There are plenty of reasons to talk about the Baltimore Ravens this August. With Lamar Jackson at quarterback and a healthier roster, the Ravens could be poised for a Super Bowl push.
In recent days, however, the team’s preseason winning streak has been the headline grabber, at least in the sports betting community. Baltimore has won 21 consecutive preseason games, a streak that dates back to 2016. It’s the longest preseason winning streak since at least 1995, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
“It’s up to 21 straight wins,” Joe Osborne, a sports betting analyst with Vegas Insider, said. “You look at the last 30 overall, 26-4 against the spread, so just, like, an absolute moneymaker, right?”
How is this happening?
A combination of good players, good coaching, and good luck helps explain the Ravens’ winning streak. Winning 21 consecutive games, especially during the preseason when teams vary how long starters stay in games, requires some good fortune. Four of Baltimore’s 21 wins during the streak have come by just one point.
While necessary luck to win close games could be part of the explanation for Baltimore’s preseason dominance, Osborne says the franchise’s focus on consistent success is a likely reason for the streak.
“I do think some teams put an emphasis into actually winning and setting up that winning attitude, getting that going right out of the gate before the regular season even starts,” Osborne said.
waiting on the Ravens to lose a preseason game pic.twitter.com/E4oxJuUnQN
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) August 11, 2022
John Harbaugh has previously told the media that “winning is always good.” And backup quarterback Tyler Huntley told The Baltimore Sun after last week’s win over the Tennessee Titans that winning is part of Baltimore’s well-established culture. While other franchises might place less emphasis on preseason victories, the Ravens seem to genuinely enjoy stacking together preseason wins.
“It means a lot to the culture, just to show that we’re a winning team,” Huntley said. “And we don’t care what kind of game it is, the Ravens are going to fight to get a win.”
Baltimore’s preseason success has translated into the regular season, as the Ravens have won at least eight games in 11 of the last 12 seasons.
“Now if it was, like, the Jacksonville Jaguars who had a 21-game game win streak in the preseason, you’d be like, ‘What’s going on here?’” Osborne said. “It’s a revolving door of coaches and quarterbacks and then they go over to the regular season and it doesn’t carry over, so that wouldn’t really make sense. But I think this makes all the sense in the world here for Baltimore.”
Can the Ravens keep the streak alive?
The Ravens’ streak will be put to the test Sunday at 8 p.m. ET against the Arizona Cardinals. DraftKings lists the Ravens as 5.5-point road favorites, one of the largest spreads of any preseason game this week. BetMGM and FanDuel also have Baltimore as a 5.5-point favorite.
Osborne, a recreational gambler, still plans to back Baltimore even if the public is all over the Ravens.
“Sometimes it’s fun just to follow a trend,” he said.
Photo: Jessica Rapfogel/USA TODAY
