The Ravens are coming off an 8-9 season and a second-place finish in the AFC North - and that middle-of-the-pack standing is about to deliver anything but a middle-of-the-pack schedule in 2026.
Baltimore’s list of opponents is set, and it’s shaping up to be one of the toughest slates in the league. Jesse Minter’s squad will run the gauntlet against both the NFC South and AFC South - divisions that, while inconsistent in recent years, are loaded with teams capable of catching fire. Add in matchups against the second-place finishers from the AFC West, NFC East, and AFC East, and you’ve got a schedule that demands consistency, resilience, and a little bit of luck.
Now, we won’t get the full calendar - dates, times, primetime slots - until the spring, but the league has already rolled out the list of opponents. And here’s where things get even trickier: two of those games could be international matchups.
The Ravens are set to face both the Falcons and the Saints in 2026, and those two franchises are slated to participate in the NFL’s international series. Translation: Baltimore could be looking at a nine-road-game season, depending on how those contests are scheduled. That’s a subtle but significant wrinkle - especially for a team trying to bounce back and reestablish itself as a playoff contender.
So what does this all mean? For starters, the Ravens are going to have to be road warriors.
Playing potentially nine games away from M&T Bank Stadium isn’t just a logistical challenge - it’s a mental one. And when you combine that with a slate packed with playoff-caliber opponents, it’s clear that Baltimore’s path back to the postseason won’t be a stroll.
It’s going to be a grind.
But if there’s one thing we’ve learned about the Ravens over the years, it’s that they don’t shy away from a fight. This schedule will test them - no doubt.
But it also offers a chance to make a statement. Because if you can navigate a schedule like this and come out on top, you’re not just playoff-bound - you’re battle-tested and dangerous.