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The Ravens will open this season without having to face one of the star linebackers from a year ago.
Denver's Von Miller lost his appeal and will serve a six-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. A day ago, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Miller's suspension was a result of initially spilling a urine sample before giving a diluted sample after the fact.
This would explain the six-game suspension as opposed to one that's either four or eight games. Former Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams, now with the Bears, received six games for providing a sample of non-human urine.
For the Ravens, it means they won't have to face one of the NFL's rising defensive stars who recorded 18.5 sacks in 2012. However, only 0.5 of those sacks came against the Ravens in two meetings.
Without Miller in the lineup, the Ravens should be able to protect Joe Flacco longer in the pocket. In the running game, it could free more lanes in the second level. Think about it like this: Denver's two best defenders from 2012 won't be there for the season-opener. And one of them, Elvis Dumervil, is playing for Baltimore now.
Advantage, Ravens.
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