Forget everything you saw during the preseason. The games count now. The starters are playing now. Nobody is expecting perfection from the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. Well... They shouldn't be if they are.
Jesse Minter has never been a head coach before. Declan Doyle has never called plays before. Jovaughn Gwyn has played 19 games over three NFL seasons, and he's never been a starter.
The encouraging part for Baltimore is that perfection probably isn't necessary. The Ravens enter Week 1 with something most teams spend years trying to build. They have answers, and here's why that's important. If one part of the operation sputters, another can usually pick up the slack. That doesn't guarantee a victory over the Indianapolis Colts, but it does explain
why Baltimore can survive a few bumps in the road and still walk away 1-0.
Reasons the Ravens may struggle early
Following a dominant preseason, the Ravens hope to carry the momentum into the regular season. That doesn't mean they'll hold every opponent to a single-digit scoring total. Every NFL season brings adversity.
The offense is still learning under Declan Doyl.e
The excitement surrounding Declan Doyle's offensehas been impossible to ignore throughout training camp. Players have praised his creativity. Coaches have praised his preparation. The possibilities appear endless.
None of that guarantees immediate perfection. Regular-season football presents challenges that preseason practices cannot replicate.
Doyle's offense may need a few possessions before finding its rhythm. There could be communication issues. Certain concepts may require live-game adjustments. That's normal for any offense introducing new wrinkles and tendencies. The long-term outlook remains encouraging, but Week 1 isn't always where everything immediately clicks.
Jovaughn Gwyn is making his first start at center.
Jesse Minter removed any suspense by naming Jovaughn Gwyn his Week 1 starter at center. The coaching staff's confidence is obvious, but starting center in Baltimore always comes with significant responsibility.
Gwyn will be responsible for protection calls, communication, and helping ensure Lamar Jackson remains protected against an Indianapolis front featuring DeForest Buckner, Laiatu Latu, Arden Key, and Adetomiwa Adebawore. It's a difficult assignment for any first-time starter. Even if Gwyn ultimately proves capable of handling the job long term, a few early growing pains wouldn't be shocking.
Indianapolis has enough offensive talent to stress any defense
The Colts finished last season with eight victories, and in those wins they averaged 31 points per game. Jonathan Taylor remains one of football's most dangerous running backs. Daniel Jones was playing excellent football before suffering a season-ending Achilles injury.
Josh Downs, Alec Pierce, Keenan Allen, Tyler Warren, and several other weapons give Indianapolis multiple ways to attack defenses. Baltimore's defense is talented enough to handle the challenge, but the Colts possess enough firepower to create uncomfortable moments. One missed tackle or blown assignment can quickly become six points.
Reasons the Ravens can still win anyway
Lamar Jackson remains the ultimate advantage
There are plenty of great players in the NFL. Very few can alter a game the way Lamar Jackson can. Jackson enters the season healthy, motivated, and operating behind an offense designed specifically around his strengths.
Even when protection breaks down or drives stall, Baltimore possesses a quarterback capable of creating something out of nothing. Week 1 games often become messy. Few quarterbacks are better equipped to thrive in chaos than Jackson.
Baltimore should win the battle in the trenches.
The Colts possess talent up front, but Baltimore has assembled one of the league's most physical rosters. Derrick Henry remains the centerpiece of the rushing attack. Roger Rosengarten continues to develop into one of the NFL's better young tackles.
Ronnie Stanley remains a stabilizing force. Defensively, Nnamdi Madubuike could return sooner rather than later. At the same time, Broderick Washington, Travis Jones, and the rest of the defensive front are built to make life difficult for opposing rushing attacks. If Baltimore controls the line of scrimmage, several other problems become easier to solve.
The Ravens have more answers.
This may be the simplest explanation of all. Indianapolis is talented. The Colts can win this game. Baltimore, however, enters the season with elite talent scattered throughout the lineup.
If the passing game starts slowly, the Ravens can lean on Henry. If the running game stalls, Jackson can create explosive plays through the air or with his legs. If the offense has an uneven afternoon, the defense possesses enough playmakers to keep the game under control.
The Ravens don't need every area of the roster operating perfectly because they have proven stars capable of compensating when something isn't working.
Final thought
Week 1 victories rarely arrive wrapped in perfection. There may be communication issues. There may be penalties. There may be moments where Baltimore looks like a team still learning how all of its new pieces fit together.
That doesn't mean the Ravens can't begin the season 1-0. If Lamar Jackson plays like Lamar Jackson, the Ravens control the line of scrimmage, and Baltimore's veteran playmakers make the critical plays when opportunities arise, the Ravens can survive any early-season turbulence and leave Sunday with exactly the result they're seeking. A win is a win in September, even if it isn't always pretty.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Why the Ravens will overcome early growing pains to beat the Colts
