 (00:31):
Yeah, well, this is really bragging rights. This is the
bragging rights episode. You go out on the record, go
out on a limb, make our predictions. And the way
this usually works is that over the course of the
entire year, when something happens in a game that seems
like it's gonna we're one of us is going to
be correct. Typically me, well, the other nut you know,

(00:53):
elbows the other in the press box and says, I
told you, I told yourself. This is I thought of
so episode. I told you so episode. We have brag
rights all throughout the season. Now that the one thing
is like a lot of these are season long, So
it's not like you necessarily get instant gratification. We're not
going to find out.

Speaker 1 (01:07):
Well, but every time, like your guy does something great,
then you elbowed the other guy in your life.

Speaker 2 (01:12):
Say, I told you exactly now, you have never elbowed
me in a press box. To indicate that your prediction.

Speaker 1 (01:18):
Bruises from all the elbowing that.

Speaker 2 (01:19):
I did, I'm not sure this ever happened.

Speaker 1 (01:22):
Look, I went back and listened to last year's prediction
of the episode, and I hit every single one. So, uh,
until you listen to the episode back and tell me
I'm wrong, then I'm right.

Speaker 2 (01:32):
So yeah, yeah, that's definitely not the case. There's no
way even came close on that one. But this year,
this year, I feel like we're gonna be able to
deliver on some Uh. I actually think we're going to
be pretty aligned on a number of these things, uh
going into this this year. But I think the one
thing just to kind of set the table going into this.

(01:55):
It's easy when you're talking about things like right now.
I always make this analogy like going into the draft,
Like a week before the draft and all of a sudden,
there's fifty guys who are first round picks because everyone
so everyone's rising up the board, everyone's trying to make
that claim that this player is going to go in
the first round or go higher than expected. Of course,
there's not actually fifty first round picks. So you compare
it to this episode, and it's easy to be like,

(02:15):
this guy's going over one thousand yards. Lamar is passing
for over four thousand yards. All of a sudden, you've
got like ten thousand yards of offense if you started
making bold predictions. So with that said, even though both
of us expect the scene to be really good, we're
trying to keep it. We're trying to keep it realistic,
not trying to go completely out of bounds with these predictions.
So let's start with Lamar. I mean, that's where you

(02:35):
start the conversation with this team coming off a historically
good season last year. So four thousand is often the
number that gets thrown out passing yards for him and
for quarterbacks in general. Last year, just as a refresher,
four one seventy two passing yards, forty one passing touchdowns,
nine hundred and fifteen yards on the ground with four

(02:58):
rushing touchdowns. That was stat line last year. Still don't
know how he didn't win MVP with those numbers, but
that's a different discussion for a different day. So four
thousand passing yards, are you going over or under that mark?

Speaker 1 (03:11):
I'm going over, And I think that he tops last
year's I think he sets a new career high in
passing yards. That the Ravens have invested even more in
adding weapons around him, brought in DeAndre Hopkins, who I
think adds a different element to this offense, gives Lamar
Jackson another kind of trusted safety blanket contested to catch

(03:32):
guy outside the numbers, And so I think that Lamar
Jackson also just continues to grow as a passer. He
continues to grow in year three in Toddmunkin's offense. I think,
you know, Lamar always says, whenever you press him for
where what are you focusing on? What are you trying

(03:52):
to improve this season? He always says everything, And I
believe that. I think he has improved on everything. And
I think that he here's a guy who's really still
just at twenty eight years old, in the prime of
his career and getting better. And I don't see any
reason why he doesn't throw for even more yards than
he did last year.

Speaker 2 (04:13):
I could totally see him top on that number, just
like as a reference point, last year was the first
year he ever topped four thousand. So the year before
that twenty twenty three thirty six hundred passing yards. Year
before that injury shortened season twenty two hundred, twenty eight hundred,
twenty seven hundred, thirty one hundred, so prior to last year,
like he'd had some years in the twos, a couple

(04:33):
in the in Yeah.

Speaker 1 (04:34):
I don't think last year was an anomaly. That's basically
what you're talking about. I don't think that. I don't
think that's gonna when we look back on Lamar Jackson's
career that oh that's the outlier.

Speaker 2 (04:45):
I'm also going over four thousand pass yards for him.
I think that. I just think that, like this offense
has evolved into a place going into the third year
under Todd Monkin, with the weapons that are in place here,
with the three receivers, with the tight ends, with Lamar's
development as a passer, where they're going to be an
offense that puts up a lot of yards and points
through the air. I just think that's the way that

(05:05):
this offense is going to operate. Lamar's is really good
in that regard. Certainly still going to have a dominant
running game, which we're going to talk about plenty with
Derrick Henry in the backfield. But yeah, I'm going over
four thousand for Lamar through the air, and then like
the second piece of that is when it comes to
the running game. So like last year, again he had
nine hundred and fifteen yards on the ground, one thousand

(05:28):
is the number that we'll talk about, over under a thousand.
What's your take? Is he getting over a thousand this
year on the ground?

Speaker 1 (05:35):
No, I don't think that he is. You know, I
think that it's been a minute since he's run for
one thousand yards. Last time was in twenty twenty, and
so you know, last year he averaged six point six
yards per carry, which was a very healthy amount. And
when I watch him in practice, he's just as fast
as ever. But I just don't think that that's the

(05:56):
way this offense operates. That was the grow offense, and
so Lamar Now, of course he's going to have some
scramble plays and there will be some designed Lamar runs,
but way fewer than there used to be. Most of
the time, now I feel like he's moving around the
pocket and extending plays to make plays with his arm,

(06:17):
and so that's why he's throwing for so many yards.
And so no, I don't think that he hits a thousand,
but at nine fifteen last year, he also wasn't far
from it.

Speaker 2 (06:27):
Yeah, I think that I'm also going under like he's
hit a thousand twice in his career of twenty nineteen
twenty twenty, those two seasons were his highest from a
in terms of yards, but also attempts, and I think
the attempts are not going to be there. I mean,
in twenty nineteen he had one hundred and seventy six
rushing attempts, last year one thirty nine. Like, I don't
think we're going to see I think the days of

(06:48):
him rushing for one hundred and seventy five times, we're
not going to see that. I think that this, especially
when you have Derrick Henry in the backfield and all
these weapons in the passing game. I do think that
something we saw from him last year he broke some
big ones, some you know, some long runs, and so
I think that like Houston, yeah, like that ability to
have some if you have some forty plus yarders, Like

(07:10):
you can brack up those numbers in a hurry. So
I think he's gonna go under one thousand, but I don't.
I like, he's never We're never gonna be in a
point with Lamar where you're like, oh, he's not gonna
run at all. I mean, that's just well, I think
what makes him so special.

Speaker 1 (07:25):
I think what you're saying is we're gonna have to
continue to set the line, the over underline of a thousand, yeah,
because you know, he's just he's still a great runner,
and so he's gonna flirt with that number.

Speaker 2 (07:37):
I expect again, Yeah, he'll be in that. So all right,
so we made the predictions on passing and rushing, both
of us over four thousand, under one thousand rushing. What's
your expectation for what his stat line looks like this year?

Speaker 1 (07:50):
I mean last year was so ridiculous. I honestly, as
much as I got done saying like, I think that
Lamar Jackson keeps getting better and better, putting up those
numbers again is just statistically very hard to replicate. And
so when I look at forty one touchdowns that was

(08:11):
also a career high. Can he throw for that many touchdowns. Again,
I'm gonna, you know what, I'm going forty two oh
more touchdowns. I'm going I'm going forty two. But I
also think that there could be an increase in interceptions.
Last year he only had four. Previous two years, he

(08:33):
had seven each season. The year before that he had
thirteen and twenty twenty one. I think that four interceptions
was really and Lamar does a great job with seeing
the field and taking care of the ball, but I
think that that was like statistically, like, holy cow, forty
one touchdowns to four picks was absurd. I think that
there's a decent chance that he he throws more picks.

