The Baltimore Ravens look to be one of the top teams to beat in the AFC this season as long as they continue to grow, improve and stay healthy.  The Ravens turned in arguably the most shocking performance of last year’s postseason, jumping out to a 24-0 first-quarter lead on their way to a 33-14 rout of the New England Patriots at home.  Baltimore has since added another offensive weapon in the offseason by acquiring WR Anquan Boldin in a trade with the Arizona Cardinals and hopes QB Joe Flacco and RB Ray Rice continue to develop into stars at their respective positions.  The Ravens will need to continue to improve offensively and score more because their once stout defense is aging quickly and simply does not have the same impact in the secondary due to key injuries to former All-Pro S Ed Reed and CB Domonique Foxworth.

Odds to win AFC North Division: -120

Odds to win the AFC Conference: 6/1

Baltimore Ravens Odds to win Super Bowl XLV: 11/1

Regular Season Wins Total Line: 10

*all odds quoted from Bodog*

Following is a breakdown of this season’s schedule for the Ravens:

 

Week 1             Monday, September 13, 2010    @ New York Jets

Analysis: The Ravens face their former defensive coordinator Ryan for the first time since he left to take the Jets head coaching job, and only one of these preseason AFC favorites will get a win.

Week 2             Sunday, September 19, 2010    @ Cincinnati Bengals

Analysis: The Ravens upgraded their offense for a reason, and they will need to show they can score more than two touchdowns to beat the Bengals since they did not accomplish that feat in losing two meetings with them last season.

Week 3             Sunday, September 26, 2010    vs. Cleveland Browns

Analysis:. Baltimore hosts the Browns in the middle of three straight divisional games with visits to Cincinnati and Pittsburgh on either end.

Week 4             Sunday, October 3, 2010          @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Analysis: The Ravens get to visit Pittsburgh knowing that Ben Roethlisberger will not be on the field until the second meeting.

 

Week 5             Sunday, October 10, 2010         vs. Denver Broncos

Analysis: The Broncos visit Baltimore a week after a road game at Tennessee and might be seeing the brief Kyle Orton era come to an end if he struggles here.

Week 6             Sunday, October 17, 2010         @ New England Patriots

Analysis: Baltimore visits New England in a rematch of the team’s biggest playoff victory since winning Super Bowl XXXV.

Week 7             Sunday, October 24, 2010         vs. Buffalo Bills

Analysis: The Bills play the first of two straight road games at Baltimore following their bye week while the Ravens look to finish strong before their break.

Week 8             — BYE WEEK —

 

Week 9             Sunday, November 7, 2010       vs. Miami Dolphins

Analysis: The Dolphins wrap up a stretch of three road games in four weeks, all against playoff teams from last year.

 

Week 10           Thursday, November 11, 2010 @ Atlanta Falcons

Analysis: The Ravens play the first of two straight road games at Atlanta while the Falcons will play four of their next five games on the road.

Week 11           Sunday, November 21, 2010     @ Carolina Panthers

Analysis: The Panthers host the Ravens before playing their next two games on the road at Cleveland and Seattle

Week 12           Sunday, November 28, 2010     vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Analysis: Tampa Bay plays the last of four road games in five weeks – and the toughest.

Week 13           Sunday, December 5, 2010       vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Analysis: Roethlisberger will be back for this game, and both meetings last season were decided by just a field goal.

Week 14           Monday, December 13, 2010     @ Houston Texans

Analysis: The Ravens make their second straight appearance on prime-time television when they visit Houston, which will also be the second and last time they are featured on Monday Night Football this season.

Week 15           Sunday, December 19, 2010     vs. New Orleans Saints

Analysis: New Orleans plays the first of two straight difficult road games in what could be a potential Super Bowl preview.

Week 16           Sunday, December 26, 2010     @ Cleveland Browns

Analysis: The Ravens outscored the Browns 50-3 in sweeping two meetings last season.

Week 17           Sunday, January 2, 2011          vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Analysis: This could be a meaningless game to end the season or it could be a very important divisional matchup with the AFC North title on the line.