Preseason Opponents Announced

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh will make his official debut in purple and black when his team kicks off the 2008 preseason campaign at the New England Patriots. The game will take place during the opening weekend of the preseason, Aug. 7-11 (exact dates have yet to be announced).

Fans will have to wait until a Week 2 (Aug. 14-18) meeting with the Minnesota Vikings in Baltimore to give their new coach an M&T Bank Stadium welcome.

The Ravens will also take on the Rams in St. Louis during Week 3 (Aug. 21-25) before a preseason finale at home against the Atlanta Falcons (Aug. 28-29).

“It’s exciting to know who we’ll face in the preseason,” said Harbaugh. “This is the first step to solidifying our team. We’ve got some great opponents that will test us early, including an always-strong New England squad on the road. The preseason is a terrific opportunity to develop your team and its character.

“This schedule will help us lay a solid foundation.”

Harbaugh previously spent 10 years with the Philadelphia Eagles as a special teams coordinator and secondary coach. During that stint, Harbaugh played in Baltimore seven times, so he is familiar with a pro-Ravens crowd.

“We’re really looking forward to playing in front of our fans for the first time when we host Minnesota,” he said. “M&T Bank Stadium is always electric, and everybody knows what Ravens fans are all about. It’ll be exciting to feel their energy and passion.”

Of course, Harbaugh’s focus will be more on the players than his sideline reception. The preseason presents the perfect opportunity to evaluate talent. The Ravens will likely enter the matchup with the Patriots holding a full 80-man roster, but that number will be cut to 53 days after the Falcons leave Charm City.

While it is common for key veterans to defer to unproven prospects in preseason action, there are excellent opportunities for scouting players who look to earn those precious few final roster spots and perhaps contribute to the club’s future.

“Though these games may not be as crucial for some of our veterans, the younger guys will benefit from them greatly,” explained Harbaugh. “Certainly, fans will see the toughness, physicality and discipline our team will play with this season.”

Baltimore has never played the Patriots or Rams in the preseason, while the Ravens are 0-1 against the Vikings and 3-2 against the Falcons in preseason contests.