(08:57):
But I'll give him more touchdowns because think about all
the touchdowns Sarah Henry scored on the goal line. Yeah,
if a couple of those go to Lamar, hey we're
right there again.

Speaker 2 (09:05):
Yeah, well, okay, so what about yards? How many yards
are you predicting?

Speaker 1 (09:09):
I'm going forty two five. I think he's over last year.

Speaker 2 (09:13):
Okay, so again, forty one seventy two last year, four
two hundred and fifty is what you're predicting. I'm going
forty two hundred, forty two hundred passing yards. I'm going
to say thirty five touchdowns through the air, and just
is like just to kind of explain a little bit
more here, in twenty twenty three, he was the MVP.
He had thirty six hundred passing yards LA that season

(09:35):
with twenty four passing touchdowns, So like he.

Speaker 1 (09:38):
Should have been the MVP last year. It's just right.
I mean, in postros, the more you look at these numbers,
you're like, what.

Speaker 2 (09:44):
In the world so like, but he had so we
had twenty four passing touchdowns that season with seven interceptions.
Like his stats were drastically improved in twenty four compared
to where they were in twenty three.

Speaker 1 (09:55):
Yep.

Speaker 2 (09:56):
But like so I think he's somewhere in the middle
between those two seasons, which is still an MVP caliber
season even if they're not not as gaudy as they
were last year. And then on the ground, I think
he's still highly productive. I think eight hundred and twenty
five rushing yards five touchdowns is what I'm predicting for
him on the ground, So not as many yards on

(10:16):
the ground as he had last SEA last season, but
an increase in touchdowns.

Speaker 1 (10:19):
Okay, you'll go on the ground I'll go eight fifty,
a little bit above you trying to just one up
me on every I'm playing prices right here. Okay, you said,
would you say eight twenty five?

Speaker 2 (10:31):
I said eight twenty five.

Speaker 1 (10:32):
So I'm going eight twenty six okay, and I'll go
five touchdowns.

Speaker 2 (10:36):
Okay, So we're we're aligned on the touchdowns and generally speaking,
in the same ballpark in terms of what the expectation
is for him stat wise. Now, part of the reason
that I think both of us are lower on the
rushing yards compared to what he had last year is
you got King Henry in the backfield, and so he's
coming off a season where he had nineteen hundred yards
on the ground and showed no signs of slowing down
in his first season as a Raven. Now he's got

(10:58):
a little bit extra on the line this year because
he's got to Adam Sandler cameo appearance online. That's what
he's really focused on. That's correct, first and foremost. If
he tops two thousand rushing yards.

Speaker 1 (11:07):
Well, who said it's a cameo. Why can't it be
a leading role?

Speaker 2 (11:09):
That's true. I guess it's not specified what exactly the
role is. So if he's if he ends up in
the if he ends up crossing two thousand yards. Adam
Sandler said he's putting Derrick Henry in the next movie. Yep, okay,
So is he making the cameo leading role whatever the
role is appearance in the next Adam Sandler movie. Yes,
he is two thousand yards eason, but he's.

Speaker 1 (11:31):
Not running for two thousand yards. I think they make
an exception. I think, I mean, there's been so much
talk around it now like it can't not happen.

Speaker 2 (11:40):
Well, there's talk around it, but it's predicated on hitting
that mark.

Speaker 1 (11:43):
Look, if Derrick Henry runs for nineteen hundred and seventy
five yards, I don't think Adam Sandlor is gonna go
those to say, Nah, you're not in the movie. Bro,
he's in the movie. Okay, all right, okay, but I
just I don't two thousand rushing yards is tough. And
the reason that I'm saying under is it's nothing to

(12:09):
do with Derek. Like Derek Henry is still an absolute
machine the whole age thing, Like it literally doesn't matter.
The guy might be the player in the best shape,
if he plays till he's fifty, he might still be
in the best shape of anybody on the field. So
that's not it for me. It's more that Keaton Mitchell.

(12:32):
I think the Ravens could look to get him more
touches this year, which maybe that's a few fewer for
Derrick Henry, And I just think that he also led
the league in big runs last year twenty plus yards.
That's kind of his game, you know, when he finds

(12:53):
open grass, he can run away from people and through people.
But I just think it's statistically gonna be tough to
replicate that.

Speaker 2 (13:01):
Look, I'm not gonna diminish like two thousand yards like
that numbers getting thrown around like it's no big deal.
I mean it's historically good number. Derek who's a Hall
of Fame running back, has done it once. He did
it in twenty twenty where we ran for twenty twenty
seven yards. No player in NFL history has ever done
it twice.

Speaker 1 (13:16):
Right, So it happens we're talking historic, an historic accomplishment here.

Speaker 2 (13:20):
Right, Just because Henry was so good last year, and
because Saquon Barkley was so good last year, everyone's now like, hey,
two thousand yards, that's within reach.

Speaker 1 (13:28):
Right.

Speaker 2 (13:29):
All that said, I'm going over saying that he gets
it done. I think that, like, okay, like the Adam
Stanley movie is a nice talking point and kind of
a funny discussion. I don't think that, like you know,
Derek's going to sleep every night practicing his lines for
Happy Gilmour three, Like, I don't think that's what's happening.
But I think it's like I think that he's a

(13:52):
guy that like he has a great understanding of NFL
history and the like the running backs who have come
before him, and like he he's one of the best
and already is the case. And I think that like
being the only guy to ever have two thousand rushing
yards in a season would certainly mean something to him.
And I think that he's, as you mentioned, like he's
shown no signs of slowing down, and he was knocking

(14:15):
on the door of that last year. The reason I
also think that he it could happen is last year,
out of the gate, new team, new system, all that stuff,
like it was a little slow out of the gate.
His his lowest total from a rushing yards tandpoint last
year was Week one against the Kansas City Chiefs forty
six yards on the ground in that game. The next game,

(14:36):
he had eighty four. Then he was off to the
races one point and it was you know, there was
no stopping him at that point. But I think that
he could start a little faster. I think he's gonna
have hot more than against who is that? Yeah, yeah,
that was against Buffalo, as we all remember. So maybe
maybe we'll have a stronger start this year. Yeah, maybe
maybe we just start with one ninety nine.

Speaker 1 (14:56):
Let's just do that.

Speaker 2 (14:57):
So I think he's gonna go over forty six rushing
yards in the open compared to what he did last year.

Speaker 1 (15:02):
I think that there's merit to that. You know, he's
a little bit more comfortable with this system. I also
think if you're making the case for over two thousand yards,
I think this offensive line could be better than it
was last year, particularly at the beginning of the season.
You know, when you were breaking in three new starters,
you know, the passing of Joe d you had a
new coach, new language. There was a lot that this

(15:24):
offensive line had a lot of challenges thrown at it
early last year. Ronnie Stanley just told us this week
that he feels like this offensive line is definitely better
than they were a year ago at this point, and
I think that, you know, knock going wood, if it
stays healthy as it did last year, this could be
a really strong offensive line, particularly in run blocking, where

(15:49):
I think Vorhe's and fat Alele really kind of that's
the strength of their game. And so that to me,
if you're trying to make the case for over two thousand,
is probably the biggest thing.

