fantasy-football

Even though the Ravens played in Indianapolis last week the 2026 season really doesn’t start until the home opener and that is this week. All of the hype, all of the speculation will play out on the field at M&T. We will see with our very own eyes what this team looks like. This year we have more than just renewed hope of a Super Bowl win, we have a new coaching staff- head coach Jessy Minter, offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, and defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver- all young coaches bringing a new philosophy and energy to the Ravens playbook. The 2026 season will truly start when the Ravens run out of the tunnel to the roar of Baltimore fans and the “O” during the National Anthem. Nothing like the excitement of the home opener, we have waited through a cold snowy winter and a hot summer to get to this point and I think this season is going to be worth the wait.

Last week the offense was a thing of beauty. We saw it all! Lamar squeeze out of a sure sack and run for a first down on 3rd and 16. Zay was spectacular with 150 yards in the first half only to be stopped by a hamstring that has been nagging him through out training camp (not a good thing). Derrick just doing what he does best running over the Colts defense at will to pile up 144 yards and scoreing three touchdowns. Even the offensive play calling and formations mixed it up with Zay lined up in the backfield, Derrick catching a pass, and with the Ravens first play from scrimmage a designed Lamar rollout to his left side something he almost never does to connect with a wide open Zay Flowers. Even with nine offensive penalties (this needs to be cleaned up) they did not slow down the offense.

I must admit I was a little worried to see the Colts march down the field to score a touchdown to start the game. The Ravens defense had trouble stopping the run and allowed a modest 23 point against a highly rated Colts offense. I was hoping for more pressure on QB Daniel Jones. We ended up with only 2 sacks. Giving up 23 is not bad as long as your offense scores 41.

Special teams played a big part in this game. Tyler Loop hit a 57 yard field goal that would have been good from 65 to closeout the first half. The kickoff returns regularly gave the Ravens good starting field position. And the rookie punter looks like he may be the real deal. Side note after Loop’s strong performance last week the Ravens cut Jake Moody the kicker who was on the practice squad.

How about the O-line! As a unit they played very well. No exchange problems between Lamar and the new center Jovaugh Gwyn. Lamar was only sacked twice and fumbled once but, for the most part he had time to throw the ball down field and he did it often. I have come up with new drinking game it’s called the Vega pancake game. The rookie right guard Vega Loane had at least three or four blocks that pancaked the defender he was blocking and once it was way down field. So, every time Vega pancakes a defender take a drink of what ever frosty beverage you prefer.

We get to see the 2026 Ravens live at M&T this week against the Saints who lost to the Lions by one point. It’s difficult to assess a team with only a sample size of one game. But, of course, after one game we know the Ravens will win the Super Bowl this year. On the other hand the we really don’t know what we are getting with the Saints, they were very good and very bad. The Lions QB would be sacked two plays in a row and then throw a 20 yard pass for a first down. Last week the Saints and Lions needed overtime to decide the game. Lions won by one point.

GO RAVENS!!!

MY WEEKLY PICKS WHO TO ROOT FOR

Remember don’t bet the beer money on my picks since they are who we want to win not who we think will win.

Thursday night

1-0 Lions over 1-0 Bills
Keep an eye on the Lions to see how well they play against a descent Bills team. This could give us some incite on the Saints.
UPDATE: Bills beat the Lions 31-41

Sunday 1:00

1-0 RAVENS over 0-1 Saints
We all saw what the Ravens did last week, If we can repeat that we should have no problem against the Saints who gave up a ton of yards and more importantly a lot of points. The Ravens offense will have a great day running and passing down field.
Ja’Kobi Lane will miss this game and the next 4 or 5 weeks after having surgery on his injured wrist. We also may not have Zay with a hamstring, but we may see Nnamdi Madubuike and Teddye Buchanan for the first time on defense. The Ravens win this one in front of a fired-up home crowd.

GO RAVENS!!!

0-1 Patriots over 1-0 Steelers
Need I same more?

0-1 Texans over 1-0 Bengals
Joe Burrow is banged up all ready, could be a long or short season for him.

0-1 Buccaneers over 0-1 Browns
The Jets have a win, even the Raiders have a win, but the Browns do not.

1-0 Eagles over 0-1 Titans
NFC over AFC and rooting for our Philly friends.

0-1 Packers over 1-0 Jets
What happened to the Packers last week?

Sunday 4:00

0-1 Chargers over 1-0 Raiders
No comment.

0-1 Broncos over 1-0 Jaguars
It’s all about how it helps the Ravens. Both AFC teams The Jaguars have a win and the Broncos don’t

0-1 Commanders VS 0-1 Cowboys
You pick’em, both need their first win.

1-0 49ers over 0-1 Dolphins
NFC over AFC

Sunday Night 8:00

0-1 Colts over 1-0 Chiefs
We love the Colts this week.

Monday Night 8:00

1-0 Giants over 0-1 Rams
Good luck John.

Enjoy the games with that frosty beverage and a friend.

On a final note, I would like to tip my hat to John Harbaugh for a Super Bowl win and many years of great Ravens football. Good luck in New York John and may we meet and beat you in the Super Bowl.

