The Ravens will return to the practice field for training camp in just 10 days. The first preseason game is less than a month away.
The 2015 season is rapidly approaching, and the Ravens have their eyes set on another strong season.
So, let's look at some of the statistical milestones to keep an eye on this year.
13,900 receiving yards
Veteran Steve Smith Sr. has built an incredible resume throughout his 14 seasons in the NFL. He's entering this year ranked 14th in league history with 13,262 receiving yards. Getting into the top 10 is certainly in sight for Smith, and he needs 638 yards this season to make that happen. Hall of Famer Cris Carter currently sits at 10th on the all-time list with 13,899 yards.
100 sacks
Outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil led the Ravens with 17 sacks last season, and another strong year would put him in elite company. The veteran pass rusher needs 10 sacks to reach 100 for his career, which would put him alongside teammate Terrell Suggs in the century club. When Suggs reached that milestone last season, Dumervil said it was a "gold jacket" kind of accolade. Now Dumervil is eyeing the 100-sack mark himself in 2015.
5,839 yards
Last year's offense was the best in team history, but quarterback Joe Flacco thinks the group could be even better in 2015. The Ravens need 5,839 total yards to top last year's overall output. The bar is high for new Offensive Coordinator Marc Trestman, but the Ravens clearly have high expectations for what they can accomplish this year. * *
100%
Kicker Justin Tucker has converted 97-of-108 field-goal attempts during his first three seasons, making him the most accurate kicker in NFL history (minimum of 100 attempts). Dallas' Dan Bailey is right behind him with an accuracy percentage of 89.76%, so Tucker doesn't have any room for error in order to maintain the distinction as the league's most accurate kicker. "I'm going to try to make all my kicks," Tucker said before last year. "What else am I doing out here? I'm not out here thinking it's okay to miss."
40 games
The Ravens defense hasn't allowed a 100-yard rusher in 26 straight games. The last running back to top 100 yards against Baltimore was Green Bay's Eddie Lacy in 2013. This is the longest current streak in the NFL, but the Ravens still have plenty of work ahead of them to match a franchise best. The team record is 39 straight games without a 100-yard rusher (2006-2009), so the Ravens would have to clamp down against the run for the first 14 games to top that mark.
3 interceptions
Suggs has made his mark as a pass rusher throughout his career, but the 13-year veteran has more tools in his repertoire than just getting after the quarterback. If Suggs manages to come up with three interceptions this year – his career high was two in 2011 – then that would give him 10 for his career. Suggs would then join Julius Peppers as the only two players in NFL history with at least 100 sacks and 10 interceptions.
