Baltimore @ New York preview
MetLife Stadium
Last Meeting ( Dec 12, 2019 ) N.Y. Jets 21, Baltimore 42
The Baltimore Ravens will face off against their past Sunday, when they open the season against the New York Jets.
Joe Flacco, who led the Ravens to a Super Bowl title in 2013, was named Jets starter at quarterback over the injured Zach Wilson. Flacco, however, jumps into the lineup behind a front five that is untested and hardly rates as the Jets' preferred alignment.
Baltimore knows all about Flacco, the first draft pick after the Ravens hired John Harbaugh as head coach in 2008 and eventually the MVP of the team's Super Bowl XLVII win in New Orleans.
"Joe can throw it," Ravens cornerback Marlon Humprey said. "That's one thing; when Joe wants to throw the ball deep, he'll throw it deep. He's a guy who can make all the throws. So, I think early on you have to limit what their core can do. They have some really good wide receivers; they have four really good ones, with [Corey] Davis, the first-rounder [Elijah] Moore. So, they have some pretty good guys on the outside. There are good running backs. I think keeping everything in front of us will be key."
Flacco led the Ravens to the playoffs in each of his first five years in Baltimore, ultimately going 10-5 as a starter in six postseason trips.
But in 2018, Flacco injured his hip against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 9. It opened the door for then-rookie Lamar Jackson to become the starter. Jackson didn't relinquish the spot, even when Flacco, the Ravens' starter for the past 11 seasons, returned to health.
Flacco was traded to the Broncos in 2018, and after stints with the Jets (2020) and Eagles (2021), he signed a one-year, free-agent deal with the Jets this past March.
Flacco, who has never faced Baltimore, replaces Wilson, who returned to practice on Monday for the first time since having arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee that he sustained against the Eagles on Aug. 12.
Jets coach Robert Saleh said Wilson won't return until a Week 4 game at Pittsburgh at the earliest, meaning Flacco will have an AFC North reunion tour considering the Jets face the Browns and the Bengals before facing the Steelers.
"We're rolling with Joe," Saleh said, adding Wilson won't be placed on injured reserve. "He's been preparing. He's frickin' awesome. I'm really excited for him and his opportunity. Even at 37, I know that it's in the back of his head. He's getting the chance to play Baltimore and all these different things."
In two seasons with New York, Flacco has played in seven games, including five starts, completing 57.4 percent of his passes for 1,202 yards, nine TD passes and three interceptions. But Flacco has lost seven straight starts - all five with the Jets and the last two with the Broncos - and hasn't won as a starter since leading the Broncos over the Titans 16-0 on Oct. 13, 2019.
"We have to defend their offense, and Joe's ability to play in that offense, and that's really what we're looking at," Harbaugh said. "We talked about it (and) anticipated that Joe would be the guy."
Left tackle Duane Brown (shoulder) was ruled out on Friday and could be headed for injured reserve, which means George Fant is jumping back to the left side from right tackle and rookie Max Mitchell is the starter on the right side.
On Sunday, Flacco will get a showdown with the QB who replaced him in Baltimore. Jackson, the NFL MVP in 2019, will make his much-anticipated return to the lineup since missing the final four games last season following a bone bruise in his right ankle in a Week 13 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
"I'm not going against (Flacco), the defense is," Jackson said. "I'm going against the Jets' defense, but he meant a lot (to me)."
The Ravens, who were 8-5 through 13 games, lost their final four games with Tyler Huntley under center and finished 8-9. They missed the playoffs for the first time in four seasons.
Jackson completed 64.4 percent of his passes for 2,882 yards with 16 touchdowns against 13 interceptions last season. That was in addition to rushing for 767 yards and two scores on 133 carries, but he missed out on gaining 1,000 yards on the ground for the first time in three seasons.
Jackson might not be the only Ravens' starter returning from injury.
Ronnie Stanley, the team's All-Pro left tackle who hasn't played since having ankle surgery after a Week 1 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders last season, returned to practice for the first time on Monday. He was limited Wednesday and Friday and is doubtful, but expected to be a game-time decision.
Running back J.K. Dobbins and cornerback Marcus Peters are questionable to return to their first game action since season-ending knee injuries last year.
--Field Level Media