Let’s be honest. The NFL’s schedule release always feels like a bit of a letdown.

The opponents on Baltimore’s slate have been known for a long time. The Ravens have known, for example, that they have the second-toughest schedule (by last year’s winning percentage) on the docket, in what could be again the NFL’s most difficult division.

Even so, Wednesday night had to feel somewhat deflating. They have an especially difficult set of circumstances, with the latest possible bye week, a wildly tight window of three December games and unusual scheduling for a majority of the season (they play just seven games at the 1 p.m. Sunday timeslot, a consequence of being one of the league’s most exciting teams).

Even though we knew so much before the official schedule was released, we learned a lot more about how the 2024 season lays out for the Ravens.

The Ravens’ first month pops off the schedule, not just for the level of contenders — Kansas City, Dallas and Buffalo among them — but who is slinging the ball. Patrick Mahomes, Dak Prescott and Josh Allen each finished in the top 7 of MVP voting behind Jackson and are likely to be in the mix again this season. They’ll all get a shot at Baltimore, and a chance to outshine the reigning MVP, in September.

Jackson is traditionally strong to start the season, with a 13-7 record in September anchored by 30 passing touchdowns and just 7 interceptions. After setting career highs in passing yards, completions and completion percentage last season while coming just a vote shy of a second unanimous MVP, we’ll see how a notably slimmer Jackson translates going into his second year in Todd Monken’s offense.