2015 Baltimore Ravens Schedule: Full Listing of Dates, Times and TV Info

There are few safer bets in the NFL than the Baltimore Ravens making the playoffs, but they will have to navigate a difficult schedule in 2015.

The Ravens have been in the postseason in six of the last seven and seven of the last nine years and also won a Super Bowl during that span. Coach John Harbaugh and his squad would love an opportunity to build on last season’s 10-6 finish, especially since the Ravens lost a heartbreaker to the New England Patriots in the divisional round, 35-31.

While there is certainly a culture of success in place in Baltimore, it has been an offseason of attrition, which could directly impact the 2015 campaign.

Among other moves, the Ravens released running back Bernard Pierce, traded stalwart defensive tackle Haloti Ngata to the Detroit Lions and waved goodbye to the likes of wide receiver Torrey Smith, wide receiver and kick returner Jacoby Jones, tight end Owen Daniels, safety Darian Stewart and linebacker Pernell McPhee.

That list includes two defensive starters in Ngata and McPhee, a starting safety in Stewart and an established deep threat in Smith.

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

On a more positive note, Baltimore re-signed running back Justin Forsett and added backup quarterback Matt Schaub.

Peter Schmuck of The Baltimore Sun noted that Schaub is a solid insurance policy behind Joe Flacco: “Schaub is a highly experienced quarterback who will be satisfied in this role and be ready to play in high-pressure situations if necessary. He's the right choice for a competitive situation that requires instant leadership and stability.”

If the Ravens hope to parlay the offseason into another playoff appearance, they will have to navigate the following schedule.

Week	Date	Opponent	Time (ET)	TV
1	Sunday, Sept. 13	at Denver Broncos	4:25 p.m.	CBS
2	Sunday, Sept. 20	at Oakland Raiders	4:05 p.m.	CBS
3	Sunday, Sept. 27	vs. Cincinnati Bengals	1 p.m.	CBS
4	Thursday, Oct. 1	at Pittsburgh Steelers	8:25 p.m.	CBS/NFL Network
5	Sunday, Oct. 11	vs. Cleveland Browns	1 p.m.	CBS
6	Sunday, Oct. 18	at San Francisco 49ers	4:25 p.m.	CBS
7	Monday, Oct. 26	at Arizona Cardinals	8:30 p.m.	ESPN
8	Sunday, Nov. 1	vs. San Diego Chargers	1 p.m.	CBS
9	BYE WEEK
10	Sunday, Nov. 15	vs. Jacksonville Jaguars	1 p.m.	CBS
11	Sunday, Nov. 22	vs. St. Louis Rams	1 p.m.	Fox
12	Monday, Nov. 30	at Cleveland Browns	8:30 p.m.	ESPN
13	Sunday, Dec. 6	at Miami Dolphins	1 p.m.	CBS
14	Sunday, Dec. 13	vs. Seattle Seahawks	8:30 p.m.	NBC
15	Sunday, Dec. 20	vs. Kansas City Chiefs	1 p.m.	CBS
16	Sunday, Dec. 27	vs. Pittsburgh Steelers	8:30 p.m.	NBC
17	Sunday, Jan. 3	at Cincinnati Bengals	1 p.m.	CBS

Analysis

Steven Senne/Associated Press

The Ravens will have to play the NFC West in their interconference showdowns, which is about as difficult as it gets for the schedule.

The San Francisco 49ers underwent plenty of attrition themselves this offseason, but the Seattle Seahawks made the last two Super Bowls, the Arizona Cardinals were in the playoffs last season and the St. Louis Rams have one of the best defenses in the league on paper, with a formidable front seven leading the way.

Games against the AFC West will also be difficult considering the Denver Broncos still have future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning under center, and the San Diego Chargers have Philip Rivers and are perennial contenders. Even the Kansas City Chiefs are fresh off a 9-7 campaign.

There are some games on the schedule that many will see as virtual layups, including a home contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars and a road trip to face the Oakland Raiders.

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

Even casual NFL fans don’t have to be reminded that there is no such thing as a surefire win in this parity-filled league, but Baltimore will have to find a way to win those games if it plans to make the playoffs.

Perhaps the biggest schedule concern for the Ravens is the presence of game-changing quarterbacks. Between Manning, Rivers, Russell Wilson and Ben Roethlisberger (twice), Baltimore’s secondary will be challenged throughout the year. That could be a problem since it finished a disappointing 23rd in the league against the pass last season.

Any hope the Ravens have to contend for a repeat trip to the playoffs depends on the secondary, especially since the defensive line will look completely different and may not be able to generate as much pressure as it did last year.

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

Offensively, Flacco is a proven commodity but may have to lean on Steve Smith even more this season after the loss of Torrey Smith and Jones. Forsett emerged as a dangerous option in the backfield, but there is not a ton of depth in the running back stable behind him.

That offense will need to put up some points if the defense struggles against the passing attacks it will face this season.

Pivotal Matchups

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Any time Baltimore plays the Pittsburgh Steelers, the game is going to move the needle. It wouldn’t matter in this rivalry if it were a preseason game or a regular-season contest with a division title on the line. But there will be some extra juice in their two matchups this season, because the Ravens ended the Steelers’ season in the playoffs last year.

Pittsburgh will be looking for revenge.

Former Steelers receiver Hines Ward painted a picture of how competitive this rivalry truly is, per Jim Corbett of USA Today:

"

It's just pure hatred — just like two old-fashioned bullies meeting in an alley. I tried to tell young guys, 'When it's Baltimore week, you tend to stay in the weight room longer because it's going to be a hard-fought, physical battle.'

(Ravens linebacker) Terrell Suggs still hates me. I take it as a sign of respect. Because there's a level of respect between these teams, too.

"

Baltimore’s contests against the two teams from Super Bowl XLVIII will also turn some heads, although the game against the Seahawks is at home. That is encouraging news for Ravens fans since Seattle is one of the most difficult places to play in the entire NFL.

The trip to Denver could be more than just a buzz-creating game, because playoff positioning could be on the line in the AFC.

Both teams made the postseason last year and met in a memorable showdown in the divisional round after the 2012 campaign. The Ravens won that game in double overtime after Flacco connected with Jones on a prayer of a throw for a game-tying 70-yard touchdown with 31 seconds left.

If this year’s matchup is even half as entertaining as that one, it will be appointment viewing.