Niner Noise
FanSided

Ranking the 49ers’ 5 most exciting games on 2019 NFL schedule

By Peter Panacy

Richard Sherman #25 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
Richard Sherman #25 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – AUGUST 07: Quarterback Tyrod Taylor #2 of the Baltimore Ravens and guard Ryan Jensen #77 of the Baltimore Ravens line up against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL pre-season game at M&T Bank Stadium on August 7, 2014 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – AUGUST 07: Quarterback Tyrod Taylor #2 of the Baltimore Ravens and guard Ryan Jensen #77 of the Baltimore Ravens line up against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL pre-season game at M&T Bank Stadium on August 7, 2014 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

No. 4: Week 13 @ Baltimore Ravens

There are a lot of interesting storylines in this late-season matchup between the 49ers and Baltimore Ravens.

Heading east in December certainly doesn’t favor the 49ers, who’ll face a still-defensively strong Ravens squad after hosting the Green Bay Packers the week before. And who knows what the weather will be like in Baltimore that time of year.

Regardless, there’s far more going on behind just the forecast.

Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman has ties to the Niners, of course, so that’s one thing to watch. But arguably the bigger storyline will be how much a factor Baltimore free safety Earl Thomas will be after signing with the Ravens, not the 49ers, as a free agent during the offseason.

Thomas was regularly viewed as one of the Niners’ top targets, although the actual priority San Francisco placed on him is a bit murky.

If Thomas is healthy, he could have one of those games where the 49ers front office winds up wishing it had targeted him more aggressively, especially considering the team has yet to establish a clear-cut option at the final line of the defense.

Oh, and Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is pretty fun to watch, too.