Sponsor




Home  >  Columns   >  Sneak Preview  >  Looking Ahead to Ravens 2007

Columns

Sneak Preview - Looking Ahead to Ravens 2007

Who might be Baltimore's opening opponent next season?
Posted On: 1/23/07
Written By:  
Tony Lombardi
Looking ahead to next season the Ravens will face a schedule that includes opponents that collectively post a .508 winning percentage.  Eleven teams have more difficult schedules including division rivals the Steelers and Bengals, both with a .512 strength of schedule respectively.  The Browns share the Ravens’ schedule strength of difficulty.
 
At home the Ravens will take on teams that have a .523 winning percentage while the traveled road will take the Ravens to opponents with a collective .492 winning percentage.
 
Here’s a look at the entire league’s 2007 strength of schedule:
 
2007 Strength Of Schedule
 
Team
Winning Percentage
Opp. Total Wins
Opp. Total Losses
Raiders
.539
138
118
Bills
.539
138
118
Patriots
.535
137
119
Jaguars
.527
135
121
Titans
.520
133
123
Colts
.516
132
124
Chiefs
.516
132
124
Jets
.516
132
124
Dolphins
.512
131
125
Steelers
.512
131
125
Bengals
.512
131
125
Ravens
.508
130
126
Browns
.508
130
126
Broncos
.504
129
127
Lions
.504
129
127
Texans
.504
129
127
Chargers
.504
129
127
Redskins
.500
128
128
Vikings
.500
128
128
Eagles
.500
128
128
Cowboys
.496
127
129
Giants
.496
127
129
Packers
.492
126
130
Seahawks
.488
125
131
Saints
.484
124
132
Panthers
.477
122
134
Buccaneers
.473
121
135
Rams
.473
121
135
Falcons
.473
121
135
49ers
.469
120
136
Bears
.465
119
137
Cardinals
.461
118
138
 
Speaking of scheduling and the traveled road, our own king of the road, Bobby Nyk is going to stay busy keeping his Ripken-esque streak alive at 123 consecutive Ravens games attended.  Why?  Take a look below.
 
Road Opponent
Distance Between Cities (miles)
Total Miles Traveled
Pittsburgh
194
388
Cincinnati
420
840
Cleveland
304
608
Buffalo
678
1,356
Miami
958
1,916
Seattle
2,329
4,658
San Diego
2,291
4,582
San Francisco
2,453
4,906
TOTAL
9,627
19,254
 
If you are speculating where the Ravens might open the season, chances are it won’t be at home.  Given that Super Bowl XLII is scheduled for February 3, 2008 and assuming that there will be two weeks between the championship games and the Super Bowl, opening day 2007 for most of the league should be September 9.  The Orioles are scheduled to play at home that Sunday so chances are, the Ravens will open up on the road again. 
 
Now if we study the Ravens road opponents and take into account the schedule of the road opponent’s home town baseball team and we assume that those opponents won’t schedule a conflicting home football game, we can narrow the possible opening opponent down to the Browns, Dolphins, Seahawks and Chargers.
 
Team
09/09/07
09/16/07
09/23/07
09/30/07
Orioles
HOME
Away
Away
HOME
Indians
Away
Home
Home
Away
Pirates
Home
Away
Away
Home
Reds
Home
Away
Away
Home
RED SOX
Away
Home
Away
Home
Marlins
Away
Away
Home
Away
Giants
Home
Away
Home
Away
DIAMONDBACKS
Home
Away
Home
Away
CARDINALS
Away
Home
Home
Away
Mariners
Away
Home
Away
Home
Padres
Away
Home
Home
Away
YANKEES/METS
N/A
 
 
 
 
Notes:  Teams listed in caps denote games in which the Ravens play that team's corresponding football team at M&T Bank Stadium; Ravens home game against Jets is not impacted by baseball schedule given that the football teams both play in the Meadowlands (New Jersey).
 
So, considering the same assumptions above and looking ahead through the month of September, we can further speculate and narrow down the remaining possible opponents in September.
 
GAME 1:     Browns, Dolphins, Seahawks or Chargers away
GAME 2:     Browns, Patriots, Rams or Jets at HOME
GAME 3:     Browns, Cardinals, Rams orJets at HOME
GAME 4:     Browns, Dolphins, 49ers or Chargers away
 
What's it all mean?  It's nothing more than an educated guess but hey, there isn't much to talk about these days when it comes to the Ravens.
 
If you like the Ravens chances of making it to the NFL post season tourney title game, then get ready to head to the desert.  Super Bowl XLII will be held in the new state-of-the-art stadium in Glendale, AZ on February 3, 2008 and it will be televised by FOX.  Looking even further ahead, Super Bowl XLIII will be back at Raymond James Stadium where the Ravens won Super Bowl XXXV.  Since 2008 is a leap year, XLIII will fall on February 1, avoiding Ground Hog Day and the possibility of playing the game over and over and over.
 
Miami will host its 10th Super Bowl in 2010.
 
Ok, time to pack it in for the night.  Now Letterman is championing the Colts cause on TV and basking in the glow of their comeback win on Sunday.  Hey Dave, you just lost the much bigger market of Chicago to Leno – not to mention all of New England. 
 
NBC thanks you, ya big goof!
 
 
Note: Strength of Schedule stats provided by www.theredzone.org.
 

Post your comment

Your Name:
Your Email:
Your Comment:
There are no comments. be the first to post a comment.


«Go back to the previous page.
Posted On: 1/23/07
Written By:  
Tony Lombardi

Polls

Who will sign a long term deal/extension first?


Twitter

Check us out on Twitter
  • 5/23/12: @cacaw410 @masnroch I agree. Pinch hitting could have helped. Oh and their fundamental ineptness on the bases didn't help either. Next time!
  • 5/23/12: Somebody hit me up...at O's game and Flaherty can't hit his way out of a wet paper bag...is something wrong W/ Hardy?
  • 5/22/12: There's a Betemit Sandwich!

View all tweets & follow us!

Got Poker Face?

E-News

Sign up for Email Alerts and get the best deals and news in your inbox.



Copyright © 2012 24x7 Network, LLC, All Rights Reserved
Website Design by D3Corp Ocean City Maryland