Baltimore Ravens 2022 NFL lineup and what it means for the sports wagering in MD
After an injury-plagued and ultimately disappointing 2021 season, the Baltimore Ravens will be looking to bounce back in 2022. As usual, there have been a lot of personnel changes during the off-season, so hopes are high that the Ravens can make a return to the Playoffs.
This article will look at the Ravens’ off-season moves, including their Draft performance, and assess their prospects of success in the new season. Plus, we’ll give you some top tips for betting on the Ravens during the 2022 NFL season. After all, what’s better than watching the Ravens win? Placing some winning bets while watching the Ravens win and utilizing the MD sports betting market. Read on to find out more.
Off-season moves
Upgrading the secondary was clearly the Ravens’ main aim coming into the off-season. Fans were subsequently delighted when the team acquired a top-quality safety in Marcus Williams. The former Saint joins on a five-year contract and gives the Ravens an exciting playmaker in a problem position.
Defensive tackle Michael Pierce has returned to Baltimore after an injury-laden two years with the Vikings. On the other side of the ball, Morgan Moses joins on a three-year deal from the New York Jets.
Wide receiver Marquise Brown was the biggest name moving away from the Ravens during the off-season. After an inconsistent 2021, the Ravens agreed to trade him to the Arizona Cardinals in return for the 23rd pick of the Draft. Although the move means that the Ravens have lost a game-changing wideout, the consensus amongst experts was that Baltimore got the best of the deal.
The biggest football coaching change for the Ravens was the appointment of Mike McDonald. This follows the departure of Wink Martindale after ten years in the role. McDonald was a surprise hire; at 34, he is the youngest DC in the NFL, and this is by far the biggest role of his career.
2022 NFL Draft for the Baltimore Ravens
As is usually the case, the Ravens had a stellar Draft. They used their two first-round picks on Kyle Hamilton and Tyler Linderbaum. They are two of the top-rated players in the entire Draft. Linderbaum has been considered the best center to enter the NFL for several years, whilst Hamilton’s expected to be a top ten pick. So, for the Ravens to pick the safety up at 14 was something of a coup.
Middle round playmakers
After such a productive first day, Ravens used the rest of the Draft to add potential playmakers to their squad. Giant lineman Daniel Faille was a steal in the fourth round and should immediately slot into the trenches. Third-rounder Travis Jones brings athleticism and big-play ability to Raven’s defense. The second-round pick David Ojabo was set to be a first-round pick until a pro day injury dropped the linebacker down the board.
Late round steals
There were even some promising picks in the late rounds. Isiah Likely has the potential to make an immediate impact at tight end and could represent superb value with the 139th pick. Even sixth-round running back Tyler Badie has the potential to make an impact in his rookie season.
Overall, this was a fantastic Draft performance from the Ravens. Most experts awarded the Ravens A or even A+ grades for their Draft picks. It all bodes well for the franchise’s future and gives them genuine hope of success going forward.
Prospects for the Raven’s 2022 NFL season
The big question is, what can the Ravens achieve in 2022? Here are some of the key factors that will determine the answer to that:
Schedule
An interesting scheduling quirk means that the Ravens open the season with four consecutive games against AFC East teams. Luckily for Baltimore, the strongly fancied Buffalo Bills come last in that stretch, meaning the Ravens have a great chance of opening the campaign with a two or three-game winning run.
After that, things get slightly tougher. A clash with the Bengals follows the Bills game in Week Four before facing both the Saints and the Bucs before their Week Ten bye.
The second half of the season starts with a soft three-game stretch against the Jags, Panthers and Broncos. They then complete the season with four Divisional games in the final five weeks.
Overall, this is a good-looking schedule for the Ravens. The bye falls at a great time, and they have a good chance of jumping out to a strong start. But, of course, as is often the case, the six divisional games will go a long way toward deciding the team’s fate. So let’s take a look at how the AFC North is shaping up.
