So, you’re trying to figure out what time do the Ravens play because you either need to prep the wings or you’re worried about missing the kickoff while stuck in traffic on I-95. It’s the classic Sunday morning scramble. Honestly, the answer usually depends on whether the NFL thinks Lamar Jackson is going to break the internet that week or if the Ravens are stuck in a regional broadcast slot that only people in Maryland and Delaware care about.
Most weeks, you’re looking at a 1:00 PM ET kickoff. That’s the meat and potatoes of the AFC North. But the Ravens aren't just a "regional" team anymore. They are a primetime magnet. This means that "what time do the Ravens play" can shift wildly from a 9:30 AM London wakeup call to an 8:20 PM Sunday Night Football marathon that leaves you exhausted at work on Monday morning.
Checking the Current Ravens Schedule
If you are looking for the very next game, the Baltimore Ravens typically see their schedule flexed more than almost any other team in the league. For the current 2025-2026 cycle, the league has leaned heavily into late-afternoon windows for Baltimore.
The most reliable way to get the exact minute of kickoff is to check the official NFL app or the Ravens' team site, but there's a trick to it. The "start time" isn't when the ball flies. If the schedule says 1:00 PM, the kick is usually around 1:02 PM. If it’s a primetime game on NBC or ESPN, expect a massive amount of pageantry that pushes the actual football back by ten or fifteen minutes.
The Standard Kickoff Windows
Usually, you can categorize the Ravens' start times into four buckets:
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- The Early Window: 1:00 PM ET. This is your standard home game at M&T Bank Stadium against teams like the Browns or the Bengals.
- The Late Afternoon Window: 4:05 PM or 4:25 PM ET. These happen when the Ravens travel out West to face teams like the Chargers or Raiders, or when CBS wants to protect a "Game of the Week" matchup.
- Primetime: 8:15 PM or 8:20 PM ET. Thursday, Sunday, or Monday Night Football. If the Ravens are playing a high-stakes game against the Chiefs or the Bills, clear your evening.
- International: 9:30 AM ET. These are rare but brutal if you aren't a morning person.
Why the Start Time Changes (The Flex Scheduling Mystery)
You might have looked at the schedule in August and seen a 1:00 PM start, only to realize the week of the game that it’s now a night game. That’s "Flex Scheduling." The NFL is a business, and they want the most eyeballs on the best players. Since the Ravens have a perennial MVP candidate in the backfield, they get flexed. A lot.
Starting in Week 5, the NFL can move games from Sunday afternoon to Sunday night. By Week 12, they can even flex games into Monday Night Football. This is why you can't always trust the magnet on your fridge from three months ago. If you're asking what time do the Ravens play for a game that is still three weeks away, treat that time as "subject to change."
Television Networks and Your Local Blackout
The network determines the time as much as the league does. CBS usually handles the AFC games. However, since the "cross-flex" rules were introduced a few years back, you might find the Ravens on FOX more often than you’d expect.
If you’re out of market, the time matters even more. A 1:00 PM game on CBS might be blacked out in your area if your local team is playing on FOX at the same time. This is where things like NFL Sunday Ticket or NFL+ become mandatory for the "Flock" members living outside of the DMV area.
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The Rituals of M&T Bank Stadium
If you are actually going to the game, the time on the ticket is barely half the story. The parking lots—specifically Lot H and Lot J—open five hours before kickoff. If the Ravens play at 1:00 PM, the party starts at 8:00 AM.
You’ve got the Ravens Walk, which is basically a massive party between Oriole Park and M&T Bank Stadium. It’s got live music, food trucks, and a bunch of former players signing autographs. It opens three hours before the game. So, if the kickoff is 1:00 PM, you really want to be in the vicinity by 10:00 AM if you want the full experience.
Getting Through Security
The Ravens are pretty strict about the clear bag policy. Don't be the person who gets to the gate at 12:50 PM for a 1:00 PM game with a backpack. You’ll miss the intro. The "Marching Ravens" band and the player intros with the pyrotechnics usually happen about 15-20 minutes before the actual kickoff time.
Weather Impacts on Kickoff
Baltimore weather is famously unpredictable. A little rain won't stop the game, but lightning will. In the event of a lightning delay, the "what time do the Ravens play" question becomes a rolling target.
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The NFL requires a 30-minute clear window after the last lightning strike before players can return to the field. We’ve seen games in Baltimore delayed by hours. If the clouds look dark over the Inner Harbor, keep an eye on the local beat reporters on X (formerly Twitter). Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic is usually the gold standard for real-time updates on delays or schedule shifts.
The Strategy of the Bye Week
Sometimes the answer to "what time do they play" is: they don't.
Every team gets one bye week between Week 5 and Week 14. For the Ravens, this is a critical time for recovery, especially given the physical rushing style of their offense. Fans usually hate the bye week because it ruins a Sunday, but it’s the only time you can actually plan a brunch without checking your phone every three seconds for a score update.
Actionable Steps for Ravens Fans
Don't get caught off guard by a schedule change or a weird streaming exclusive. Here is how you stay on top of the timing:
- Sync your digital calendar: Go to the Ravens official website and use their "Sync to Calendar" feature. It updates automatically if the NFL flexes a game from 1:00 PM to 8:20 PM.
- Check the "Coverage Map": On Wednesdays before the game, check 506 Sports. They post maps showing which parts of the country will get the Ravens game on their local CBS or FOX affiliate.
- Account for the "Prime Video" Factor: If the Ravens play on Thursday night, it is almost exclusively on Amazon Prime. The "kickoff" time is 8:15 PM ET, but the pre-game starts much earlier.
- Set Alerts for Injury Reports: Often, the "active/inactive" list comes out 90 minutes before the start time. This is when you'll know if the stars are actually suited up.
The NFL schedule is a moving target designed for maximum TV revenue. While 1:00 PM ET remains the heart of Ravens football, always verify the "Flex" status of games in the second half of the season. Knowing the time is the difference between seeing the opening drive and catching the highlights on a grainy social media clip later that night.