Thursday night felt like Christmas in Baltimore when the National Football League (NFL) released the 2013 schedule. It is safe to say that the Baltimore Ravens schedule is fair despite the absence of a Monday Night home game and opening the season on the road (despite winning Super Bowl XLVII).
A scheduling conflict prevented the Ravens from opening at home on Thursday, September 5. Instead they will head to Denver to face the Broncos for a rematch of last season’s AFC divisional playoff game.
It was surprising to learn that the Ravens will host another Thanksgiving Day game against AFC North rival Pittsburgh Steelers on November 28. It will be the second time in three years the Ravens host a prime-time holiday game.
The Ravens have two Sunday night games, the first will be played on the road against the Detroit Lions on December 16; the second is at home on December 22 against the New England Patriots in a rematch of the AFC Championship game.
Aside from not hosting the first game of the season, I am pleased with the Ravens schedule. I like the placement of the bye week on October 27, half way through the season will give them a much needed break. Also having two Thursday night games essentially gives the Ravens two mini-bye weeks since they will have 10 days between games.
The Ravens have the fifth toughest schedule in the NFL (based on 2012 records).
The schedule release fired me up; I’m ready for the 2013 season to begin!
2013 Baltimore Ravens Schedule:
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time | TV | ||||
| Thurs, Sept. 5 | at Denver Broncos | Sports Authority Field at Mile High | 8:30pm | WBAL-TV | ||||
| Sun, Sept. 15 | vs. Cleveland Browns | M&T Bank Stadium | 1:00pm | WJZ-TV | ||||
| Sun, Sept. 22 | vs. Houston Texans | M&T Bank Stadium | 1:00pm | WJZ-TV | ||||
| Sun, Sept. 29 | at Buffalo Bills | Ralph Wilson Stadium | 1:00pm | WJZ-TV | ||||
| Sun, Oct. 6 | at Miami Dolphins | Sun Life Stadium | 1:00pm | WJZ-TV | ||||
| Sun, Oct. 13 | vs. Green Bay Packers | M&T Bank Stadium | 1:00pm | WBFF-TV | ||||
| Sun, Oct. 20 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | Heinz Field | 4:25pm | WJZ-TV | ||||
| Sun, Oct. 27 | BYE | |||||||
| Sun, Nov. 3 | at Cleveland Browns | FirstEnergy Stadium | 4:25pm | WJZ-TV | ||||
| Sun, Nov. 10 | vs. Cincinnati Bengals | M&T Bank Stadium | 1:00pm | WJZ-TV | ||||
| Sun, Nov. 17 | at Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | 1:00pm* | WJZ-TV | ||||
| Sun, Nov. 24 | vs. New York Jets | M&T Bank Stadium | 1:00pm* | WJZ-TV | ||||
| Thurs, Nov. 28 | vs. Pittsburgh Steelers | M&T Bank Stadium | 8:30pm | WBAL-TV | ||||
| Sun, Dec. 8 | vs. Minnesota Vikings | M&T Bank Stadium | 1:00pm* | WBFF-TV | ||||
| Sun, Dec. 16 | at Detroit Lions | Ford Field | 8:40pm | ESPN | ||||
| Sun, Dec. 22 | vs. New England Patriots | M&T Bank Stadium | 8:30pm* | WJZ-TV | ||||
| Sun, Dec. 29 | at Cincinnati Bengals | Paul Brown Stadium | 1:00pm* | WJZ-TV |
*Flexible Time Schedule
All times Eastern.
All game times & television networks subject to change.
Zennie Abraham