The Hidden Advantages Inside The 2026 Ravens Schedule
The Hidden Advantages Inside The 2026 Ravens Schedule
There are some areas that set up better for Baltimore than you might think, and a few worse as wellJason La Canfora|
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Baltimore RavensA wise man once said it’s not just who you play, it’s when you play them.
And during these dog days of the NFL calendar – all 12 of them, or whatever – it seemed like a good time to go back into the Ravens schedule and pinpoint certain areas where the hand being dealt seems quite favorable, or otherwise. Rest and travel advantages, or disadvantages are real, and catching teams in a gauntlet of games against playoff teams matters, too.
There were four games or clusters of games that stood out, mostly in the Ravens’ favor. And with the sportsbooks so bullish on them and very little complaints coming out of The Castle about the schedule release, that’s not surprising. On paper, things set up quite well.
I still believe they come up short of the Bengals for the division but land in the playoffs as a Wild Card, but injuries will certainly play a big role in that. And factors that cannot be accounted for in June.
Week 5 at Atlanta
The first four weeks is going to be pretty elementary for most teams, coming out of camp and dealing with similar early-season challenges. But this game is worth highlighting because the Falcons – who need a lot of help and probably won’t be going with an NFL-caliber starting QB here – are in a unique sequence with a new head coach.
The rebuilding-ish team is coming off back-to-back road, primetime games. One against a division rival that evaluators I trust believe is on a real upswing in New Orleans and at Lambeau Field the week before that. That’s a Monday game after a Thursday game and now Atlanta is back at home on a Sunday. Some execs believe it’s the second week back after international travel when teams suffer – and maybe that applies to the Ravens here off a trip in Week 3 to Brazil to face the Cowboys – but this feels tricky for Atlanta.
Weeks 7 and 8
The Ravens play consecutive games against top Super Bowl contenders coming off a bye. Hmm.
They host the Bengals after a Cincinnati bye and a game with the rebuilding Dolphins before that. And the Ravens go to Buffalo in Week 8, with the Bills coming off a bye, with what will likely be an extended stay out West before that, playing at the Raiders and Rams.
Would have loved to get Buffalo coming straight back home without that rest in between. But you can’t win ‘em all.
Weeks 10 and 11
The Ravens catch the Chargers in just a brutal stretch of games here where they might be running out of a little gas, even with a bye in between. This game could be a Wild Card elimination contest of sorts, and it has to be circled regardless for the Jesse Minter vs Jim Harbaugh subplot. It comes after LA faced playoff teams in the Texans, Rams, (bye), Chiefs, Broncos, Seahawks and Bills in succession.
Baltimore travels to Carolina in Week 12, with the upstart Panthers coming off an early bye to have faced the Steelers, Buccaneers, Packers, Broncos and Saints before hoisting the Ravens. That’s a much tougher stretch than anything they went through to win the NFC South last season. The Saints are going to be better and the Bucs might be, too. Could be catching them at the right time; Carolina has been exceedingly better at home than on the road with quarterback Bryce Young.
Weeks 14 and 15
The next NFC South foe for the Ravens also seems to come at a perfect time for Baltimore. The Ravens are off the bye and the Bucs will be a month removed from their week off, facing the Lions Panthers and Chargers in the interim. Getting any team at home when you come off a bye that late in the season is already a boon, and Tampa’s defense might be a little ragged here.
In Week 15 the Ravens go to Pittsburgh, which tends to be a house of horrors no matter when. However, the Steelers are coming in off a stretch against four straight playoff teams – Jaguars, Texans, Broncos and Eagles – with a trip to the Bengals before that. Is Aaron Rodgers going to hold up against those defenses to even make it to this outing? I’m not so sure.
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Published 11 hours ago
JASON LA CANFORAJason has covered sports professionally for newspapers, websites and broadcast networks since 1996 and have covered the NFL extensively for The Washington Post, CBS Sports and The NFL Network from 2004-2025.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
