As the start of the 2025-26 NFL season grows near, fans are wondering what to expect from their favorite teams. The Baltimore Ravens are looking to take the next step by playing in the Super Bowl. After their elite offensive season in 2024, they were undone by pass defense and ball control in the playoffs. What can be expected for the upcoming season? Below are all of their games predicted and explained. Team offensive and defensive stats and rankings provided by Fox Sports.
What a powerhouse matchup to open the season for both of these teams. Last year’s top two red zone offenses in the NFL collide. The teams also shared the biggest weakness: pass defense. This is a matchup nightmare for the Ravens, who rely more heavily on the run game, whereas the Bills rely more on the passing game. Taking on last year’s MVP will prove too much of a challenge to open Baltimore’s season.
The Browns are a joke of an organization. The once feared defence dropped to 19th overall in the 2024-25 season. Their 28th overall offense will struggle to improve. Cleveland’s quarterback room is weak, whether they go with the 40-year-old Joe Flacco or one of the two rookies they selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. The wide receiver room doesn’t fare much better, with the constant fantasy letdown, Jerry Jeudy, their likely WR1.
The Ravens face similar struggles against the Lions as they do against the Bills – their poor pass defense struggles against elite passing offenses. Detroit’s end-of-year defensive stats are also clouded by a squad decimated by injury. The Detroit Free Press reports nearly two dozen players on injured reserve kept them out of the lineup for extended periods. The battle of last year’s best overall offenses will ultimately come down to the defenses.
While still feared throughout the NFL, the Chiefs have started a slight but natural decline of their dynasty. The lack of offensive spark has turned them into a defensive team, with a smart coach and quarterback who take care of the ball. Kansas City will keep it close, even have a chance to win, but Baltimore’s firepower should be enough to edge out a close one.
The Houston Texans are a stiff test for any team, but their offensive line is holding them back from serious contention. FTN Fantasy reports their O-line is the second-worst in the NFL heading into the upcoming season. Their sixth overall defense and weak division were an enormous aid to their playoff appearance last year.
While young and improving over the season last year, the Rams’ defense is still a concern. Allowing an average of 130 rushing yards per game is a tasty treat for quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry. Los Angeles has a respectable offense, along with new wide receiver Davante Adams, but they will be outdone by the Ravens, who finished last season well ahead on the run and pass game.
The Ravens will enjoy this bye after such a tough opening six weeks. Players can look forward to the much easier NFL schedule ahead.
The Bears are all sizzle, no steak, year after year. Perhaps no team was more hyped to take a step closer to the playoffs in the NFL last year, but the team finished with the worst overall offense in the league. Chicago is almost as putrid on defense, finishing 27th overall.
The Dolphins were lucky to finish 8-9 last season, helped by the New York Jets and New England Patriots rebuilding, which were terrible in their own right. Those two teams have made significant improvements this offseason, and it’s safe to assume a regression from Miami. The Ravens defense will feast on this Swiss cheese of an offensive line, with the 26th overall ranking, per FTN Fantasy.
The Vikings are a difficult read. This will be their sixth unique starting quarterback over three seasons, yet they continue to be a contender under head coach Kevin O’Connell. The run-heavy Ravens will have one of their steepest tests, the second-ranked run defense from 2024-25. This will be a hard-fought and entertaining game, but it’s a rough matchup for Baltimore. Minnesota will be punching at the ball all night.
Outside of whoever they start at QB having an unbelievable season and the defense growing a heart, Baltimore should roll over Cleveland again. The Browns are likely to start giving their two rookie quarterbacks snaps at some point, after Flacco leads them to a losing record.
The New York offense went through a massive overhaul, including signing NFL free agent quarterback Justin Fields to start. There’s uncertainty about how fast he will take to get the offense firing on all cylinders, but even at full power, the ceiling is apparent. Will it be enough when paired with their elite defense? If same-game parlay is an option, Ravens ML + under the total is the play.
The Bengals are an NFL team of two extremes. Their offense is elite, led by quarterback Joe Burrow. The defense, on the other hand, cost the team six losses in which Cincinnati scored 25 or more points last season, per CBS Sports. The best passing game in the league last season will look forward to the soft coverage. With two elite offenses, the defense will be key. The difference in total score over their two games against each other last season was only four points, but Baltimore won both meetings. Take the home team and hammer the over.
The Steelers may have one of the best defenses this upcoming season, but the offense has seen a massive turnover. Most notably, quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver DK Metcalf joined the team, and they traded their disgruntled wide receiver George Pickens before the start of the final year of his contract. Pittsburgh is likely to be a run-heavy offense, but also lost their RB1 Najee Harris, and the elevation of Jaylen Warren is yet to be witnessed. The Ravens are better against the run and will limit the damage on the ground. Take the home team on the money line, and this game will go under the total.
If the above Bengals game is correct, Cincinatti will have lost the last five meetings, dating back to 2023, per The Football Database. The streak has to come to an end, plus Cincinnati will be hyped and at home. Burrow will light up the stat sheet and hope their defense can even be marginally improved.
There is plenty of excitement around the moves the Patriots have made so far this offseason, and rightfully so. While commendable, the shiny new toys seem to be blinding the fans’ view of NFL reality – this was still the second-worst overall offense last season. The New England defense also finished in the bottom half of the league – the team is not on the level of the Ravens.
The Packers were top five in overall offense and defense in the NFL last season. They have also made improvements this offseason. Their division is strong, and they will be in a battle all year. The Ravens’ pass defense will crumble to quarterback Jordan Love and the explosive pieces around him. Green Bay finished one of seven teams to allow under 100 rushing yards per game last year.
By the time Week 18 hits, the Ravens will have their playoffs locked in. The Steelers will either be fighting for a spot or already ruled out, looking to put whatever hurt they can on their rivals. Baltimore will give most of their starters the day off and take the meaningless loss.
End Of My NFL Rant
Short of implosion, Baltimore should win the AFC North relatively easily. To get over the hump of the elites like Buffalo and Kansas City, they will need to improve their pourus pass defense most of all. Their quarterback should also take better care of the ball, with the NFL reporting eight fumbles to his name last year. Their ceiling is an AFC Championship Game, while the floor is a wild-card birth.
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