Speaker 2 (16:01):
Yeah, better o line, familiarity with the system right out.

Speaker 1 (16:05):
Of the gate. Now, I don't like that pat Ricards
dealing with calf injury at the beginning of the season. Yep,
that's that's the tough text things.

Speaker 2 (16:10):
That's that's that's tough if he misses any time. So yeah,
Like and again I'm not gonna sit here and act
like two thousand is like a whole home season like that. Yeah,
that's that's easy. Go ahead and get two thousand rushing
yards like it's historic. Yeah, but I think Henry's a
historically good player, and I think that I will uh
top that mark this year. So I'm going bold.

Speaker 1 (16:29):
I like it.

Speaker 2 (16:30):
In terms of the rushing attack, what's your take on
who finishes just basically, what the number two running back
production looks like. We're all excited about Keaton Mitchell. Could
he get more carries? Could he end up being a
guy that you know, has like some big time impact plays.
But Justice Hill last year great is the third down back.

Speaker 1 (16:47):
Justice. I think that we're all excited about Keaton friend
of the lounge, right, but let's not let that diminish
our appreciation of Justice Hill, because Justice Hill is a
really good running back, particularly as a third downback, not
you know, as pass protector, catching the ball, being able

(17:08):
to make guys miss and pick up those tough yards
to move the chains.

Speaker 2 (17:12):
Like.

Speaker 1 (17:13):
I think, Justice Hill is still pretty firmly the Ravens
number two running back and will put up numbers comparable
to last year. I think that Keaton could some of
the It wouldn't surprise me if Justice Hill had fewer
rushing attempts and some of those went to Keaton Mitchell. Yeah,
but I still think as a receiver and third downback,

(17:34):
Justice Hill is the primary guy.

Speaker 2 (17:36):
I think in most situations on third downs, especially clear
passing downs, you know, third and eight plus all those like.
I think it's going to be Justice on the field primarily,
and he's so good catching the ball out of backfield
He's really good as a pass protector too, which can
often get overlooked. So yeah, I think from a role standpoint,
it's really going to be unchanged. But I do think
Keaton could cut into some of the rushing attempts for

(17:58):
Justice and maybe a touch for Henry. But as we like,
you know, can't cut into too many because he's got
to get two thousand yards for me. So but I
think he could cut in a touch on both of
those guys, all right, receiving yards, catches, and touchdowns. Zay
Flowers coming off a Pro Bowl season, but the Ravens

(18:19):
have a lot of good players. Mark Andrews coming off
a season where he had led all tight ends and
receiving touchdowns or shot Batman contract extension this offseason, had
kind of a breakout year last year. What's your take
on yards and catches? Who leads away there?

Speaker 1 (18:33):
I think this is the easiest one. I think that's
Zay Flowers. He was far in both yards and receptions.
I think he far and away led the team last year.
I mean seventy four catches. Mark Andrews was second at
fifty five. I mean Jay Flowers put up one fifty
nine receiving yards or shot. Batman had seven hundred and
fifty six. If Zay Flowers isn't your leading receiver in

(18:53):
receptions and receiving yards, I think something's gone wrong. And uh,
I like, yeah, I expect him to do that again.
I think the question was Zay is does he score
more touchdowns? You know? I mean he had four last year.
He has nine in his first two years. So that's
kind of the anomaly with say Flowers so far in
his young career, is like he hasn't found the end

(19:15):
zone as much as you might expect. But in terms
of I think the passing game still first and foremost
goes kind of through him. In terms of the receivers,
particularly at least and beyond that, I think he's just
their leading wide receiver. He's the guy.

Speaker 2 (19:33):
Yeah, I think he's leads away in yards and catches.
I think that his stat line looks pretty similar to
what he had last season, which is like, I think
he can keep growing. But I think I go back
to like what Rashat Bateman said when he joined the
podcast this offseason when he was talking about Zay, and
rasha was really effusive in his praise. I mean, he

(19:54):
made the point like, I don't get paid if it's
not for SAH and so they've got a great dynamic.
And he made the point like if a team wanted
to just get the ball to say Flowers and rack
up numbers for him, like he could be a thirteen
hundred yard receiver. Like there's no doubt in Bateman's mind
that that could be the case for a day. He
could be a thirteen year, one hundred yard receiver. But

(20:17):
that's not really what he's asked to do in this offense.
When you have the other weapons in the receiving game
and the running game, it's one ball to go around.
So I think that he's probably in a pretty similar
stat line standpoint seventy to seventy five catches about a
thousand yards.

Speaker 1 (20:31):
Yeah, yeah, I would agree with that. I think the
question also is what does DeAndre Hopkins numbers look like?

Speaker 2 (20:38):
You know?

Speaker 1 (20:38):
I mean last year the Ravens number three wide receiver
was was Nelson Agalore. He ended up catching fourteen passes
for two hundred and thirty one yards. I think that
DeAndre Hopkins is going to have more production than that. Yeah,
I agree, And so where does that come from? Or
is it just the Ravens. I mean, I guess I

(20:58):
have Lamar Jackson throwing for more ards this year, So
it's just an increase, just an increase. Everybody goes up. Yeah,
but yeah, I mean, it wasn't surprising if somebody, somebody
drops a little bit, because de Hop's gonna gobble up.
I think significantly more than two hundred and thirty one yards.
I mean I see him in like the five hundred
yard range probably, Yeah. So, and I think that Rashad

(21:20):
Bateman is a receiver that just continues to grow too,
you know. And he had forty five catches for seven
to fifty six last year, nine touchdowns. Bait was really
productive in the end zone. So it'll be interesting to
see how it all shakes out. But I agree with you.
I'm going over a thousand yards again for Zay Flowers.

Speaker 2 (21:40):
Yeah, I'm over on that too, but close. And so
then the question here is who leads a team of touchdowns.
Mark Andrews did a last year eleven touchdowns. Are you
going with Mark? Are you going with someone else? What's
your take on touchdowns?

Speaker 1 (21:54):
I'm going with Mark. I think that he's just so
good in the red zone. The big dog, the big
dog markings just eaten in that end zone, and so
Lamar just trusts him so much. It's a it's an
area where it really suits Mark's game because A He's

(22:14):
just got such a great feel for getting open in
tight coverage zone coverage, finding the soft spot, finding Lamar
Jackson's eyes. Those two can just are telepathic with each other.

Speaker 2 (22:26):
Uh.

Speaker 1 (22:26):
And then of course he can go up and just
head top people and just body people. So I think
he's just such a great weapon in the red zone
and thus he will. Plus we'll see how much time
Isaiah likely misses, if any, but it certainly looks like
he's gonna miss some, so we'll see, you know, while

(22:46):
Isaiah is out, Mark is the one A and B
and so I think Mark Andrews leads this team.

Speaker 2 (22:54):
Again, I was back and forth on this one. Mark Andrews,
throughout his career has been a pretty safe pick a
guy to lead this team in touchdowns.

Speaker 1 (23:01):
He's the career all time Ravens franchise leader.

Speaker 2 (23:05):
Yeah, like so pretty good. Starting to get a bit
just safe, bet, you know, I'll take the chalk on that.
But I'm actually gonna go with Shot Bateman, who I'm
gonna differentiate a little bit here. Bateman had a nine
touchdowns last season. I think he's really I mean, he's
a really smooth route runner, but I think he's He's
proven to be really effective in that part of the
field and there's a lot of traffic that gets Mark

(23:25):
Andrews like he he brings a lot of attention with him,
and that's one of the things I, to be honest,
I think is so impressive about Mark is like he's
been especially earlier in his career, he was like the
main receiving target that drew a lot of eyes and
he still was highly productive. I still think in that
part of the field, Mark gets a lot of attention
and I think that helps open things up on the edges.

