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The Ravens stored their AFC North title hopes alive with final week’s convincing win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. They will look to extend their probabilities of repeating as division champions once they tackle the Texans in Houston at present.
If the Ravens win their ultimate two video games, they would want the Steelers to lose considered one of their ultimate two to win the division. The Steelers host the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs within the first sport of at present’s Christmas doubleheader.
All however two of the 57 pundits we sampled predicted the Ravens (10-5) to beat the Texans (9-6), who’ve already clinched the AFC South title. NFL Community’s Daniel Jeremiah and ESPN’s Seth Wickersham are the 2 who picked Houston.
Here is what pundits are saying in regards to the sport:
The Ravens will prevail, but it surely may not be fairly.
Baltimore Positive’s Luke Jones: “Within the John Harbaugh period, the Ravens are a so-so 16-13 in video games instantly following a conflict with Pittsburgh, which ought to function a warning coming off an emotional victory and enjoying on the street on a brief week. The very last thing Baltimore desires is to comply with a victory over the Steelers by stubbing its toe, particularly if the Chiefs supply up a Christmas current earlier within the day. You by no means fairly know what to anticipate for a typical Thursday sport, and this has the added ingredient of being on a vacation, which is why I am not anticipating both workforce to be significantly sharp. That stated, I will belief the higher and extra skilled quarterback and the superior working sport to get the job executed on the street.”
The Ravens offense has the sting over the Texans’ banged-up protection.
The Baltimore Banner’s Jonas Shaffer: “The Ravens have the NFL’s best offense, in response to FTN. The Texans have the NFL’s best protection. Appears like a good battle, proper? Nicely, not when one facet is in good well being and the opposite is shifting on to emergency starters. The Ravens’ solely actual query mark is large receiver Zay Flowers’ shoulder harm, however Coach John Harbaugh was optimistic Sunday that he can be obtainable. The Texans? They’re down a beginning linebacker, two beginning slot cornerbacks and certain a beginning defensive deal with. Oh, and star defensive finish Will Anderson Jr. may not be totally wholesome, both.”
If the sport is a shootout, the Texans will not be capable of sustain with the Ravens.
CBS Sports’ John Breech: “The Texans have struggled this yr when a sport turns right into a shootout and there is a good probability that is going to occur towards the Ravens. Baltimore is averaging 30.1 factors per sport, which is not excellent news for a Texans workforce that is 1-6 this season when their opponent scores 22 factors or extra.”
Shedding WR Tank Dell to a season-ending harm final week shall be powerful for the Texans to beat.
NFL.com’s Brooke Cerosimo: “An enormous concern is the truth that quarterback C.J. Stroud shall be with out (one other) considered one of his high wideouts (Tank Dell) towards a Ravens go protection that has improved of late. Baltimore has allowed fewer than 200 yards via the air in 4 of its final 5 video games (with the Chargers barely clearing that threshold with 202 in Week 12) and the second-lowest passer ranking to opposing QBs (78.4) since Week 11.”
Bleacher Report’s Ian Hanford: “I simply do not see Houston placing up the factors essential to beat Baltimore right here. The Ravens common round seven factors per sport greater than Houston on the season, and C.J. Stroud simply misplaced one other weapon after Tank Dell suffered a devastating harm final week.”
The Ravens protection presents a formidable problem for the Texans offense.
The Baltimore Sun’s C.J. Doon: “C.J. Stroud must play at an MVP stage to maintain this one shut, and whereas he is definitely succesful, the Ravens ought to be capable of create sufficient stress and play tight protection to restrict Nico Collins and Houston’s depleted passing sport. Joe Mixon has additionally struggled to seek out working room not too long ago, so there aren’t many solutions towards a steadily enhancing Baltimore protection.”
Daring prediction: The Ravens will maintain the Texans beneath 14 factors.
ESPN’s Seth Walder: “From Weeks 1-9, the Ravens might barely cease the go, rating twenty eighth in EPA allowed per dropback. However from Week 10 on, they rank first in the identical class. The Texans haven’t got an ideal floor sport, regardless of a powerful begin to the season by Joe Mixon. I anticipate they will wrestle to maneuver the ball towards Baltimore.”
