The Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers were scheduled to suit up on Thanksgiving Day, one of the best traditions in all of football, but on Wednesday, this important AFC North contest was rescheduled to Sunday.
On Tuesday, it was announced that the Ravens were suffering from a minor outbreak inside their facilities. As many as six players were listed as out for this upcoming game against the Steelers, including Mark Ingram, J.K. Dobbins, Brandon Williams, Trace McSorley, Pernell McPhee, and Iman Marshall. It’s unsure if the move to Sunday will affect any of those statuses.
The recent news will impact how both teams prepare for this upcoming matchup, but it certainly puts the Ravens in a difficult position — both on offense and defense. We’ll see how both teams respond in the coming days.
Can the Ravens overcome adversity?
The Ravens are currently sitting in third place in the AFC North standings with a 6-4 record. Their meeting with the Steelers on Sunday is an important one, especially since they’re fighting for a Wild Card spot in a crowded AFC. Every win counts from here on out.
The Ravens aren’t the same team as they were last year, but they’re still dangerous. They average nearly 27 points per game and almost 360 yards per game on offense, despite giving up only 20 points per game and just over 350 yards per game on defense.
Lamar Jackson is having a decent year through the air with 1,948 yards, 15 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He’s adding 575 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, which leads his team. With Dobbins and Ingram out, the Ravens will need Jackson running everywhere if they want to win.
Staying Perfect
No team is playing as well as the Pittsburgh Steelers are this season. They’re 10-0 entering Week 12 with an opportunity to continue their perfect season against the limited Ravens. On the surface, it should be an easy victory, but they can’t get too comfortable with Jackson on the other sideline.
The Steelers are slightly better on offense and defense, though. They average nearly 30 points per game and 357 yards per game on offense, despite giving up just 17.4 points and 332 yards per game on defense. They have one of the most balanced attacks in the NFL this season.
Ben Roethlisberger is having a huge year for the Steelers. He might be 38 years old, but he has 2,534 yards, 24 touchdowns, and four interceptions this season.
He’s proving to be one of the best quarterbacks and is teamed with a productive running back in James Conner (645 yards, five touchdowns).
Betting Odds & Lines
Will positive COVID-19 tests hold the Ravens back from a much-needed victory, or will they pull an upset? FanDuel has the Pittsburgh Steelers (-106) as 5.5-point favorites over the Baltimore Ravens (-114). They also have the over/under listed at 44.5 total points.
Free Betting Pick
The Baltimore Ravens are going to be in for a tough matchup. Not having Ingram and Dobbins really hurts their running attack, especially since Dobbins had his best performance of the year against the Steelers just a few weeks ago.
Jackson is going to have to carry the load, but I’m not sure it’ll be enough. They’ll be outmatched by one of the best teams in the league, and it’ll likely lead to their third straight loss — while the Steelers enjoy their 11th straight win.
Final Score Prediction: 30-17, Pittsburgh Steelers.
Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers (-5.5)