(23:46):
So and Bateman is just he's really smooth in that
part of the field. He can go up and get
the ball if need be, and that's where he I
think is making his big impact. So I'm gonna go
I'm gonna go double digit ten touchdowns this year for
a shot Bateman.

Speaker 1 (23:59):
Wow, Okay, that'd be a big year last year.

Speaker 2 (24:02):
Yeah, he tops last year by one and leads a
team in touchdowns.

Speaker 1 (24:05):
It's interesting because I think of Bait as really the Ravens'
best like deep threat, big play kind of threat and
so sure that can certainly leads the touchdown.

Speaker 2 (24:16):
Just catch the deep balls in the end zone. Yeah,
that works.

Speaker 1 (24:21):
Speaking of Happy Gilmore, it's like, well I just put
it in the green and wat shot every time like
that that was and so but like it's it's just
curious to me why Bait has had so much more
touchdown production, or at least last year than Za had
twice as many touchdowns. You know, I think like Za
could be a very good good receiver in the red zone.

(24:45):
Also just because he can create such quick separation. He
just has changed the direction ability. Ability has change directions
on a dime oftentimes when there's tight throwing windows. That
makes a huge difference. And uh so, I don't know,
it's just curious, Like it wouldn't It also would not
shock me. Now, Zay's not of the biggest guy, so

(25:07):
when we talk about headtopping people, that's not Zay's game.
But like it also would not shock me if those
touchdown numbers like flipped, Like, is there a world where
Jay Flowers that has nine and Bait has four?

Speaker 2 (25:19):
Well, no, I predict a ten.

Speaker 1 (25:21):
Well, that's correct. Now your world, there's in your world
that doesn't exist. Yeah, But I don't think that's crazy.

Speaker 2 (25:26):
I think I look to be honest, touchdowns can be
a little bit I don't want to say fluky. That's
probably putting it too strong. But like those numbers, I
do think can there's a lot that goes into touchdowns.
It's a little bit like turnovers for a defense to
some degree, And so I think that, like you could
have a big increase for somebody else, But I just

(25:50):
think that, like I think that Zay's game is more
getting the ball in space, it gets more condensed down
there in the red zone. He has really shifties obviously,
so like he can he can get open in a
hurry in a phone booth, so like that would help him.
But I think that like when you have the bigger
targets Mark Bateman and Hopkins this year, I think those
guys are gonna be more of your red zone threats

(26:11):
than Zay. And so I think again, Bateman is my
pick to lead the team and receiving your receiving touchdowns
this year. So let's take a quick break. When we
come back, we'll dive into the defensive side of the ball,
and of course we're gonna talk about the game coming
up on Sunday in Buffalo. You're listening to the Lounge
podcast where you're coming to you from the Sea Geek Studio.
We want to mention our partners with Trafficking Sports Book.
They are an official sports betting partner of the Baltimore

(26:31):
Ravens drafting sports book. The Crown is yours all right.
So defense, Uh, there's there's a lot of talent on
this defense. Let's start with who's gonna be getting after
the quarterback? This is an area where the Ravens had
two guys last year crack double digits in sacks. Kyle
van noy And and Dafeowa both hit that double digit number
for the first time in their careers. What's your expectation

(26:54):
for who leads the team in sacks this season?

Speaker 1 (26:57):
This is a tough one, uh, because I think there's
really four contenders for this. But I'm gonna go I'm debating.
I'm debating here, debate making a mingering last second change.

Speaker 2 (27:15):
No, Uh, did you do prep for it? Did you
have your guy? I did?

Speaker 1 (27:19):
But I'm thinking about changing it. You know what. No,
I'm not going to inger with the pick, I'm sticking
with Odafeway, sticking with Oway bulked up. You know, I
think in the best physical condition of his career, a
player that has continued to just grow and improve in
his game. I think Oway is the guy that's a

(27:39):
good pick.

Speaker 2 (27:39):
I mean not away in a contract year or two.
This is a big opportunity for him to to earn
himself a contract. And he looks great and he had
a great camp, So like, no issue with that pick.
I'm I'm actually going with a guy who led the
team sacks a couple years ago, nom Be Madabike. Oh okay,
So I know a lot of times we talked about sacks.
We talked about the guy on the outside, Mattabik. Two

(28:02):
years ago he led the team. He had thirteen sacks
and twenty twenty three. Had a dip last year down
to six and a half. But I think that Matta
Bik still got after the quarterback last year. Didn't have
the same production from a sax standpoint, but did apply pressure.
He was coming off a year where he like he
got that contract. Certainly attracts a lot of attention in

(28:22):
the middle of that defense. And so but I just
I think that he's kind of overlooked a little bit
right now this offseason, I feel like going into this
year and I just think he's going to get back
to being a guy that can that can get double
digit sacks and be a force in the middle of
his defense.

Speaker 1 (28:40):
I think the question for him is will you see
as many double teams as he did last year. I
expect that Travis Jones and his emergence will command more attention,
which would free up Nomdee some more. So that's how
I could see nomdi getting back to that kind of production.
And I think just naturally, you know, he's gonna he's

(29:04):
just gonna get more. I think last year was just
kind of a down finished, you know, he just didn't
finish this as higher rate. But I don't I don't
know that he's gonna lead the team.

Speaker 2 (29:15):
All right, so you're going away Van Noyd loved the
team last year twelve and a half. I still think
Van Ney's gonna have a good season. I don't think that,
like I do not think that this defense, scheme wise
and with the collection of players, is going to be
a defense that has like one guy with eighteen sacks
and then everybody else kind of picking up the scratch, like,
I think it's gonna be a bit of a shared situation.

(29:37):
And like, so Matta Bik is my pick. He could
lead with like ten and you gonna have a bunch
of guys six seven, eight nine. I was flirting with
the idea of going with Mike Green to lead the
team in sacks, to lead the team in sex. Okay,
I was flirting with that idea that that would be
a remarkable rookie season for him.

Speaker 1 (29:54):
It would be. It would not shock me. And I
think that Tavius Robinson is gonna get more opportunities to
rush the passer. I mean, you look at the Ravens
Week one depth chart, it's Odafe Oway or Tavius Robinson.
So the Ravens look at both those guys as starters.
I think that Tavis is gonna get some more opportunities
to kind of show what he's got as a pass rusher.

(30:16):
And so it wouldn't shock me if we have three
or three I'm gonna say four guys, oh way, van Ney, uh,
Mike Green, Mike Green and who and Matt A.

Speaker 2 (30:32):
Bk You also mest Tavius Robinson. Five guys had another.

Speaker 1 (30:35):
One I don't know that Tavis is gonna get in
like contending for the running of most Saxon team. But
I think those other four guys are gonna be in
a race down the stretch for who takes it, like
and they're all right round eight and it's it's who's
gonna who's gonna have the most interesting? Look.

Speaker 2 (30:51):
I'm I'm excited about Green. I thought he had a
great summer, really flashed. I thought like as training camp continued,
look good in the preseason games. I think that like
there's a lot of excitement for him, justifiably. So I
also think that it's kind of similar, like as I
was talk about Derek Henry getting two thousand yards, that
number just gets thrown out there like it's nothing. You know,

(31:11):
like if Mike Green had a rookie season with six sacks,
that's a great rookie season in a lot of ways.
But people are talking about him like leading the team
and being in the defensive Rookie of the Year conversation,
and like maybe those things happen, but like.