Derrick Henry will look to proceed his success towards the Texans.
ESPN’s Jamison Hensley: “Henry has produced 102.2 speeding yards per sport versus Houston, which is his fifth-highest common towards any workforce. Houston ranks tenth in run protection (106.8 yards allowed per sport) this season, however the Texans allowed 124 yards on the bottom to Kansas Metropolis on Sunday.”
The Ravens look to maintain tempo with the Steelers within the AFC North race in a Christmas Day matchup with the Texans
Watch our full sport preview right here:https://t.co/NKxJEZR0bb
The Athletic’s Ted Nguyen cited Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken’s utilization of Henry towards the Steelers as the most effective teaching choices of Week 16.
Nguyen defined how Monken modified his method after the Steelers held Henry to 65 yards, his second-lowest whole of the season, within the groups’ first assembly.
“The Steelers have been capable of include the Ravens’ under-center run sport in Week 11, and once they have been in shotgun, Pittsburgh neutralized the specter of Lamar Jackson preserving the ball by ‘charging the mesh,'” Nguyen wrote. “That is when the bottom defensive ends, who’re left unblocked for Jackson to learn, would fly upfield and dash straight on the quarterback.
“In Week 16, the Steelers’ technique was to unfold out the Ravens and get referred to as runs that might have Henry working north and south rapidly. Figuring out the Steelers’ edge gamers would cost the mesh quite than run flat down the road of scrimmage, Monken had proper deal with Roger Rosengarten pull and lead into the outlet for Henry. T.J. Watt ran proper towards Jackson, taking himself out of place to assist on the Henry run. Rosengarten blocked inside linebacker Patrick Queen, opening up a lane for Henry.”
Nguyen famous that within the Week 16 sport, Henry had the second-most carries from shotgun that he is ever had and probably the most speeding yards from shotgun that he is ever had with 16 carries for 113 yards (7.1 yards per carry). He completed with 24 whole rushes for 162 yards.
“Very particular tweaks like this make divisional matchups so tough to foretell,” Nguyen wrote. “Each groups know one another and the chess match is all the time fascinating.”
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer praised the Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, and Inexperienced Bay Packers for his or her shrewd method to the free agent working again market this previous offseason. These three groups knew the place was undervalued and acted accordingly.
The Ravens, Eagles, and Packers signed veteran working backs – Henry, Saquon Barkley, and Josh Jacobs, respectively – and the strikes have paid dividends. All three groups have clinched playoff berths, thanks largely to their star working backs.
“The thought the place was overvalued prevailed for thus lengthy that it really turned undervalued,” Breer wrote. “It definitely caught my consideration this offseason when the three greatest patrons on the veteran working again market — the Baltimore Ravens, Eagles and Inexperienced Bay Packers — occurred to be three perennial playoff groups that typically are forward of the curve on this stuff.
“To me, it is one other signal that what’s sensible in soccer is all the time a shifting goal. These three groups occurred to be the cats, quite than the mice.”
The Ringer’s Sheil Kapadia checked out one huge query going through every workforce within the AFC playoff image. For the Ravens, it was whether or not they’re set as much as lastly recover from the hump.
“The Ravens have made the playoffs in 5 of the final six years. Final season, for the primary time throughout that run, they obtained to the convention championship. However we nonetheless have not seen Lamar Jackson within the Tremendous Bowl,” Kapadia wrote. “Does that change this season? Any offense can have a foul efficiency in a one-off playoff sport, but it surely’s laborious to establish an precise weak point with this group.
“Not solely are the Ravens first in offensive effectivity, however they’re additionally balanced. They’re first in each passing and speeding. There’s not that one factor defenses can take away when going through the Ravens. They’ll win with the run sport or the go sport. They are often methodical or explosive. They’ll function in construction or in chaos. The pliability makes them harmful.”
Kapadia identified that If the Ravens do not declare the AFC North title, they might possible must win three street playoff video games to succeed in the Tremendous Bowl.
