'New Vibe, New Energy!' Chris Simms Names Ravens No. 1 Seed In AFC

The Baltimore Ravens have made the playoffs four out of five seasons with quarterback Lamar Jackson at the helm, but NBC Sports' Chris Simms has a bold claim on what could be their fifth appearance in 2023.

NBC Sports' Chris Simms made a prediction for the Baltimore Ravens that hasn't happened since 2019. The former NFL quarterback said on his show, "Chris Simms Unbuttoned," that the Ravens will be the No. 1 seed in the AFC come playoff time — an honor the Kansas City Chiefs have owned three of the last four postseasons. 

In Baltimore's last two playoff appearances it has been the Nos. 5 and 6 seeds, respectively, but why does Simms think the Ravens take the top spot this year? "New contract (for Lamar Jackson), new vibe, new energy," Simms said. "Other than the Bengals in Week 2, they are better than their first eight opponents, so I think it sets up for them."

Simms compared the Ravens' first 10 games to that of the reigning Super Bowl runners-up, the Philadelphia Eagles, from last season. Simms believes an 8-2 start for Baltimore is not out of the realm of possibility which positions it nicely to secure a first-round bye week.

The Ravens play just two playoff teams in the first 10 games - Cincinnati in Week 3 and the Seattle Seahawks in Week 9.  The final seven games of the season are where Baltimore will show what it's made of, playing the Bengals, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars, San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Simms factored in Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones' contract holdout as a potential cause for a slow start, hurting Kansas City in the later stages of the AFC playoff race. Both Simms and co-host Ahmed Fareed predicted the Ravens square off with the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game but, ultimately, lose.

Simms has Baltimore hosting that game, which would make for the biggest game at M&T Bank Stadium since the 2019 Divisional Round against the Tennessee Titans. In the five-year Lamar Jackson era, the Ravens have made the playoffs four times and won the AFC North twice. Can he and the Ravens do it again in 2023?