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          NFL Nation

          Baltimore Ravens schedule 2023: Takeaways, predictions

          Lamar Jackson will need to stay hot on the road if the Ravens have a chance early. Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports
          • Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff WriterMay 11, 2023, 08:00 PM ET
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              Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.
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          BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Ravens’ 2023 schedule was released along with the rest of the NFL slate Thursday.

          Lamar Jackson’s impressive record on the road -- 21-9 (.700), which is third best among those with at least 20 starts -- will be put to the test this season. The Ravens will travel 25,442 miles, the sixth most in the NFL this season, including their second international game in franchise history. This is a major change from last season, when Baltimore traveled the second-fewest miles in the league (8,244).

          Baltimore faces different challenges at the start and the end of its season. For the first time since 2018, the Ravens face a stretch where they play four of their first six games on the road. Then, Baltimore closes out the season by playing three straight games in December against playoff teams from last season (at Jacksonville, at San Francisco and home against Miami) before hosting the Steelers in the regular-season finale.

          The Ravens are on prime time four times this season, including a Thursday night game at home against the Bengals, which could go a long way in deciding the AFC North champion.

          Here's what's in store for the Ravens:

          Schedule

          Sept. 10: vs. Houston, 1 p.m.

          Sept. 17: at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.

          Sept. 24: vs. Indianapolis, 1 p.m.

          Oct. 1: at Cleveland, 1 p.m.

          Oct. 8: at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.

          Oct. 15: vs. Tennessee (in London), 9:30 a.m.

          Oct. 22: vs. Detroit, 1 p.m.

          Oct. 29: at Arizona, 4:25 p.m.

          Nov. 5: vs. Seattle, 1 p.m.

          Nov. 12: vs. Cleveland, 1 p.m.

          Nov. 16: vs. Cincinnati, 8:15 p.m. (TNF)

          Nov. 26: at L.A. Chargers, 8:20 p.m. (SNF)

          Dec. 3: BYE

          Dec. 10: vs. L.A. Rams, 1 p.m.

          Dec. 17: at Jacksonville, 8:20 p.m. (SNF)

          Dec. 25: at San Francisco, 8:15 p.m. (MNF)

          Dec. 31: vs. Miami, 1 p.m.

          Jan. 6 or 7: vs. Pittsburgh, TBA

          Strength of schedule: .486 (21st toughest)

          Over/Under: 9.5

          Biggest takeaway

          A brutal road stretch to begin the season. In the first six weeks, the Ravens play their three AFC North rivals on the road and then play in London, where they suffered their worst loss of the 15-year John Harbaugh era in 2017 (a 44-17 loss to the Jaguars). But the travel is the most daunting part. Baltimore faces one 2022 playoff team in the first eight weeks and could go against two rookie QBs drafted in the top 5 in the first three weeks in the Houston Texans' C.J. Stroud (picked second) and the Indianapolis Colts' Anthony Richardson (picked fourth). The Ravens chose not to take their bye after their international game after doing some research. Baltimore’s bye comes in Week 13, which provides an extended rest. After a Thursday night game against the Bengals (Nov. 16), the Ravens play one game in a 23-day stretch before finishing out the final five games of the regular season.

          Revenge game

          There really is only one game for the Ravens to circle: Sept. 17 at the Bengals. Baltimore has lost three straight in Cincinnati, including last season’s 24-17 loss in the AFC wild-card round. Of course, the Ravens were forced to start a backup quarterback in Tyler Huntley and two third-stringers in Josh Johnson and Anthony Brown in those defeats because of Jackson's injury. This is a different matchup with Jackson, who hasn’t started in Cincinnati since a 38-3 win in the 2020 regular-season finale.

          Bold prediction

          Jackson not only plays in December but goes undefeated in the month. Jackson has been unable to finish the past two seasons because of an ankle injury in 2021 and a knee injury last season. Now, with a five-year, $260 million extension, Jackson will get back to dominating in December, when he is 13-3 (.813) in his career. That’s the third-best record in December since 2018 behind Patrick Mahomes (19-3) and Aaron Rodgers (17-3). It won’t be easy for Jackson because Baltimore plays three straight games against 2022 playoff teams (at Jacksonville, at San Francisco and home against Miami) in that month.