ESPN shares the key to the Ravens reclaiming the AFC North
· Yahoo Sports
You have heard and will continue to hear a lot about the Baltimore Ravens. What you won't hear is that this is a team lacking talent. General manager Eric DeCosta strengthened the roster again this offseason by acquiring veterans like Trey Hendrickson. He also pieced together a promising NFL draft class.
Guard Vega Ioane and rookie pass rusher Zion Young are among the valedictorians of that class. On paper, Baltimore looks more than capable of reclaiming the AFC North. In other words, first-year head coach Jesse Minter inherits one of the AFC's deepest teams. One of this team's goals, in the regular season, at least, is to reclaim divisional superiority. ESPN's Jamison Hensley, however, says accomplishing that goal may come down to one stretch of the schedule more than any other.
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ESPN expects the AFC North title race to stretch into December
In his latest look at where the Ravens stand entering training camp, Hensley identified Baltimore's regular-season finish as the biggest factor in determining whether the division championship returns to the Ravens. Some believe Baltimore's schedule begins favorably, that Baltimore has an opportunity to get off to a scorching start, but the schedule also certainly supports the ESPN theory.
Baltimore closes the regular season with four consecutive AFC North games—at the Pittsburgh Steelers, home against the Cleveland Browns, at the Cincinnati Bengals, and home against Pittsburgh. If Baltimore and Cincinnati perform as expected throughout the season, their New Year's Eve showdown could determine both the division champion and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.
It's the first time in franchise history the Ravens have ended a season with four straight divisional matchups. That's about as dramatic as an NFL regular season can become. The Ravens appear better equipped for the challenge. Like most, Hensley gets it right in stating he believes the roster improved where it mattered most.
He pointed to Baltimore's pass rush as the team's biggest offseason improvement, as he should. It's difficult to disagree. Hensley also highlighted Minter's hiring as the offseason move most likely to shape Baltimore's season, while noting Lamar Jackson's contract situation remains one of the organization's biggest storylines entering the year.
Even so, the Ravens' path back to the top of the AFC North may ultimately be decided where division championships often are, in the division itself. If Baltimore enters December in contention, those final four games promise to become must-watch football. Win them, and the Ravens may once again find themselves wearing AFC North crowns while positioning themselves for another deep postseason run.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: ESPN shares the key to the Ravens reclaiming the AFC North