La temporada 2018 fue la número 23 de los Baltimore Ravens en la Liga Nacional de Fútbol Americano (NFL), la undécima bajo la dirección del entrenador en jefe John Harbaugh y la decimoséptima y última temporada bajo la dirección del gerente general Ozzie Newsome .
En la semana 6, los Ravens establecieron un récord de franquicia, capturando al mariscal de campo de los Tennessee Titans, Marcus Mariota, 11 veces en la victoria por 21-0.
Después de luchar por un comienzo de 4-5, los Ravens tuvieron una racha de 6-1 para terminar 10-6 en la temporada, gracias a la aparición del mariscal de campo novato Lamar Jackson , quien reemplazó al veterano QB Joe Flacco debido a una lesión. Los Ravens se aseguraron la AFC Norte después de derrotar a los Cleveland Browns en la Semana 17, llegando a los playoffs por primera vez desde 2014 y ganando su división por primera vez desde 2012 ; También terminaron la temporada regular en primer lugar en defensa total. Sin embargo, perdieron ante Los Angeles Chargers 23-17 en los playoffs de comodines, que fue la primera vez desde 2006 que los Ravens terminaron de una vez y su primera derrota en los playoffs de comodines desde 2003 .
Borradores de operaciones
El 13 de febrero, la NFL anunció que los Ravens jugarán contra los Chicago Bears en el Juego del Salón de la Fama del Fútbol Americano Profesional el jueves 2 de agosto en el Estadio del Salón de la Fama Tom Benson en Canton, Ohio . [3]
El resto de los oponentes y el calendario de pretemporada de los Ravens se anunciaron el 11 de abril de 2018.
El calendario de los Ravens para 2018 se anunció el 19 de abril.
Nota: Los oponentes dentro de la división están en negrita .
en el estadio M&T Bank , Baltimore, Maryland
En una gran victoria sobre los Bills, el mariscal de campo de los Ravens, Joe Flacco, lanzó tres touchdowns antes de ser relevado por el novato Lamar Jackson , mientras que el mariscal de campo de los Bills, Nathan Peterman, fue enviado a la banca por el novato Josh Allen después de registrar un índice de pasador de 0.0.
en el estadio Paul Brown , Cincinnati, Ohio
en el estadio M&T Bank, Baltimore, Maryland
en Heinz Field , Pittsburgh, Pensilvania
en el estadio FirstEnergy , Cleveland, Ohio
en el Estadio Nissan , Nashville, Tennessee
en el estadio M&T Bank, Baltimore, Maryland
en el estadio Bank of America , Charlotte, Carolina del Norte
en el estadio M&T Bank, Baltimore, Maryland
Después de 10 años con el equipo, este se convertiría en el último partido titular de Joe Flacco y el último partido como Raven, ya que sufrió una lesión en la cadera y fue reemplazado por Lamar Jackson , quien pasó a ser titular en los últimos 7 partidos de la temporada. Flacco finalmente fue transferido a los Denver Broncos durante la temporada baja.
en el estadio M&T Bank, Baltimore, Maryland
En su primera serie como mariscal de campo titular de los Ravens, Lamar Jackson orquestó una serie de 11 jugadas y 75 yardas con Alex Collins corriendo el balón para anotar. Durante el avance, Jackson no lanzó un solo pase, pero corrió 5 veces para 46 yardas. [4]
en el estadio M&T Bank, Baltimore, Maryland
en el estadio Mercedes-Benz , Atlanta, Georgia
en el estadio Arrowhead , Kansas City, Misuri
at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
at StubHub Center, Carson, California
at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
Similar to last season, the Ravens' playoff hopes was decided on a 4th down in the waning seconds of the game. Browns QB Baker Mayfield made a quick throw that was picked by Ravens LB C.J. Mosley to seal the game for Baltimore, clinching them their first division title in 6 years and making the playoffs.
at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
The Chargers recorded six sacks, jumped out to a 23–3 lead and halted a late Ravens rally, forcing Lamar Jackson to fumble on the final drive to earn a trip to New England.