AFC North— An evolving division
Few people predicted the Bengals would have such a stellar 2021 season. Their Super Bowl run was superbly led by quarterback Joe Burrow, who already looks like he is going to be an elite name in the league for many years to come. The Bengal’s ultimate failure to win the Super Bowl was largely down to a leaky defense. This is something the team attempted to address during the Draft. It seems likely that the Bengals will once again be challenging for a place in the postseason. But whether they can have a season as strong as 2021 remains to be seen.
For the first time since 2003, the Pittsburgh Steelers will enter the season without Ben Roethlisberger on their roster. Instead, Mitch Trubisky looks likely to be Big Ben’s replacement. The former Chicago Bears QB has shown flashes of potential in the league but is yet to convince as a long-term starting option. This means it could be a period of transition for the Steelers, and their 2022 prospects don’t look as strong as in previous seasons.
As for the enigmatic Cleveland Browns, much depends on the legal status of new quarterback Deshaun Watson. If Watson is able to play a full season, the Browns have an elite quarterback at the helm. Coupled with their array of offensive playmakers, they could be a strong force in the AFC. However, if Watson is unable to play, the Browns will struggle to compete in a stacked Conference.
All eyes are on Jackson
An unprecedented amount of injuries derailed the 2021 Ravens campaign. The running back corps suffered the most, with all three starters missing most or all of the season. Despite that, the team was in contention for the Playoffs until a season-ending injury to QB Lamar Jackson saw him miss the last four games.
If Jackson stays healthy, the Ravens will have every chance to record ten-plus wins. The quarterback is perhaps the biggest threat in the entire league. Not only can he win games with his arm, but his turn of speed is up there with the best running backs in the NFL. Over the last few seasons, Jackson has won countless games for the Ravens; all that is lacking from his CV is a strong postseason campaign. Ravens fans will be desperately hoping that the situation will change in 2022.
Top tips for Ravens betting in 2022
Now that retail sports betting is legal in Maryland and with online sports betting following soon, Ravens fans will have plenty of chances to place wagers on their team this season. With that in mind, let’s have a look at some of the best betting opportunities for Ravens fans coming into the 2022 season.
Ravens to win the Super Bowl +2200
Let’s start with the big one. If you think the Ravens can go all the way and lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy, you can currently get +2200 with most sports betting operators. In our opinion, that represents a good value bet. Caesars Sportsbook Maryland has several special events covering events like this.
It seems hard to believe that Baltimore will have as many injuries this year. Plus, the off-season acquisitions have all been major upgrades. Also, in Lamar Jackson, the Ravens possess the biggest game-changing in the league. Yes, the AFC is stacked, but aside from the Bills, all the teams have flaws. If the Ravens can stay fit and if Jackson can be at his lethal best, there’s a great chance of Baltimore going all the way.
Ravens to win 10+ games -130
Remember that fairly soft schedule? Let’s break it down a bit: To reach ten wins, the Ravens need to beat three AFC East teams, split their six Divisional games, plus beat the Jags, Panthers, Falcons and Broncos. And that’s assuming they do not win any of their other games. Of course, the NFL is never that straightforward, but there is every reason to believe that the Ravens could reach double-figure wins this campaign.
Lamar Jackson to win MVP +2500
The key to this bet is whether Jackson will stay 100% fit throughout the 2022 season. If he can, then there is a chance he will return to the form that saw him scoop the 2019 MVP award, making odds of +2500 seem extremely generous.
As has been the case for the last few seasons, so much is resting on Jackson’s shoulders. Let’s hope that Jackson can produce a career-defining season for the sake of the Ravens and anyone who is betting on them.
In conclusion
Hopefully, there will be fewer injuries and better outcomes for the Baltimore Ravens this season. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is healthy and fit again, and as one of the team’s biggest assets, we’re expecting great things for this 2022 NFL run and a possible MVP nod for Jackson.
