None of that shows up on a stat sheet yet — it's projection built on offseason moves and a coaching change, which is exactly why the price on this one leans so hard toward Baltimore. Jackson, Derrick Henry, Mark Andrews and Zay Flowers give the Ravens offense a proven core that doesn't need Doyle to reinvent anything from scratch, even in a debut season for the new staff.
Both clubs stumbled to the finish line last year. The Ravens dropped 2 of their last 3, including a January loss in Pittsburgh, while the Colts closed on a 5-game skid that included a 48-27 blowout loss to San Francisco and a 38-30 defeat in Houston. Neither finish tells you much about September, but it's the backdrop both fan bases are trying to move past.
The injury picture leans Baltimore's way for now — Jackson, Henry and the receiving corps are all full-go heading into the year, with only depth pieces like Corey Bullock and Rashod Bateman drawing real question marks. Indianapolis has more moving parts to track: Jones' availability is still technically unconfirmed for a game this early in the season, and roles behind him and around Jonathan Taylor are still shaking out.
Add it up and this reads like a measuring-stick game for two teams that know exactly what didn't work last year and spent the offseason trying to fix it — Baltimore with a defensive splash, Indianapolis with a bet on health. Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM ET.