Zachary PerelesAug 27, 2026
In a 'fact or fiction' piece after the Ravens-Commanders joint practice, the unbylined writer argues Baltimore's defense will finish as a top-five unit, and rejects the notion that rookie Ja'Kobi Lane has passed Rashod Bateman, saying Bateman remains the Ravens' No. 2 receiver behind Zay Flowers.
Published in writing · CBS SportsRead the original
What Zachary Pereles said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromBut Bateman is still ahead of him.
- Where it was published
- CBS Sports
- The piece
- Commanders offense called 'worst I've ever seen' in years: Fact or fiction from joint practice vs. Ravens
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Position Group Rankings“The Ravens' defense will be a top-five unit: Fact”
- 2Rashod Bateman to be 2nd on the depth chart“After Flowers (who was out Wednesday), Bateman is still the No. 2 receiver.”
- 3Ja'Kobi Lane to be 3rd on the depth chart“Ja'Kobi Lane has surpassed Rashod Bateman: Fiction ... Lane will play plenty ... But Bateman is still ahead of him.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| “The Ravens' defense will be a top-five unit: Fact”1 | Position Group Rankings | — | — | — | — | |
| Rashod Bateman to be 2nd on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Ja'Kobi Lane to be 3rd on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 3 calls · 3 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
3 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls and 1 position group ranking — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 3 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
Where this call stands in the room
Ja'Kobi Lane · 2026 season16 calls from 11 pundits between 1 and 3. Zachary Pereles said 3. the room's median is 3. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
1Position Group RankingsBaltimore Ravens
“The Ravens' defense will be a top-five unit: Fact”
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Depth Chart CallsRashod BatemanBaltimore Ravens
Rashod Bateman to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Depth Chart CallsJa'Kobi LaneBaltimore Ravens
Ja'Kobi Lane to be 3rd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Nathan Jahnke · Trade and Signing Calls · Jacoby Brissett · Hit 100
In a Week 9 recap, Jahnke expects Mark Andrews to remain Baltimore's lead tight end but says rookie Matt Hibner is more likely than Josh Cuevas to eventually overtake them, and they anticipate the Ravens acquiring Jacoby Brissett to start at quarterback. They also suggest Brian Thomas Jr. may have played their final game for Jacksonville ahead of the trade deadline.Nic Bodiford · Depth Chart Calls · Joe Fagnano · Hit 100
Previewing Week 9 running game matchups, Bodiford expects Jacksonville to win lopsidedly over a depleted Baltimore team, with Bhayshul Tuten sitting out and Chris Rodriguez taking over as lead back, while Joe Fagnano starts at quarterback for the Ravens. They also view Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman as an RB2 going forward.Mike Florio · Roster Spot Calls · Jake Moody · Miss 0
Florio expects Jake Moody to be promoted from Baltimore's practice squad to the 53-man roster if Tyler Loop lands on injured reserve.John Breech · Trade and Signing Calls · Jacoby Brissett · Hit 100
Breech picks the Jaguars to blow out the quarterback-depleted Ravens on Thursday night, and in Week 9 takes the Bengals to outlast the Falcons in a Madrid shootout. They also expect Jacoby Brissett to be a Raven within 48 hours and to make their first Baltimore start in Week 11.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Michael Moore · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
In a Week 9 injury roundup, Moore forecast which banged-up fantasy contributors would play or sit: Deshaun Watson, Garrett Wilson, David Montgomery, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrance Ferguson are expected out, while Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Michael Wilson, Christian Watson and Emeka Egbuka should play. They also expect Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback.Jacob Herlin · Depth Chart Calls · J.J. McCarthy · Hit 100
Herlin published Week 7 fantasy D/ST rankings with projections for 28 team defenses, led by Houston, Minnesota and Cleveland. They also expect Cleveland to post a fourth straight top-10 fantasy defense result, and predicts Jalon Daniels starts another week for Tampa Bay while J.J. McCarthy takes over as the Giants' starter.