Do the Ravens bounce back from the loss against the Jaguars?
This coming Sunday, the Baltimore Ravens host the Denver Broncos. The game holds a lot of importance, especially for the hosts, as the Ravens look to get back on track after a surprising loss to the Jaguars.
The Broncos will travel to Baltimore with very little self-confidence, as they have only one win from their last eight games. So far, Russel Wilson’s team has not been able to beat a stronger team, apart from the 49ers.
At M&T Bank Stadium, there is a clear distribution of roles. In the clash between the Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos, the betting odds therefore clearly point to a home win. The last time the Ravens played in this stadium, the home team won by a clear 27:14.
That game was four years ago, but the starting position does not seem to have changed. The Ravens could take another step towards the NFL playoffs with a win against the underdog.
We recommend betting on the quarterback of the hosts between the Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos. Lamar Jackson is one of the best runners in the NFL and that despite not being a running back. With the visitors’ defence having problems against the running game, a Jackson touchdown seems very likely. Especially after the game against the Jaguars, he will be looking to make amends as the performance was certainly not his best.
Baltimore Ravens – Statistics & current form
The Baltimore Ravens are currently in fourth place in the American Football Conference. The chances for the play-offs are quite good despite the avoidable loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Baltimore is in first place in the AFC North, but the Cincinnati Bengals are also 7-4, so the Ravens should definitely not rest and get the next win against Denver. The Broncos are completely out of shape at the moment and therefore have little chance of winning.
Ravens running game
Baltimore is one of the best offensive teams in the NFL. On average, the Ravens score 25.0 points per game and that is primarily due to their outstanding running game. With 162.7 rushing yards, John Harbaugh’s team has the second-best offence in the entire NFL. This is primarily due to quarterback Lamar Jackson, who is one of the best runners in the NFL with 755 rushing yards. The only quarterback to get more yards from runs is Justin Fields.
As a result, the passing game takes a back seat and that is reflected in the stats. With only 193.4 passing yards, the Ravens are among the weakest teams in the NFL in this category in a league-wide comparison. Therefore, it is not surprising that the best pass receiver is tight end Mark Andrews. With 601.0 receiving yards, he even trumps all wide receivers on the team. He also leads this category internally with five receiving touchdowns.
Good Defensive Work
The Ravens are also very consistent on defense, allowing an average of just 20.6 points per game. Especially against the run game, Baltimore’s defense is very good, allowing only 82.0 rushing yards. Coach Harbaugh’s team still has room for improvement against the passing game. On average, the Ravens allow 253.8 passing yards and are one of the weakest teams in the National Football League in this category.
Key players of the Baltimore Ravens:
QB: Lamar Jackson – RB: Kenyan Drake – TE: Mark Andrews – LB: Patrick Queen – K: Justin Tucker
Denver Broncos – Statistics & Current Form
The Denver Broncos are 15th in the AFC and are one of the weakest teams in the NFL. With only three wins from eleven games, reaching the play-offs is almost impossible. Currently there is only one team that has won fewer games and that is the Houston Texans. In their current form, it is hard to imagine Nathaniel Hackett’s team being able to hold their own against a team like the Baltimore Ravens.
The NFL’s weakest offense
Denver has especially struggled on offense, only managing to score more than 16 points twice. In fact, the Broncos are averaging just 14.3 points per game. The team’s running game is particularly weak and this is also reflected in the player statistics. Latavius Murray is the only one on the team who is in the top 50. The running back was injured for a long time and only played seven games. Therefore, it is quite respectable that he still stands at 358 rushing yards.
The Broncos’ passing game, however, is quite decent, even though quarterback Russell Wilson has come in for a lot of criticism. Denver has a strong wide receiver in Courtland Sutton. With 688 receiving yards, he ranks nineteenth among pass receivers. Nevertheless, he has only scored one touchdown this season and does not seem to be the first choice especially towards the end zone. Jerry Jeudy, who has already scored three touchdowns, is more likely to be the choice.
The Broncos’ defence
The Denver defence is one of the best in the league and without it the Broncos probably wouldn’t have won a single game. On average, the defence allows only 17.6 points per game and will also make it difficult for Baltimore to get on the scoreboard. But the slight weakness against the run game will very likely cost them the win against the Ravens. It’s hard to imagine Coach Hackett’s team being able to stop Lamar Jackson’s team.
Key Denver Broncos Players:
QB: Russell Wilson – RB: Latavius Murray – Courtland Sutton – IL: Josey Jewell – K: Brandon McManus
Baltimore Ravens – Denver Broncos Direct Comparison / H2H Record
The direct comparison also goes to the Baltimore Ravens. From fifteen duels so far, the guests from Denver picked up six wins and walked off the field as losers nine times. This strengthens our prediction of a home win between the Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos. The last meeting between the two teams was won by the Ravens by a clear 23-3 margin and dates back to the preseason. It at least suggests which way the upcoming game will go.
Baltimore Ravens – Denver Broncos Tip
Looking at the odds before the duel between the Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos, a win for the host seems almost certain. However, the odds for a home win are vanishingly small and have hardly any value. Between the Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos, we recommend betting on a win for the home team in conjunction with under 47.5 points. In the games of the visitors only once more than 38 points were scored and therefore the line should be pretty safe.
Between the Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos, the odds for a HT/FT win by the host also seem very interesting. In a game where one of the best offenses meets one of the weakest offenses, Baltimore should dominate the game from the start, even if the points only come via field goals. There is nothing in favour of the Broncos in this duel, because even the strong defence will have problems against the good running game of the Ravens. It would therefore not be surprising if this game is already decided at half-time.