It’s primer time
From 2020 schedule to workout programs, here’s what football fans will need to know
After a first-of-its-kind NFL draft that tested teams’ patience, bandwidth and resourcefulness, the Ravens are moving into the offseason’s next phase with their team-building hailed and their Super Bowl aspirations bolstered. But much of what comes next in the league’s spring and summer proceedings won’t be normal.
The coronavirus pandemic continues to warp the sports world. The NFL’s 2020 schedule will be released soon, but Week 1 could be pushed back. Offseason programs are ongoing, but players are learning remotely and working out at home. Some free agents have agreed to sign, but their deals haven’t yet been finalized.
Here’s what you need to know about the most important forces driving the Ravens’ next few months:
2020 schedule
The league is scheduled to release its full, 17-week regular-season schedule, as well as its preseason slate, on Thursday at 8 p.m. on NFL Network.
The Ravens already know their regular-season opponents. They’ll host the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans. They’ll hit the road to face the Bengals, Browns, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, Steelers and Washington Redskins.
While the schedule includes games against four reigning division champions — the Super Bowl champion Chiefs (AFC West), Patriots (AFC East), Texans (AFC South) and Eagles (NFC East) — the combined 2019 winning percentage of the Ravens’ 13 opponents is .438. No team’s strength of schedule is lower.
Still unknown is whether the season will start on time, and under what conditions. Ravens president Dick Cass said last week that he expects the team to play all 16 games, but that the four-game preseason schedule was “up in the air.”
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told ESPN last week that the league is prepared to make adjustments “based on the latest