1:02 pm
September 25

Ravens @ Patriots

Who will WIN this matchup?

Baltimore Ravens (1-1)

@ New England Patriots (1-1)

 

Current odds:

Baltimore Ravens: (-145)

New England Patriots: (+122)

 

• The spread for this game is Ravens by 2.5 points.

• Lamar Jackson threw for 318 yards, rushed for another 119 and accounted for four touchdowns last week. But his performance still wasn’t enough to lead his Baltimore Ravens over the Miami Dolphins. Now Baltimore will be looking for a different result against another AFC East foe as it clashes with the New England Patriots on Sunday afternoon in Foxborough, Mass.

• All eyes will be on the Ravens’ defense, a unit that just allowed a whopping 547 yards of total offense in the 42-38 loss to Miami. The secondary was especially bad, allowing Tua Tagovailoa to throw for 469 yards and six touchdowns. Four of those touchdowns came in the fourth quarter alone.

• Things might not be getting easier, though, as the Ravens (1-1) will be forced to slow down a New England receiving corps that looked stellar in a 17-14 Week 2 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

• Nelson Agholor finished with six receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown, and Jakobi Meyers hauled in nine of his 13 targets for 95 yards. That success through the air caused the running game to flourish, allowing the Patriots (1-1) to run out the clock late in the fourth quarter. Meyers did not participate in Wednesday’s practice because of a knee injury, though.

• Perhaps Baltimore can learn a thing or two from New England’s ability to bounce back from a loss to the Dolphins. The Patriots dropped their season opener against Miami, but their defense fared much better than the Ravens did against the electric offense down in South Beach. New England’s defense has been among the league’s best through the first two weeks of the season, allowing just 34 points and the fourth-fewest yards per game (275).

• New England might be defending those schemes without safety Kyle Duggar (knee), who is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game.

• Safeties Joshuah Bledsoe (groin) and Adrian Phillips (ribs), defensive backs Jalen Mills (hamstring) and Cody Davis (calf), linebacker Raekwon McMillan (thumb), defensive linemen Davon Godchaux (back) and DeMarcus Mitchell (knee) as well as Meyers (knee) are listed as questionable.

• Baltimore had Jackson back throwing passes at Thursday’s practice after he was limited with a right elbow strain on Wednesday. Jackson also was a full participant in practice on Friday.

• Running back J.K. Dobbins (knee), defensive backs Marlon Humphrey (groin), Brandon Stephens (quad) and Damarion Williams (ankle), tight end Isaiah Likely (groin), cornerback Marcus Peters (knee), wide receiver James Proche II (groin) are listed as questionable for Sunday’s game.

• Left tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle) was downgraded from doubtful to out on Saturday.

4/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Baltimore Ravens