Ravens Will Open First Ever 17-Game Schedule In Vegas

BALTIMORE, MD — The NFL released its 2021 schedule on Wednesday, and the Baltimore Ravens have the second most difficult slate based on their opponents' 2020 winning percentage of .563. Only the Pittsburgh Steelers (.574) have a tougher schedule.

This will be the NFL's first 17-game schedule after the NFL owners approved the change at the annual League Meeting in March.

The Ravens will open the season on Sept. 13 with a visit to the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday Night Football (8:15 ET). It will be one of five times Baltimore appears on either Monday Night Football (twice), Sunday Night Football (twice) or Thursday Night Football (once).

The Ravens' second high-profile, national TV game takes place on Sunday Night in Week 2, when Patrick Mahomes II and the Kansas City Chiefs come to M&T Bank Stadium to face Baltimore. It will be the third time Ravens' star quarterback Lamar Jackson has faced the Chiefs, and Jackson is still looking for his first win against the defending AFC Champions.

Experts believe Baltimore's most difficult, and perhaps most pivotal, stretch of the campaign will come in December when the Ravens visit each one of their AFC North opponents: traveling to Pittsburgh on Dec. 5, Cleveland on Dec. 12 and Cincinnati on Dec. 26.

ESPN.com staff writer Jamison Hensley pointed out the Ravens will face a 2020 playoff team in six of their final seven games. Last season, the Ravens had one of the NFL's easiest schedules down the stretch.

In addition to the high-profile games during Weeks 1 and 2, the Ravens also visit the Indianapolis Colts in an Oct. 11 Monday Night Football game, travel to the Miami Dolphins in a Nov. 11 Thursday Night Football game and host the Cleveland Browns in a Nov. 28 Sunday Night Football game.

Baltimore went 11-5 during the 2020 regular season, finishing second in the AFC North. The Ravens defeated the Tennessee Titans 20-13 in the AFC wild-card game, Jackson's first playoff win, before falling 17-3 to the Buffalo Bills in the divisional playoff.

In the offseason, the Ravens added guard Kevin Zeitler via free agency from the New York Giants, re-signed a few of their own free agents, like linebacker Tyus Bowser and defensive end Derek Wolfe. They also added receivers Sammy Watkins, a free agent from the Chiefs, and Rashod Bateman, whom they drafted with the 27th pick out of Minnesota.

The 2021 Baltimore Ravens Schedule:

Sept. 13: at Las Vegas (MNF)

Sept. 19: vs. Kansas City (SNF)

Sept. 26: at Detroit

Oct. 3: at Denver

Oct. 11: vs. Indianapolis (MNF)

Oct. 17: vs. L.A. Chargers

Oct. 24: vs. Cincinnati

Oct. 31: Bye

Nov. 7: vs. Minnesota

Nov. 11: at Miami (TNF)

Nov. 21: at Chicago

Nov. 28: vs. Cleveland (SNF)

Dec. 5: at Pittsburgh

Dec. 12: at Cleveland

Dec. 19: vs. Green Bay

Dec. 26: at Cincinnati

Jan. 2: vs. L.A. Rams

Jan. 9: vs. Pittsburgh