Ravens 'Turning Over Every Stone' In Prep For Texans

The Baltimore Ravens host the Houston Texans on Sunday at 1 p.m.

There's a different set of challenges that come with facing a brand new coaching staff in Week 1. 

The Baltimore Ravens and head coach John Harbaugh find themselves in that situation with facing the Houston Texans on Sunday. Demeco Ryans, who was previously the San Francisco 49ers' defensive coordinator, is in his first season as Houston's head coach. He also brought over Bobby Slowik from San Francisco to be the Texans' offensive coordinator. 

The 49ers boasted the No. 1 defense in points allowed per game (16.3) last season and had the No. 6 offense (26.5 ppg) despite starting three different quarterbacks. Facing a team that has turned over their coaching staff, Harbaugh said his team is doing everything possible to be prepared. 

"We're turning over every stone," Harbaugh said. "You look at all of those things and anything else we can think of. You do go a little bit by coordinator history and pedigree so all of those things factor in."

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While no one is expecting a rebuilding Texans team led by rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud to immediately become that potent on both sides of the ball, it does give Baltimore some semblance of a blueprint on how to prepare. However, Harbaugh said his team's focus is more inward than on Houston.

"The focus especially in the opener has to be on yourself and your team," Harbaugh said. "It's really not about the opponent per se as much as how we execute, how we run, how we operate and how we play. Play the way we envision ourselves playing. That's what we're going to be focused on."

Since becoming Baltimore's starting quarterback, Lamar Jackson has been at his best in Week 1. In his four starts, Jackson has completed 74 of 109 passes for 1,047 yards, 12 touchdowns, and only one interception.  

"You want your quarterback to be on point and ready to go, Lamar is our quarterback and I expect him to be on point and ready to go," Harbaugh said. "He has been in the past to your point and I'm sure he expects that of himself." 

Baltimore opens its season on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium against the Texans at 1 p.m.