There's a reason the third preseason game is called the "dress rehearsal" for NFL teams.
Starters and other key players usually take the field for at least two quarters -- often times, playing into the third -- it is the one game that's truly indicative of how a team is going to perform throughout the course of the coming season, as opposed to a squad's total preseason record.
The Ravens, heartened by a roster that is gradually getting healthy, know this all too well as they prepare for this year's third preseason game against the Detroit Lions Aug. 27, because this formula has held true much more often than not during the years.