Speaker 1 (31:23):
That would be a remarkable season.

Speaker 2 (31:24):
I agree, that's like that is a stellar rookie season.
And if if you get six sacks, as a rookie.
That's a really good that's a really good start. So
I'm more on that range on him, and I think
he's gonna be an impactful player. I think also part
of it comes down to, like when do those sacks happen,
what's the situation, what kind of impact do those sacks have?

Speaker 1 (31:43):
So Trell Suggs had twelve his rookie year, one defensive
Rookie of the Year. That's just incredible, ridiculous. Also like
Peter Buller had eleven and a half. Also, Trell Suggs
is probably gonna He's gonna doe in the Hall of Fame.

Speaker 2 (31:55):
Rightcharrel Suggs is one of the best passes top ten
in the NFL history in sacks. He's in the Raven
Ring of Honor. He's gonna have a gold jacket sooner
island later.

Speaker 1 (32:02):
That's correct. Peterbool wear eleven and a half Ring of Honor,
Ring of Honor guy. Right, So I don't think that
Mike Green is gonna get to I would be surprised
if he got to that level this year. I would
not be surprised if he gets that level in his career. Oh,
but I think as a rookie like that, those are
some really lofty numbers. But I if I'm putting the

(32:23):
set in the over under on Mike Green based on
what I've seen now, I also i want to say,
like the preseason production, Like, now he's going against let's
see what it looks like week one against the Bills
offensive line and some of the best offensive tackles in
the game. Yeah, okay, preseason games you're going against backups,
Yeah okay, and.

Speaker 2 (32:41):
Like Dion Dawkins, Okay, in the game, come on down
exactly right.

Speaker 1 (32:45):
So, like I think that we're all excited, but like,
let's let's see what he does in a full game
against starters. Uh. That said, if I'm setting the over
under on Mike Green, I'm setting it at five and
a half.

Speaker 2 (32:58):
You're over here talking about ten, eleven, twelve sacks, and
now you.

Speaker 1 (33:00):
Go doing that.

Speaker 2 (33:02):
I'm saying here, down to five and a half.

Speaker 1 (33:04):
I'm taking the over. If I'm if I'm if I'm
setting that at the over under, I'm taking I'm definitely
smashing the over.

Speaker 2 (33:10):
You're like, I think he's gonna lead the team in sacks. Yeah,
so maybe he gets five this year.

Speaker 1 (33:15):
I'm saying over I'm saying over kind of want to
sen it at six and a half.

Speaker 2 (33:21):
This whole lot preamble to get to the point that
he could have five sacks this year.

Speaker 1 (33:27):
How many sacks are you put how many sacks are
you projecting?

Speaker 2 (33:30):
I'll say my prediction for him is six sacks this season.

Speaker 1 (33:34):
Okay, I'm going I'm going six and a half.

Speaker 2 (33:37):
Well, again, you thought he was going to lead the team,
so I.

Speaker 1 (33:39):
Said he's going to be in that conversation, I think
that he'll be like contending for the team lead.

Speaker 2 (33:45):
Okay, all right, a lot of hamming and haw on
there a lot I think honestly too. Like part of
the reason that I would not I would be surprised
if he leads the team in sacks is like there's
good players in front of him. Like, oh, way, you
talked about it. Van Noy. We just had him on
the podcast. Completely boy is a guy that, like you know,

(34:06):
he had, He's come off a career year and I
don't see him slowing down. And Tavius Robinson is like Tavious,
I don't think it's going to be in the big
time sack production department, but he's going to be in
the big time snaps.

Speaker 1 (34:19):
Well, like, who are you taking off the field? Is
the question? And how often can the Ravens get all
three of those guys rushing the passera, Kyle van Noy
and Mike Green? Can you do that?

Speaker 2 (34:32):
Maybe a little bit, but not that often, to be honest,
I don't.

Speaker 1 (34:35):
I mean, that's so like if you're sitting here talking
about Oway and van Noy where you're leading sack guys
and van Noy's talked about it many times about how
you know why he's had so much productions because they
let him get after the quarterback here, Like they say,
you're a pass rusher here. So who's coming off the
field to give him my green snaps? That's the question.

(34:55):
But I think that's the only thing in my eyes
that's holding him back from potentially, you know, leading the team.

Speaker 2 (35:03):
All right, So let's move on to another category here.
Interceptions takeaways has been a big, big, big talking point
for this team, and I think that they are I
think they're going to be more productive from a takeaway standpoint.
As a defense. Marl Hufford led the team in interceptions
last year, had six of them. That was kind of
an anomaly season for him. That was the most of
his career and historically speaking, I mean he's a guy

(35:26):
that's forced takeaways with the force fumbles, but not really
been a high pick guy was last year though, So
who leads a team in interceptions? In your mind going
with Malachi Starks. Okay, the rookie comes in, your rookie,
You're on the rookie bandwagon. Mike Green leads a team
in sacks. Malachai Starks leads a team and picks.

Speaker 1 (35:42):
Well, if you read Baltimore Ravens dot com this week,
we pulled a bunch of Ravens defensive players for who
their breakout player is going to be. You know who
their pick was? Here? Was it? Malakai Starks? All right,
the most popular vote among those in the locker room.
So I'm gonna believe our players, Garrett. Maybe you don't
c jar players, but I do. And I'm going with

(36:02):
Malachi starts with five picks this year.

Speaker 2 (36:05):
Kyle said it. Kyle Hamilton said it on the podcast
earlier this week when he talked about how Malachi came
in and just like has impressed him, like he started
from the time he stepped on campus, and like this
is Kyle Hamilton mister one hundred million dollar man here,
who's one of the best, if not the best safety
in football, saying like, man, this guy is impressive as
a rookie. I wish I was like that if that's

(36:26):
Hamilton saying it. And I don't think he's just like
shouting praise like. I don't think he's just gassing him up.
I think he's being honest and his like assessment there
of how impressed he is of Malachi Starks. So I
do not think that's a bad pick.

Speaker 1 (36:42):
You know what, I'll go step further. He gets one
week one too.

Speaker 2 (36:45):
Oh he starts the season that way.

Speaker 1 (36:46):
Well, starts a season with the season with a pick
in the second half.

Speaker 2 (36:49):
Well, if you go back to his college career, he
started with a pick in his first play.

Speaker 1 (36:55):
Yeah, I'm going second half, Okay, that bills are down,
Bills are down, and they got to start chuck a
little bit.

Speaker 2 (37:00):
More, all right, I don't I do not think, uh,
that is a bad pick. So my interception leader, I
am going to go, uh. I've been back and forth
on this one a lot.

Speaker 1 (37:11):
You can change right now.

Speaker 2 (37:13):
And I think I am going to go with Nate Wiggins. Okay,
all right, and when we talked to Wiggans on the
podcast Trying to the Lounge, he told us his goal
for this year is ten takeaways. Now that includes force
fumbles and includes force fumbles. Also, yeah, we didn't get
the fine print. Let me let me see where this

(37:34):
goal shoot at your locker says he said, ten takeaways.
I don't think he's going to have ten interceptions this year.
That would he'd be probably the defensive player of the
year if that were the case. But like, I think
that he's he had won last year, took it back
to the house pretty good start, but I think that
he's going to definitely see an increase in that. And
so I'm gonna go Wiggins leading the team in picks
this year, and like that's I guess more of a

(37:56):
risky pick because like that's not necessarily been his game,
like a he's more of a kind of a shut
down corner. He had some opportunities last year and didn't
didn't connect. But I think that this year he sees
an increase and he leads a team and picks.

