OTL: Ravens’ Schedule Opposite of ’25 in a Few Ways

Well, the talk of the town was the NFL Schedule release yesterday, which, of course, included the Ravens. Those of us following the leaks didn’t have to wait all day for the schedule, but for everyone else (those with a life?), it was fully released by 7:30. Without further ado, here is the 2026 Ravens schedule:

We have known the opponents for a while now, but looking at this schedule, two huge things stand out to me. Number one is the much easier start compared to last year, while the second is the gauntlet to finish the year.

Let’s talk about the first point.

Looking at this schedule, it looks like a cake walk to begin the year. It looks even better when we remember how tough the first five weeks last year were. The Ravens started in Buffalo, then got the Browns at home, followed by the Lions, Chiefs, Rams, and Texans before the bye week. That was a brutal schedule, and it really sank the ’25 season. That team of course had plenty of problems, from coaching to personnel, but the gauntlet to begin the year only made all those issues stand out more, while allowing no chance to rack up a few wins while getting them fixed.

While it’s of course the NFL, and Any Given Sunday, etc., I would much rather see the Colts, Saints, Cowboys, Falcons, and Titans in the first five rather than whatever happened last year.

thoughts on the Ravens 2026 schedule?

hard to beat that first 6 games, even if only 2 are at home

tough stretch mid-season, but most are at home pic.twitter.com/f6lTIC5p2W

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) May 14, 2026

Of the first six opponents, only one, Dallas, is projected to approach double-digit wins by Warren Sharp (for what it’s worth, Sharp has Baltimore projected at 11.2 wins). With so many new faces on the team, and a whole new coaching staff, that’s just what the doctor ordered. A lighter schedule will give them more time to adjust.

The bye is quite late (Week 13), but could come at a perfect time, as the division schedule is extremely back-loaded.

Baltimore Ravens 2026 schedule: Things set up well with big AFC North finish https://t.co/uEME5Bi1Yl via @NYTimes

— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) May 14, 2026

This is a really tough end of the schedule for the Ravens with four Divisional matchups to end the season. The NFL likes a lot of division games in December, but four in a row is particularly tough. Of course, it helps that the Browns are here, and the Steelers are currently facing their annual QB uncertainty, but no matter how you slice it, that’s a tough stretch.

Overall, I like how the schedule panned out. I’d much prefer the softer start with a tough finish rather than the opposite. This team is going to need time to jell, and doing so against the likes of New Orleans and Tennessee should bode well.

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