And that’s just the view from 151

GO RAVENS!!!

Preseason is over and they made us wait two weeks for real football. That’s like grilling up a fat juicy steak, sitting it in front of you, and not letting you eat it for two weeks.

The Ravens 2026 offense is that juicy steak. You really don’t know what you have until you slice into it, take a mouthful, and taste it. Since we saw very few offensive starters take any snaps in the preseason, we just don’t know what we have. I will tell you my toes are tingling with anticipation because I think this could be the best Lamar Jackson lead offense we have ever seen.

To compliment the offense we have some very good defensive back ups. Our defensive backups only allowed one touchdown (and that was in trash time of the first preseason game) in 2-1/2 games. I say 2-1/2 games instead of 3 games because the Commanders are terrible so that game only counts as a 1/2 game. Most of the Ravens defensive starters didn’t play in any preseason games.

I like the new/young guys, OLB Ethan Burke, TE Matt Hibner, OG Vega Loane, WR Ja’Kobi Lane, WR Elijah Sarratt, OLB Zion Young, even the new punter Ryan Eckley all looked great in the preseason games. These guys proved themselves worthy of making the team by catching the ball, making tackles, and generally being around the ball to make plays. These preseason games were some of the cleanest played games we have seen out of a Ravens team. I know… I know all we have to go by are preseason games that don’t count, but I see a difference in this team. I can’t tell you exactly what it is yet; could be new coaches, different attitudes, younger hungrier players. They just look sharp.

But…. unfortunately, there’s always a but, and this one could be copied and pasted from almost every season, let’s talk the state of the offensive line. The O-line is going to start the season with an unproven, slotted to be a backup, just declared the starter on Monday 6 days before the game center Jovaughn Gwyn. Jovaughn has some big shoes to fill after we lost three time Pro Bowler Tyler Linderbaum to the Raiders in free agency. The hope is the two guards (rookie 2026 first round pick Vega Loane and 7 year vet John Simpson) can help Gwyn. A new season and new center for Lamar who has had 5 different week one starting centers in his 9 year career.

The Ravens start the season on the road against the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts starting QB Daniel Jones is coming off last year’s season-ending Achilles injury and did not play in any preseason games. This could make him very vulnerable to the Ravens highly anticipated, much improved pass rush. Head coach Jesse Minter will be calling the defensive plays from the sideline. Let’s see how he dials up the pass rush with Calais Campbell and Trey Henderson on the ends and Nnamdi Madubuike (I think Nnamdi is going to start) up the middle. This could be special. The Colts defense gave up 72 points in the 3 preseason games the Ravens defense gave up 13. Ravens’ new offensive Coordinator Declan Doyle has installed a new system that will allow Doyle to hand the ball to Lamar and the offense, sit back, and watch the magic.

GO RAVENS!!!

Remember, my picks are based on how the outcome would affect the Ravens. They are who we want to win, not who we think will win. So, don’t bet the leftover vacation money (if you have any) on my picks.

WEEK 1
Wednesday Night 8:20 PM

Seahawks over Patriots
A Super Bowl rematch, rooting for the Seahawks, NFC over AFC

Thursday Night 8:35 PM EDT

49ers vs Rams in Melbourne Australia
What time will it be in Melbourne if the time in time in Baltimore is Thursday 8:35 PM? Let’s do the math (don’t forget to show your work to get full credit). Starting Thursday 9/10/26 8:35 PM EDT in Baltimore, add 14 hours, cross the dateline so plus one day, it will be Friday 9/11/26 at 10:35 AM Melbourne local time. With a 10:35 AM kickoff I guess they will need to start tailgating the night before.
NFC West match up that at this time doesn’t affect the Ravens, so you pick’em.

Sunday 1:00 PM

RAVENS over Colts
With nothing to go off of, Week 1 is just a bunch of questions.
Can the Ravens continue the momentum started in the preseason? What will Doyle’s offense look like, more running or passing, more under center or shotgun? How will the defense perform with Minter calling the plays? Will we stay healthy? We will all find out together. I can’t wait to get this train rolling! BTW, I am still not completely over the Colts leaving Baltimore.

GO RAVENS!!!

Falcon over Steelers
Of course! This game is in Pittsburgh hoping to send the Steeler fans home with a loss.

Buccaneers over Bengals
This is a home game for the Bengals so DITTO above.

Jaguars over Browns
Can the Browns be as bad as the pundits say they are? I hope so!

Sunday 4:00

Packers over Vikings
This will be a good game to watch after the Ravens beat the Colts.

Cardinals over Chargers
Rooting for the NFC team to beat the AFC team.

Commanders over Eagles
Rooting for our Commander fan friends. This could be ugly.

Sunday Night 8:20

Giants over Cowboys
Wishing John Harbaugh good luck.

Monday Night 8:15

Bronco vs Chiefs
You pick’em.

Here’s to Week 1 finally getting here! Enjoy the games like it’s been 7 months since we’ve had real football.

And that just The View From 151

GO RAVENS!!!

The View From 151

NOW THAT WAS SOME REAL FOOTBALL

I NEED REAL FOOTBALL!