“Even when they swap locations with the Steelers and win the AFC North, they will nonetheless must possible win street video games in Buffalo and Kansas Metropolis,” Kapadia wrote. “Take into consideration the drama! Josh Allen and Jackson squaring off only for a shot at Patrick Mahomes. These are legacy video games that may form the offseason narratives for the quarterbacks and their respective organizations.
“The Ravens have had ‘simpler’ playoff paths in earlier seasons, however they didn’t capitalize. Generally the soccer gods function in mysterious methods. Possibly the Ravens have to overcome their previous playoff demons head-on to lastly recover from the hump.”
Solely as soon as since 1933 has an NFL workforce performed three video games in 11 days in December.
This yr, the Chiefs, Texans, Ravens and Steelers are within the midst of this grueling stretch.
That is how the gamers and groups have ready and responded to it:https://t.co/EmsovZ71Nd
Lamar Jackson on 10+ yard throws this season:
🟣 24 touchdowns (most)
⚫ 1 interception (fewest) pic.twitter.com/oDGaZkcAc0
QB seasons with 120+ Passer Ranking in NFL Historical past (min. 300 att)
2004 Peyton Manning 🏆
2011 Aaron Rodgers 🏆
2020 Aaron Rodgers 🏆
2024 Lamar Jackson 👀
🏆 = Received MVP pic.twitter.com/vydV1Ohe7Y
Lamar Jackson has the very best EPA per Dropback (+0.32) in a season since Lamar Jackson had the very best EPA per Dropback (+0.34) in 2019 pic.twitter.com/FXAJFHsWG3
The Payments and the Ravens are the one groups within the AFC with a optimistic tripe-digit level differential 📈 pic.twitter.com/ipqrqHtmWv
Gamers averaging 4+ yards of separation which have seen 100 targets:
🐦⬛ Zay Flowers
That's it https://t.co/k8uzxY5DdU pic.twitter.com/9z6nyqxR4z
Can be an ideal comeback story for Tyler Badie https://t.co/h3NrefmQNo
Zach Orr is praised for the protection’s turnaround. Mark Andrews reveals how Charlie Kolar broke his arm. Tavius Robinson and Tylan Wallace are among the many Ravens’ unsung heroes. Texans Head Coach DeMeco Ryans says Lamar Jackson ‘is certainly the MVP.’
Tom Brady continues to point out Lamar Jackson love. Pundit thinks Derrick Henry has confirmed he can get the Ravens over the hump.
Pundit says Ravens ought to be a convention favourite. Lamar Jackson and Todd Monken are ranked among the many high three quarterback-coach combos.
ESPN insider does not suppose anybody desires to face the Ravens within the playoffs. The Ravens and Payments meet within the AFC Championship Recreation in an ESPN simulation. Calais Campbell says he may very well be launched if the Dolphins are eradicated from playoff competition. Lamar Jackson is called Mo Gaba Sportsperson of the Yr.
Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady laud Jackson. The Ravens are ranked No. 1 general in DVOA. Rashod Bateman and Zay Flowers are the NFL’s high duo in separation share.
Wealthy Eisen says the Ravens should not be ignored as a Tremendous Bowl contender. Mark Andrews talks about preparation for enjoying three video games in 11 days. Steelers author does not anticipate George Pickens to play towards the Ravens.
Lamar Jackson continues to be within the MVP race. Penalties have been the one critique from Giants sport.
Odell Beckham Jr. and the Dolphins are reportedly parting methods; the Ravens are floated as a possible touchdown spot. DVOA creator says the Ravens are the AFC’s greatest workforce once they play at their greatest. Lamar Jackson falls to No. 3 in QB rankings.
Marlon Humphrey and Ronnie Stanley are having bounce-back seasons. Two first-round prospects the Ravens might think about.
Jamal Lewis says Mark Andrews exemplifies ‘play like a Raven.’ Pundit says the Lamar Jackson ranks No. 1 in wide-open throws. The Ravens choose a Marshall edge rusher in ESPN insider’s mock draft.
Pundits say Lamar Jackson is extra prepared than ever to steer the Ravens into the postseason. Jackson and Zay Flowers are ranked among the many high 5 quarterback-wide receiver duos.
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