Expert predictions for Ravens vs. Colts: Who’s winning the season opener?

The Ravens will open their season at 1 p.m. Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Here are game predictions from The Banner’s sports staff and a guest picker.

Early returns

Kyle Goon, columnist: When I see the Ravens at the end of training camp, I see a team that thinks it is closer to being where it belongs. Last season was a blow to this team’s pride, and neither side of the ball was as good as the talent indicated. I think starting Sunday, we’ll see a shift there for the better.

Everything about this game is about who can control the run. In Derrick Henry and Jonathan Taylor, you have two of the best running backs in the NFL. But since Henry is paired with Lamar Jackson (a play-action nightmare), the Ravens should be well positioned to pound the rock a lot more than Taylor with Daniel Jones, whose mobility should be limited as he comes back from an Achilles injury. The Colts’ defensive front is traditionally strong, but DeForest Buckner is starting to age, and I’m thinking the physicality of a retooled Ravens line, and Henry’s brute rushing style, should be too much to handle for Indy in the opener.

Ravens 23, Colts 13

Defense sets the tone

Giana Han, reporter: I expect the Ravens’ defense to be ahead of their offense, much like it was in training camp. While the Ravens’ offense has a high ceiling, Lamar Jackson and most of their other starters have never run Declan Doyle’s system in a real game situation. The defense sat starters in the preseason, too, but Jesse Minter’s system is much closer to predecessor Zach Orr’s than Doyle’s is to Todd Monken’s. The Ravens’ talent at quarterback and running back should be enough to overpower any deficiencies against the Colts, but this won’t be another 40-point showing like last year’s season opener.

Ravens 27, Colts 14

Strength up the middle

Jonas Shaffer, reporter: Don’t overlook the Colts. Indianapolis had the NFL’s best offense over the first two months of the 2025 season, and most of its key pieces are back. But the Ravens have one clear advantage over a team that can hunt explosive plays: a potentially elite defensive spine. Travis Jones, Calais Campbell, Roquan Smith, Kyle Hamilton and Malaki Starks, among others, are a step above Indianapolis’ middle-of-the-field offerings. Lamar Jackson and Zay Flowers have the health advantage over Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce, too. Week 1 games can have the roughness of preseason games, but the Ravens looked dialed in throughout August.

Ravens 27, Colts 21

The injury advantage

Childs Walker, contributor: There are reasons to pick the home underdog. The Colts have premium front-seven talent in defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and defensive end Laiatu Latu. They hung 38 points on Jesse Minter’s Chargers defense last October, with quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Jonathan Taylor operating efficiently. If the Ravens aren’t up to speed in their new offense and defense, they could start 0-1. That said, Jones and his top receiver, Alec Pierce, are both coming off significant injuries, and Minter, in his debut calling defensive plays for the Ravens, has the tools to make life miserable for a quarterback who might not be at his best. Expect a nervous first three quarters, but Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry will come up with enough explosive plays in Declan Doyle’s offense to start the team’s new era with a win.

Ravens 27, Colts 20

Just win, baby

Brandon Weigel, editor: An offseason of immense change has built to this. As we’ve written about over the course of the summer, there’s a new coaching staff, a new offensive scheme built more on timing and some new faces on the roster. The Super Bowl hype, however, remains the same. I’m not quite sure the Ravens will look like world-beaters out of the gate, not with all this newness. Some of the finer points are likely still being ironed out. The changes to Lamar Jackson’s footwork? A new interior offensive line relying on a rookie guard and a fourth-year center making his first career start? A defensive front that may be without its best inside presence? There are sure to be some hiccups. Even with all those questions, Baltimore is still a much more talented team, and that should be enough.

Ravens 23, Colts 21

Guest pick

James Boyd, The Athletic: Ravens center Jovaughn Gwyn will make his first NFL start in the season opener, and Colts nose tackle Grover Stewart is likely champing at the bit to get after the newbie. Indianapolis should have the clear advantage in that matchup, but future Hall of Famers Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry still headline Baltimore’s offense.

In fact, Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo is very familiar with Jackson, whom he faced twice a year when he was the Bengals’ DC. Jackson is 9-1 against Anarumo, throwing 22 touchdowns against just three picks in their matchups.

On the home side, Colts quarterback Daniel Jones, who is nine months removed from having surgery to repair his right Achilles tendon, looked fully healthy leading up to the season. I don’t think Jones’ Pro Bowl-caliber play amid Indy’s 8-2 start last year (before he got injured) was a fluke. However, it’s still hard for me to think he’ll outplay Jackson, even as the Ravens deploy their revamped offense under new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle.

Ravens 27, Colts 23