Ravens Look to Dominate Week 1 Opponent for Third Straight Year
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Over the past two regular seasons, the Ravens have outscored their opponents 97-16 in Week One.
Can they keep that stellar performance going against the Las Vegas Raiders in a prime-time matchup?
“We’ve played well in those games, but this is a new game," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "This is a different opponent, [and] it’s a new year. Nothing counts. You can’t look back; you have to look forward. We just have to get ourselves ready to play this game against a very good Raiders team."
The Ravens demolished the Miami Dolphins, 59-10, in the 2019 regular-season opener. Lamar Jackson tied a Ravens record with five touchdown passes, including scores of 47 and 83 yards to Marquise Brown in the first 11 minutes.
Baltimore also set a franchise record for points in the first half, and an NFL record for points in the first half of an opener, taking a 42-10 lead at the break. The Ravens also broke franchise marks for points and total yards with 643.
Last season, Jackson threw for 275 yards and three touchdowns, in a 38-6 victory over the Cleveland Browns, spoiling coach Kevin Stefanski's debut.
Harbaugh expects a tough challenge from a Raiders team making their debut in their new home stadium.
"They have an established program," Harbaugh said. "They’re very physical up front on both sides. You can see that; that’s what they want to be. They have speed. They have a veteran quarterback. They have a new defensive system. They have a very good special teams coordinator, and all those things go into play that we’re trying to take into account.”