Summertime superiority – Baltimore Ravens Blog

BALTIMORE — Josh Woodrum In the last few years, he has been a sales associate with a building supplies company and a master fitter for an exclusive golf manufacturer.

His former job is often mentioned.

“Didn’t you play for the Ravens at one point?” a customer will ask.

Woodrum, aged 29, was a player for seven NFL clubs, including 13 months in Baltimore. However, he never played in a regular-season match. This distinction is his — he has had as big an impact as anyone. Lamar Jackson One particular Ravens win streak.

Baltimore will open the preseason Thursday night. The Ravens have won 20 consecutive preseason games. This surpasses the Vince Lombardi-coached record. Green Bay PackersFrom 1959 to 1962, he won 19 consecutive championships. Although the official record is unknown, Baltimore’s streak is the longest by any team confirmed by the Elias Sports Bureau since 1995.

The reason this streak has lasted six years isn’t because Ravens coach John Harbaugh plays his starters longer than other teams. It’s because Woodrum and other bubble players for Baltimore have repeatedly proven they’re better than the other teams’ reserve players in the second half.

Woodrum played in seven games during Baltimore’s preseason run, completing 67% of his passes (37-of-55) and recording a 102.2 passer rating. Woodrum’s first pass to the Ravens in 2017 was a 33 yard touchdown to wide receiver. Tim White Washington. Woodrum ran for 14 yards the next time he played. He threw a touchdown pass of 15 yards to running back a week later. Taquan MizzellThe game’s winner was the, Buffalo Bills.

“It’s not just winning for the Ravens,” Woodrum said. “It’s kind of putting a stamp on your career and putting something on your résumé. Even though it is considered the end of the game, you came in and played. That doesn’t matter. For half of the roster, it really matters because that’s the only playing time they’re going to be able to get. In that aspect, it’s super important.”

The Ravens have heard others rib them for thinking this streak is special when it’s not recognized by the NFL record books and has occurred during the part of the league calendar when the games don’t technically count.

But Baltimore takes pride in the fact that the team’s last preseason loss was Sept. 3, 2015. There’s also a sense of widespread accomplishment when counting up the number of players who’ve helped this summertime superiority.

During the Ravens’ preseason streak …

• Twelve quarterbacks have passed for the Ravens including Josh Johnson Jerrod Johnson.

• There have been 35 players who’ve scored touchdowns, including De’Lance Turner’s 65-yard run and Kai Nacua’s 23-yard interception return.

• There have been 25 players who’ve forced turnovers, including Pro Bowl fullback Patrick Ricard’s two forced fumbles (when he played defensive line) and Stanley Jean-Baptiste’s two interceptions. “I think it’s a testament to [current general manager] Eric [DeCosta]Harbs [John Harbaugh] [former GM] Ozzie [Newsome] and the way they build the roster,” said kicker Justin TuckerHe is one of three current Ravens players who have spanned the entire preseason win streak. “Our 90-man roster has really, really good depth. All of those men can play. “Many Ravens were unaware of the streak until this week when reporters brought it up. They couldn’t guess how many games in a row Baltimore had won or how many years the run has been going on.

  This shouldn’t come as a surprise considering the roster turnover. In the past two offseasons, there have been 59 new players through draft, free agency, or trade (65%).

  “I don’t even want to talk about [the streak], because I don’t want anything to happen,” Ricard said, obviously leery of jinxing his team. “I think it’s a really cool streak. It just shows that we’re always a ready team when it comes to the preseason.”

  The Ravens’ August dynasty continues into the regular season. Baltimore is currently fourth in league September records since 2016, when the streak began.

  The preseason could see a change of routine at training camp. Ravens placed 25 players on injured reserve last season. They have reduced their full-contract drills to try and reduce injury risk. Baltimore has been using plays against air (no defenses) more often than ever before.

  “That’s kind of what we’re chasing: execution before physicality,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll see how it goes and we’ll see how good we are, especially early in the [regular] season.”

  The Bills currently hold the second-longest preseason winning streak, with eight wins in a row. To surpass Baltimore’s current standing, Buffalo would need to win every preseason contest through 2025 before winning the opener in 2026.

  Baltimore must beat the Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals Washington Commanders to record its sixth consecutive perfect preseason (covid-19 prevented there from being any preseason games in 2020).

  Baltimore’s unusual streak of success has been noticed by professional gamblers even though they don’t typically generate much action in the preseason.

  Doug Kezirian, an ESPN sports betting analyst, stated that “from the oddsmakers I have spoken to, sportsbooks don’t take much preseason activity from recreational public bettors even with a crazy streak like this.” It’s not like the house has been taken a beating. The preseason is a great time to bet on Baltimore.

  “In fact, their 18-2 record in spite of the point spread is even more impressive when you consider the spread is supposed make the game a coin flip outcome.”

  Woodrum, who lives in the Philadelphia area, will be monitoring the Ravens’ summer success, much like many of the other players who have suited up during this run.

  “I kind of have a soft spot for them,” said Woodrum, who has a Ravens helmet and jersey displayed in his basement. “They were always good to me. You can’t play in the league forever, but my time there was great.”