Speaker 1 (38:10):
I think there's a fair chance that he gets targeted
at fair amount.

Speaker 2 (38:14):
We'll have opportunities.

Speaker 1 (38:14):
Yeah, yeah, I think that when you look around that
secondary at Marlon, Humphrey, Jay Yr Alexander, like people might
go after the second year guy, and so I think, yeah,
he'll he'll have some opportunities to make those kind of plays.
And I think that despite dropping some last year, I
actually think like Nate has pretty good hands. Like that
was kind of the surprising thing with Marlon last year

(38:35):
is Marlin up to that point had not showing great
hands and then he comes away with six. I don't
think that it's crazy to think that Marlin could again,
that was what I was. The other thing is, you know,
Marlin's gonna, I think, play a lot of nickel, which
puts him around the ball a lot. Yeah, and so
Tip passes those kind of things, like he has a chance.

Speaker 2 (38:54):
That was who that was who I was between. I
was between those two guys for all the reasons that
you just mentioned. I think that was gonna be right
on the ball a lot. I think Malay I just
think like for rookies it's just hard. I just think
if you come into the news, it's just difficult. I mean,
Malachai is already impressive in the sense that he stepped
in He's going to be starting right away, but like
to come in and be like, hey, this is gonna
be this is expected to be a really good defense,

(39:17):
you know, one of the better defenses in the league,
and as a rookie, lead the team and picks like
that's a tall order. And so that's why I lean
more on Again, I was between Marlin and uh, I.

Speaker 1 (39:30):
Don't think Nate, what about yere? You just got to
take away ability?

Speaker 2 (39:33):
You know he does.

Speaker 1 (39:36):
He's gotta stay healthy.

Speaker 2 (39:37):
He's got to stay healthy again, new team, that's the
question health for him. He's he's he's had to He's
not been like he's got to take away ability. But
you look through his career like super super I mean
he had two last year, none of the he's actually had.

Speaker 1 (39:54):
Better production in the playoffs than he has in the
red go seasons, right.

Speaker 2 (39:57):
Like this is these are the this is his career
two interceptions zero five one one two one.

Speaker 1 (40:02):
So how about we run back that five five?

Speaker 2 (40:04):
Okay, that sounds good. So kind of similar to Marrowin
in that sense in terms of his like he has
one season where he had you know, a big number.
But so that's that's all I'm going with, all Right,
I want to move into special teams. A big question
for the season. Tyler Loop stepping in for Justin Tucker
look good in preseason, what does Tyler Loop season look like?

Speaker 1 (40:24):
Tyler Loop finishes with a field goal percentage at or
above ninety percent, Okay, I think that they're of course
built within that is a ten percent are missed, and
I think that, you know, there are gonna be some
painful moments, as it happens with every kicker. I think

(40:44):
that once he gets late in the season and you're
talking about AFC North games, those are gonna be the
toughest environments for him to kick in and the conditions
get ugly. It's just it's tough to be a kicker
in the AFC North. So like that, I think will
be probably where he could have some This is but
my my ultimate prediction for Tyler Loop is that he

(41:07):
kicks a field goal in the Super Bowl.

Speaker 2 (41:11):
Oh okay, we're just gipping ahead to the Super Bowl.

Speaker 1 (41:13):
Now, he kicks a field goal in the Super Bowl.
Al Right. I'm not saying he's going to kick a
game winner in the Super Bowl, but Tyler Loop, Justin
Tucker asked, kicks a field goal in the Super Bowl.

Speaker 2 (41:21):
All right, I like that. I mean aside from the
Tyler Loop piece of it, sure, yeah, but just the
super Bowl conversation like that too. I think I think
that Tyler Loop, like early in the season, it's going
to be a talking point, like you open up broadcast,
a big change for this team is Tyler Loop is
now the kicker. How's that gonna go? And until you
do it that that question is going to exist. How

(41:43):
do you handle the pressure? How do you handle the spotlight?
And I think that by like week five, we're just
not really going to be talking about Tyler Loop being
like a question mark anymore.

Speaker 1 (41:50):
I think he's just gonna It's not part of the
opening monologue.

Speaker 2 (41:52):
No, I just think it's gonna be He's just gonna
be good. Like you made the point like he could
have some painful misses, Like I think he'll have some misses,
because every kickers misses. I don't think they're gonna be
particularly painful. I think he's proven to me, like in
clutch situations, as clutch as you can get in training
camp and the preseason, like, he's proven to be clutch
and like, to be honest, those were I know that

(42:14):
fans may say like they're not that clutch of situations,
Like no, it's not the super Bowl, but like he
was fighting for his job, Like if he didn't deliver
in training camp and the preseason, he would not have
ended at stadium practice like he would have had a job.
So like pretty clutch to him. And so I think
that he's gonna be a guy ninety percent sounds about right.
I just think he's gonna be a good kicker.

Speaker 1 (42:35):
I think back from those misses, like I've been honestly,
like very impressed with him, Like he's just a guy
that he's very bright eyed and bushy tailed, and he
just kind of like doesn't he's just kind of like yeah,
you know, it'll be right, you know what I mean.
Like I just like his attitude.

Speaker 2 (42:51):
I like him. My prediction on Loop is that I
think that he's going to kick a sixty plus yard
of this year.

Speaker 1 (42:57):
I think that's a very good prediction.

Speaker 2 (42:59):
This dude's has a monster leg, and kicking a sixty
yarder for him is like that that is well within range,
well within range.

Speaker 1 (43:09):
So I think he's gonna hick a seventy yarder.

Speaker 2 (43:11):
I don't know if we're gonna go a seventy yarder,
but I think kicks the seventy five yarder in practice apparently. Yeah,
that's great. I think I don't. I'm not predicting the
seventy five yarder, but I will call for the sixty plus.

Speaker 1 (43:21):
The record is sixty six, are Tucker? Yeah, just Tyler
break the record.

Speaker 2 (43:26):
I'm not gonna go with a broken record as a rookie.
I think that he's sixty plus though, soft.

Speaker 1 (43:32):
Just soft predictions.

Speaker 2 (43:33):
It's sixty all of a sudden, two thousand rushing yards
for Henry, got double digit touchdowns for Bateman, sixty plus
yarder for Loop.

Speaker 1 (43:42):
Well, you are saying a sixty plus yarder.

Speaker 2 (43:43):
Yeah, yeah, I'm saying sixty plus.

Speaker 1 (43:44):
Oh yeah, yeah yah.

Speaker 2 (43:45):
You're saying I'm not making bull predictions here. There's some
bull predictions.

Speaker 1 (43:48):
You just get record breaking predictions.

Speaker 2 (43:51):
All right. A couple other just general notes prediction wise.
Do you have a breakout player in your mind?

Speaker 1 (43:57):
Yeah, I'm gonna go with Travis Jones and that he
was a popular pick last year.

Speaker 2 (44:01):
Also, didn't you also pick him in this podcast last
year for breakout player?

Speaker 1 (44:05):
Honestly, I'm not sure because when I said I listened
back to the podcast, that was a lie.

Speaker 2 (44:10):
I think you did break pick him.

Speaker 1 (44:12):
Did I think of last year? I might have what
in surprise me because I'm a big Travis Joins fan.
I think he's a really good player, and I think that,
you know, last year obviously an ankle injury kind of
derailed is too strong of a word, but it hampered
his season. And so if he stays healthy, I think
by season's end, like we're talking about a top ten

(44:35):
defensive tackle in the league, that's going to be the
conversation that would be.

Speaker 2 (44:38):
That'd be a big jump. I mean, if you're talking
top ten. He's also in the contract year, so yeah.

