Ravens Are Near Unanimous Pick to Win at Houston

The Ravens kept their AFC North title hopes alive with last week’s convincing win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. They’ll look to increase their chances of repeating as division champions when they take on the Texans in Houston today.

If the Ravens win their final two games, they would need the Steelers to lose one of their final two to win the division. The Steelers host the Kansas City Chiefs in the first game of today’s Christmas doubleheader.

All but two of the 57 pundits we sampled predicted the Ravens (10-5) to beat the Texans (9-6), who have already clinched the AFC South title. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah and ESPN’s Seth Wickersham are the two who picked Houston.

Here’s what pundits are saying about the game:

The Ravens will prevail, but it might not be pretty.

Baltimore Positive’s Luke Jones: “In the John Harbaugh era, the Ravens are a so-so 16-13 in games immediately following a clash with Pittsburgh, which should serve as a warning coming off an emotional victory and playing on the road on a short week. The last thing Baltimore wants is to follow a victory over the Steelers by stubbing its toe, especially if the Chiefs offer up a Christmas present earlier in the day. You never quite know what to expect for a typical Thursday game, and this has the added element of being on a holiday, which is why I’m not expecting either team to be particularly sharp. That said, I’ll trust the better and more experienced quarterback and the superior running game to get the job done on the road.”

The Ravens offense has the edge over the Texans’ banged-up defense.

The Baltimore Banner’s Jonas Shaffer: “The Ravens have the NFL’s most efficient offense, according to FTN. The Texans have the NFL’s most efficient defense. Sounds like a fair fight, right? Well, not when one side is in good health and the other is moving on to emergency starters. The Ravens’ only real question mark is wide receiver Zay Flowers’ shoulder injury, but Coach John Harbaugh was optimistic Sunday that he would be available. The Texans? They’re down a starting linebacker, two starting slot cornerbacks and likely a starting defensive tackle. Oh, and star defensive end Will Anderson Jr. might not be fully healthy, either.”

If the game is a shootout, the Texans won’t be able to keep up with the Ravens.

CBS Sports’ John Breech: “The Texans have struggled this year when a game turns into a shootout and there’s a good chance that’s going to happen against the Ravens. Baltimore is averaging 30.1 points per game, which isn’t good news for a Texans team that’s 1-6 this season when their opponent scores 22 points or more.”

Losing WR Tank Dell to a season-ending injury last week will be tough for the Texans to overcome.

NFL.com’s Brooke Cerosimo: “A big concern is the fact that quarterback C.J. Stroud will be without (another) one of his top wideouts (Tank Dell) against a Ravens pass defense that has improved of late. Baltimore has allowed fewer than 200 yards through the air in four of its last five games (with the Chargers barely clearing that threshold with 202 in Week 12) and the second-lowest passer rating to opposing QBs (78.4) since Week 11.”

Bleacher Report’s Ian Hanford: “I just don’t see Houston putting up the points necessary to beat Baltimore here. The Ravens average around seven points per game more than Houston on the season, and C.J. Stroud just lost another weapon after Tank Dell suffered a devastating injury last week.”

The Ravens defense presents a formidable challenge for the Texans offense.

The Baltimore Sun’s C.J. Doon: “C.J. Stroud will have to play at an MVP level to keep this one close, and while he’s certainly capable, the Ravens should be able to create enough pressure and play tight coverage to limit Nico Collins and Houston’s depleted passing game. Joe Mixon has also struggled to find running room recently, so there are not many answers against a steadily improving Baltimore defense.”

Bold prediction: The Ravens will hold the Texans under 14 points.

ESPN’s Seth Walder: “From Weeks 1-9, the Ravens could barely stop the pass, ranking 28th in EPA allowed per dropback. But from Week 10 on, they rank first in the same category. The Texans don’t have a great ground game, despite a strong start to the season by Joe Mixon. I expect they’ll struggle to move the ball against Baltimore.”

Derrick Henry will look to continue his success against the Texans.

ESPN’s Jamison Hensley: “Henry has produced 102.2 rushing yards per game versus Houston, which is his fifth-highest average against any team. Houston ranks 10th in run defense (106.8 yards allowed per game) this season, but the Texans allowed 124 yards on the ground to Kansas City on Sunday.”