Bart Scott believes the Baltimore Ravens are the favorites to win the division.
Entering Week 7, the Ravens are tied atop the AFC North with the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers. Baltimore, of course, is coming off a tough Week 6 loss to the Browns, 13-10, after leading much of the game. That loss came without Lamar Jackson, as the Ravens started their second straight game without the two-time MVP.
It's uncertain whether Jackson will suit up against the Cincinnati Bengals in a big Week 7 matchup as he deals with an ankle sprain. As the Ravens hope for the return of their franchise quarterback, Scott, a former All-Pro selection and Pro Bowler, said Baltimore is the team to beat in the division when Jackson is healthy.
"I just feel good for the long term health of the Baltimore Ravens with Lamar Jackson," said Scott in a one-on-one interview. "Eventually, he'll come back, he'll be dynamic, and Jacoby Lane coming off for the injury. he's going to add a different element. Rashod Bateman, we got to admit we fucked up by letting Isaiah Likely leave and keeping Mark Andrews, who got the yips right now. But King Henry, we still got a year or two of King Henry, so I feel good to be a Raven, and that the Ravens are going to find a way to win the division once Lamar gets back and gets healthy."
The Ravens have two late-season matchups against the Steelers that could very well dictate the division in Week 15 and Week 18. Scott downplays the Bengals and Browns as a threat and is confident Baltimore is the superior team over Pittsburgh.
"I think it'll be a fair fight if we see the Steelers again," said Scott. "None of us take the the Browns seriously until we have to. And Joe Burrow, he'll get appendicitis or a toenail. The Browns beat the Steelers and Ravens, which is crazy. They'll find a way to f*** it up. He'll sneeze hard and break a rib or something."
Scott maintains the Ravens have what it takes to win in the playoffs, mentioning their offensive and defensive stars. Baltimore ranks seventh in offense despite missing Jackson for the past two games, and their losses have been by one possession.
The Ravens are looking to return to the playoffs after missing it last season because they lost to the Steelers in the regular-season finale.
"The Ravens have the ammunition to be able to win in the playoffs," said Scott. "They can run the ball. They can play great defense. Roquan (Smith) is an impact player, and Kyle Hamilton is regarded one of the best, if not the best safety in football. Definitely top five."
Scott is hosting a new podcast through Playmaker with his former division rival and Pittsburgh Steelers star, Willie Colon. The two former rivals have become great friends in their post-playing careers and talk about a range of topics, including getting older, everyday topics and of course, football. Scott shows off his trademark quick wit, sarcastic humor while Colon bounces off of it with his own set of humor.
“He’s self-deprecating, I’m self-deprecating, he doesn’t take himself too seriously,” said Scott. “We both look like intimidating people, but we’re really softies. Let’s push inside of our arena. It was just natural, right? Even before we were approached by Playmaker, we were trying to do something together on our own, and we were talking about it. We were meeting with producers and trying to put something because we understood the evolution of this space, right? The only job security you truly have is really when you secure something and own it yourself.”
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Bart Scott on why Ravens are the favorites to win the AFC North