Speaker 1 (44:43):
He's gonna he's a man that's gonna get paid. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (44:45):
I think that he will have a big contract coming
into future. You know, like he's he's not a guy
that like Mattabik in his contract year again had this
thirteen sacks, Like that's not his game. A different type
of player, different type of assignment.

Speaker 1 (44:58):
I think he can like be a dominant for or
something front.

Speaker 2 (45:00):
Yeah, well, the Ravens really need him to be with
the departure with the retirement of Michael Pierce, and like
if he can do that, I think that'd be great
for this defense.

Speaker 1 (45:08):
Yeah, yeah, I agree. Yep, it's a big deal.

Speaker 2 (45:11):
Yeah, my breakout player. I mentioned to him, I'm taking
lead the team and picks. I'm gonna go Nate Wagans.
I think he's gonna have those opportunities if you leave
the team of picks. I mean, this is a first
round pick who I think is stepping into you know, look,
everyone said it this offseason, like Zach Orr said it,
Nate said it. They feel like he can be one
of the best corners of football. And will he get

(45:33):
there this year? I don't know, but I do think
it's gonna be a year where people are around the
league taking notice of Nate Wagans. I think he's really
He showed a lot as a rookie, and if he
adds a pick production like he's hoping to, along with
great cover skills, then he's gonna be somebody that other
teams are all looking at as like, man, he's a
tough guy to go against, and that that will alter

(45:57):
how teams choose to try to attack this Ravens defense.

Speaker 1 (45:59):
Okay, Rookie of the Year for you. I mean I
have Malachi Starts leaving the team.

Speaker 2 (46:04):
In said, yeah, I think Malachi is a safe bet too.
I think he's gonna have a really good rookie season,
so I think he's a bit good bet. But like
the other guy who I could point to is kind
of I just talked about Loop being really good and
hitting sixty plus yarder different category, but like it could
be Tyler Loop when we're looking back on it, like
if he hits some game winners and hits that sixty

(46:24):
yarder and is really good, like we may just be saying,
like this guy is a difference maker for this team.

Speaker 1 (46:30):
Yeah, yeah, I agree with that. I think that it's
going to be by season's end, it's gonna be a
fun debate to have who's the Raven who is the
Raven's best rookie because I think Mike Green's gonna be
in that conversation too.

Speaker 2 (46:43):
Well, we're high on this rookie class. If you can't tell, Yeah,
I think that like Teddy Buchanan is also a guy
who I think has looked good at linebacker who could
end up, you know, being an important player down the
stretch and over the course of this year. So there's
a lot of good players on this rookie class that
we're excited about yep.

Speaker 1 (46:58):
All right, now it's kind of the free for all
any other bold predictions or just predictions for the season
that aren't just like statistical predicted predictions. What do you got?

Speaker 2 (47:10):
I think the Ravens go into the playoffs is the
AFC's number one seed. Okay, I think that they're going
to be an excellent team this year.

Speaker 1 (47:15):
Really going out on a limb there.

Speaker 2 (47:17):
I mean that there's other really great teams in the AFC.
They're playing one on Sunday night, and the Chiefs I
think are gonna be right back in the mix. The
Bengals are going to be a really good team again,
and the Bills are going to be a really good
team again, and not to mention some of the teams
that are on the RISEE. So like, I by no
means am I think? Do I think it's a cakewalk?

Speaker 1 (47:38):
Was out it?

Speaker 2 (47:38):
Certainly it sounds like your suggesting.

Speaker 1 (47:41):
Well, I'm just saying that over half of the pundits
out there are predicting the Ravens to win the Super Bowl,
So you know.

Speaker 2 (47:47):
Yeah, I'm I think that they finished with the AFC's
top record going into the postseason.

Speaker 1 (47:52):
I like that I'm gonna go with Last year, the Ravens'
longest winning streak was five games. This year, I think
they go on a six game winning streak. Oh okay,
this sea, this team can get hot, and I think
that there's it's a really tough start and a really
you know, when you just look at the opponents on
the schedule, the start in the end really are going

(48:14):
to be challenges. I think that in the middle of
this schedule, in the middle middle of the season, they
go on a six game eater.

Speaker 2 (48:21):
All right, I like that. I look, I already made
some pretty bold predictions here, I said Derek Hennery two
thousand rushing yards. Like I could keep making bull prediction,
said Tyler Luke. Let's go how about how about this one.
I think that the Ravens are going to have multiple
guys on defense. That you're talking about is like, could
that guy be a defensive Player of the Year. I

(48:41):
don't think it's going to be one dominant player. I
think the defense is going to be excellent, But then
it's like, who is the guy? Kyle Hamilton will jump out?
Rokwan Smith I think has the year Likequan's. We're forty
five minutes in here and we haven't even mentioned Rokwan
Smith or Kyle Hamilton. Yeah, Like Roquan is a guy
that I think is going to have an excellent season.

(49:02):
And I think that he's you know, he's been here
for a few years now, and so you can kind
of gloss over a little bit when there's all these
star players on this defense. But I think that he's
going to be like, do not sleep on him in
any way. I think he's going to have an excellent year.
And I think that, like you could have multiple guys
that you're talking about, like is it Metabik If he's
having the double digit sacks? Is it Kyle Hamilton? Is

(49:24):
it Rokwand Smith is the leader in the heart and
soul guy of that defense, Like who is it? This
is one of the best defenses, and so I think
that they could have multiple guys in that conversation.

Speaker 1 (49:32):
Well, my last one, and you just said it's one
of the best defenses. My last prediction is the Ravens
defense finishes number one in the league. I think that
it comes together this year. Last year got off to
a slow start, finished down the stretch, was the number
one defense this year. I think that start to finish.
It is a dominant, dominant defense year two under Zach Or.

(49:54):
They have the pass rushers, the secondary is absolutely stacked.
I mean that, I think that there's just so many
stars on this defense, not to mention the rookies that
we've gushed about so much with Malachi and Mike Green
and Teddy Buchannan. And I just think that this year
the Ravens defense kind of is reminiscent of two years

(50:17):
ago when they went to the AFC Championship Game. It
is just a dominant d number one in the league.

Speaker 2 (50:22):
All right, Well, both of us feel good about the
team where they're going. You already predicted that Tyler Lupshit
is a big kick in the Super Bowl. That tells
you you're expectation for this team.

Speaker 1 (50:29):
That's correct. I think we I mean, they're my Super
Bowl winner. Obviously a little biased, but yeah, I think this.
I think this is I think this is the year
that they do it and and and I'll even take
it a step further. I think that, like the rookies
are going to play a pretty big role in that.
I think that, like, uh, you know, they have all
these Pro Bowl players and and I'm just really impressed

(50:51):
with this this fresh class that they brought in, not
to mention, you know, not just the rookies that they
brought in, but the veterans, you know. D Hop like,
I think he's going to make some plays that kind
of help get him over the hump. Jay a Lexander
I talked about how well he's played in the playoffs
with his takeaways like these are get over the hump
kind of players. I think Mike Green is going to
be like that kind of can add that juice pass

(51:11):
rush late in games, help close out games. Malachi starts
another playmaker that can help you close out games. Like
That's what the Ravens need to do, is they need
to close out games and stop shooting themselves in the
foot in the playoffs. And I think that they have
all the ingredients to do that, and I think this
is the year.

