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NFL Power Ranking Preseason Edition: NFC only gets better

By George Stockburger

DENVER, CO - AUGUST 11: Quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings throws as he warms up before an NFL preseason game against the Denver Broncos at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on August 11, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - AUGUST 11: Quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings throws as he warms up before an NFL preseason game against the Denver Broncos at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on August 11, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – AUGUST 09: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Rams during a preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium on August 9, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – AUGUST 09: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Rams during a preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium on August 9, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

. . . Baltimore Ravens. 20. team. 26

The Lamar Jackson experiment has looked good thus far in the preseason for Baltimore. Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome traded two second round picks and a fourth rounder to get a franchise quarterback in his final draft at the helm of the Ravens front office.

While Joe Flacco and his supporters aren’t thrilled with the decision to add the heir to the Super Bowl winning quarterback, it could bring some much-needed energy to the Ravens offense.

Expect to see a lot of Jackson as a rookie without him always being the man under center.

In addition to Jackson the Ravens did a lot to rebuild their offense after a dreadful 2017 season. They drafted two tight ends and two wide receivers, acquired three veteran wide receivers, and drafted three offensive linemen.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – AUGUST 31: Chris Wormley #93 of the Baltimore Ravens warming up before a preseason game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on August 31, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Ravens defeated the Saints 14-13. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – AUGUST 31: Chris Wormley #93 of the Baltimore Ravens warming up before a preseason game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on August 31, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Ravens defeated the Saints 14-13. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

Baltimore has a lot of young talent on defense that needs to take a step forward for them. Can Chris Wormley, Tim Williams, Carl Davis, and Tyus Bowser grow this year and earn their second contracts with Baltimore or will they fizzle out?

There’s a lot to like in the secondary with Eric Weddle, Tony Jefferson, Brandon Carr, Jimmy Smith, and Tavon Young coming back. Marlon Humphrey needs to take another step forward and compete for a starting job after catching two interceptions as a rookie.

Baltimore has an interesting schedule with four of their first six games on the road, including three straight road games. Three of their last five are on the road with trips to Atlanta, Kansas City, and Los Angeles. Their schedule does have some easy portions like their final three games being against teams that didn’t make the playoffs last year, Chargers, Browns, and Buccaneers.

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