On the Ravens' second possession of the game, Chargers defensive end Melvin Ingram forced a fumble from Kenneth Dixon that was recovered by safety Adrian Phillips, giving Los Angeles the ball on the Baltimore 14-yard line. Three plays later, Michael Badgley kicked a 21-yard field goal to give Los Angeles a 3–0 lead. Then the Chargers' defense forced a punt, which Desmond King returned 42 yards to the Ravens' 42-yard line, setting up a 53-yard Badgley field goal that increased their lead to 6–0. Early in the second quarter, Phillips intercepted a pass from Jackson to give the Chargers a first down on the Ravens' 44-yard line. From there, they drove 27 yards to go up 9–0 on Badgley's third field goal. Following another Ravens punt, Los Angeles drove 53 yards in 12 plays to score on Badgley's fourth field goal on the last play of the half, giving them a 12–0 lead.
King returned the second half kickoff 72 yards to the Ravens' 35-yard line, but this time the Chargers failed to score when Badgley's field goal attempt was blocked by Za'Darius Smith. After a Ravens punt, linebacker Patrick Onwuasor forced a fumble from Chargers tight end Virgil Green that was recovered by linebacker C. J. Mosley on the Los Angeles 21-yard line. This set up Justin Tucker's 33-yard field goal, cutting the score to 12–3 with 8:34 left in the third quarter. At the end of Los Angeles' next possession, the Ravens got another scoring opportunity when Javorius Allen blocked Donnie Jones's punt, resulting in Baltimore taking over on the Chargers' 40-yard line; they only managed to gain 4 yards with their next three plays and Tucker's 50-yard field goal attempt was wide right. Los Angeles then drove 60 yards in 10 plays, featuring a 28-yard completion from Philip Rivers to Mike Williams on the Ravens' 15-yard line. On the next play, Melvin Gordon ran the ball 14 yards to the 1-yard line. The Ravens managed to keep Los Angeles out of the end zone for the next three plays, but Gordon scored with a 4th down 1-yard touchdown run on the first play of the 4th quarter; Rivers completed a pass to Williams for a two-point conversion, giving the Chargers a 20–3 lead.
A sack by Ingram on the Ravens' ensuing drive forced them to punt from their 14-yard line and Sam Koch's 31-yard kick gave the Chargers good field position on the Ravens' 45-yard line. Los Angeles then drove 16 yards, including a 9-yard scramble by Rivers on 3rd-and-8, to score on Badgley's 5th field goal, from 47 yards, that gave them a 23–3 lead. Taking the ball back with 9:02 left, Baltimore drove 75 yards in eight plays, including Jackson's 29-yard completion to Willie Snead on 4th-and-11. On the next play, Jackson threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to receiver Michael Crabtree, making the score 23–10. The Chargers recovered Baltimore's ensuing onside kick attempt, but still had to punt after three plays. Baltimore went on to drive 85 yards in 12 plays, the longest a 39-yard completion from Jackson to Dixon. On the last play, Jackson threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Crabtree, narrowing their gap to 23–17 with 2:06 left. Baltimore then forced a punt with 45 seconds to go, giving them one last chance to drive for a winning touchdown, but Chargers linebacker Uchenna Nwosu forced a fumble while sacking Jackson and Ingram recovered it to give Los Angeles the victory.
Rivers completed 22-of-32 passes for 160 yards and rushed for 15 yards. Ingram finished the game with seven tackles (two for a loss of yards), two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Phillips had five tackles (three solo), an interception and a fumble recovery. King returned a kickoff for 72 yards and had four punt returns for 46 yards. Jackson completed 14-of-29 passes for 194 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception; he was also Baltimore's leading rusher with 9 carries for 54 yards. Onwausor had seven tackles (six solo), a sack and a forced fumble.