Speaker 2 (51:26):
All Right, there we go. I like the sound of that.
So let's say one more quick break. When we come back,
we'll give you our thoughts about the game coming up
Sunday night. It all starts Sunday night in Buffalo. All right,
So the Ravens kick things off Sunday night in Buffalo.
It's the best game of the weekend, the top two finishers,
the top two finishers in the MVP race, the last
two MVPs where last season ended. How many other storylines

(51:47):
do you need two of the favorites going into the season, Like,
I could keep going with the storylines for this game.
The Bills are favored in this matchup, and so what
do you think is going to be the key if
the Races are gonna come out of Buffalo one to no.

Speaker 1 (52:03):
Well, I think it starts with winning the turnover battle.
That's what they're you know, that was the downfall in
the playoffs for the Ravens. They committed three turnovers and
didn't get any didn't get any takeaways, So they have
to play cleaner football. When when you look at these
two teams roster wise stacked up next to each other,
the Ravens have more talent on their roster, Like, if

(52:24):
they play a clean game of football, I think that
they are the better team and should win. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (52:29):
I think that. Look obviously, the Ravens played the Bills
twice last year. First game was a route, second game
was tight in Buffalo and the Bills ended up winning it.
I like the Ravens chances a lot going into this game.
I like, just like from a narrative standpoint, like everybody's
been asked about the playoff game, how less season ended.

(52:50):
Of course, that's like every single player coach has been
asked about that, and the Ravens aren't shying away from
it at all, and like they're John Harball team are
all basically saying like, yeah, of course that is part
of the story here. We are well aware of how
last season ended. But it's not just like I think
it goes beyond just like we need we need to

(53:11):
get our we need our get back here. It's not
just about like we need to they knocked this out,
we need to return the favor. I think it's more
about like coming up short last year, and for players
who have been here for multiple years the last few years,
is driving this team Like that all of that is
driving this team, and that's part of the story for
this team they have been building and so like I

(53:33):
have been super impressed with like the seriousness of this
team over the course of the offseason and training camp
and the focus and the drive, and so I think
that that is all carrying into this game. So that's
like more of a of a narrative thing. But like,
I think this team is embracing the fact that, like
they can be driven by the past, and they're gonna

(53:54):
use that in the right way, I believe going into
this matchup now, from more go ahead, I was.

Speaker 1 (54:00):
Going to say, from more X's and O's standpoint, did
I think stopping the Bills run is really paramount? That's
something that the Ravens didn't really have a great run
defensive game in the playoffs. Bills ran for a buck
forty seven, James Cook had sixty seven rushing yards. Even
Ty Johnson and Ray Davis, their backups had success. Not

(54:22):
to mention, Josh Allen scored two rushing touchdowns. And so
I think that they have to play better run defense,
and that is I think one of the outstanding questions
to a degree about this Ravens d is Michael Pierce
retired Trenton Simpson. Is he going to take the step
that the Ravens were hoping that he would take last year?

(54:43):
Is he gonna take it this year and be that
kind of guy? You know? The Ravens did lose a
couple of linebackers, Malik Harrison Chris Board who played significant
stats last year, you know, does Trenton Simpson rise to
the occasion? I think is part of the question. And
how good is the Ravens run defense overall? It was
number one league last year, but did not play particularly
well in that playoff loss. So that is really key

(55:06):
against the Bills because what they wanted to do. Every
team wants to keep you in manageable keep themselves in
manageable third down situations down in distances. But it's particularly
important for the Bills because of Josh Allen's legs. And
he's not like a Lamar break your ankles guy, But
if he gets Josh Allen is in third and five
and less, it's so much harder to defend him because

(55:27):
heck he can he can run you over for another
for two yards.

Speaker 2 (55:31):
Saw the playoff game basically their Buffalo's version of the
tush push. Just plow into the end ZONEE they get
down there close.

Speaker 1 (55:37):
Exactly and so and I think that it goes beyond
just that. Like so, I think if you get the
Bills in third and long situations, the Ravens are going
to have a lot of success. Josh Allen is not
particularly like lit up the Ravens with his arm over
the years, and so I think that it's stop the run,
make make him kind of throw the ball, and then

(55:58):
wide receiver wise, you know, so they don't have a
they don't have as good a wide receivers and weapons
as the Ravens do on the outside. Khalil Shakir is
their slot receiver, is really his go to guy in
the passing game. I think the Khalil Shakir Marlon Humphrey
matchup is going to be a big one.

Speaker 2 (56:14):
Yeah, Keon Coleman. Also for them, second year player been
dealing with a groin injury. Bills actually have some kind
of significant injuries and that's actually it's.

Speaker 1 (56:21):
Like a groin injury epidemic over there.

Speaker 2 (56:24):
Yeah, I mean they've got That's actually one of the
things I like. So when the Ravens won earlier in
the season, it was the Derek Henry Show, one hundred
and ninety nine yards on the ground and look, if
he's going to get two thousand and then, why not
start with that again? But I actually wonder if this
is a game early on where the Ravens attack through
the air given all the injuries that the Buffalo has
in their secondary. Tredevious White of course was on the

(56:45):
Ravens last year at the end of the season. He's
back in Buffalo. He's not practiced this week dealing with
a groin injury. Cornerback Christian Benford, dealing with a groin injury,
did return to practice but banged up. What his status
is going to be. Their first round pick was Maxwell Hairston,
who went down in training camp is on injuries Roight now,
so like they've got questions in their secondary. So I

(57:06):
do wonder if the Ravens come out and they come
out attacking through the air, take some of those deep shots.
Bateman had a big play Bayveman had a great game
against Buffalo in the playoffs, had a touchdown, had that
deep shot. So I think that he's a guy that
I think could have a really nice day. And then
if you can get out to a lead, then you
can can turn and hand it off to Derrick Henry

(57:26):
to really kind of a salt the game away in
the second half. That's the ideal recipe. But I actually
I think this could be a past first situation for
the Ravens given some of the injuries and the weapons
that the Ravens have around on the edges, yep.

Speaker 1 (57:40):
And one key element for the Ravens I think is,
you know the status of pat Ricard and how that
changes things potentially. You know, they could pull they could
call it Lucas Scott, the undrafted rookie fullback from the
practice squad, but you know, Charlie Kohler playing a bigger role. Like,
how does that change the offense? Because it does to

(58:02):
a degree.

Speaker 2 (58:03):
Yeah, well, Isaiah likely to I mean expectation that he's
not going to play, given the fact that he hasn't
practiced since having his foot surgery in training camp and
the card has been signedlined for a couple of weeks now.
So yeah, that if you lose pat Riccard for the game,
then that's a tough blow and the Raves are gonna
have to adjust. But that's one of the things, honestly
that I love about this team is like last year

(58:23):
we kept saying pick your poison. Yep, that's still that
phrase still is relevant for this team. Like, Okay, no
Recard gonna be a little tougher to run the ball.

Speaker 1 (58:32):
No, likely, we can pivot to something else.

Speaker 2 (58:33):
Okay, let's go through the air here. DeAndre Hopkins, welcome
to the team. Let's see what you got.

Speaker 1 (58:38):
Well and pat Riccard is a great blocker, but I
think the Ravens can also run the have different formations
where they can run the ball without pat Ricard being
the lead blocker.

Speaker 2 (58:47):
Yeah, totally. So I think that I love to have
hat on the field. Yeah, but I think that they
can beat defenses in different ways. So I think this
team is in a good spot going in this game.
I think it should be a lot of fun on
All eyes are going to be on it and we
are going to do a full breakdown after the game
as we always do. So make sure that you are
subscribed to the podcast here and also head over to

(59:09):
the Ravens press Pass podcast feed subscribe there as well.
Thank you so much for listening, and we will be
back with you after that game Sunday night.