Baltimore Ravens (8-5) will face off against the New York Giants (2-11) this Sunday at 1 p.m. EST on CBS. The Ravens enter this matchup as significant favorites, with BetMGM giving them a 16-point advantage. When looking at their performance against the spread this season, the Ravens are currently at 6-6-1, while the Giants are struggling at 4-9. Historically, the Ravens lead the series 5-3, although the Giants managed to secure a close victory in their last encounter on October 16, 2022, winning 24-20 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Last week, the Ravens enjoyed a bye, whereas the Giants faced a narrow defeat to the Saints, finishing at 14-11.
In terms of overall team statistics, the Ravens boast impressive rankings; they are first in overall offense, second in rushing, fifth in passing, and third in scoring. However, their defense is a different story, currently sitting at 22nd overall, ranked first against the run, but struggling significantly against the pass at 32nd and scoring at 23rd. Meanwhile, the Giants’ offense finds itself at 26th overall, with middling performance in rushing (15th), passing (28th), and scoring (32nd). The Giants’ defense ranks 16th overall, but they still have issues, particularly against the run, where they rank 29th; however, they are 6th against the pass with scoring standing at a tie for 14th. The turnover differential shows the Ravens with a +2 while the Giants are at -8.
One key player to keep an eye on for the Ravens is kicker Justin Tucker, who is experiencing a challenging season, leading to concerns as the playoffs approach, especially with windy conditions possible at the game site. For the Giants, quarterback Tommy DeVito could be making his second start of the season, filling in for Drew Lock who is currently dealing with an injury. DeVito’s first performance resulted in limited production during a 30-7 loss to Tampa Bay, with him accumulating 189 yards on 21 completions out of 31 attempts but failing to throw any touchdowns.
An important matchup will revolve around the Giants’ defensive line, particularly considering the absence of Pro Bowler Dexter Lawrence and fellow defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches. Despite this, they managed to hold the Saints to just 92 yards rushing last week. However, stopping Baltimore’s formidable offense, which includes quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry, who currently leads the league in rushing, will present a much greater challenge.
In terms of injuries, the Ravens appear to be in relatively good shape, with wide receiver Rashod Bateman returning to practice this week, alongside defensive tackle Michael Pierce and linebacker Kyle Van Noy who were also back on the field. The Giants, however, are grappling with significant injuries, including cornerback Deonte Banks, linebacker Bobby Okereke, and several others that missed last week’s game and may remain sidelined. Quarterback Drew Lock’s playing status is also questionable as he recovers from a heel injury.
The Giants have had the upper hand in their recent matchups, having won the last three games, which includes a victory in coach Brian Daboll’s first season. In contrast, the Ravens secured a notable win against the Giants during a Super Bowl matchup back in January 2001.
As for interesting stats, the Ravens are coming off a bye week and have the highest average yards of offense in the league at 422.5 yards per game. Jackson impressively has had eight games this season with two or more touchdown passes without any interceptions, including six games on the road where he has not thrown a pick. Wide receiver Zay Flowers leads the Ravens with 74 catches, while tight end Mark Andrews ranks among the top tight ends with seven touchdown receptions. Conversely, the Giants are struggling offensively, recording the NFL’s lowest with only eight touchdown receptions this season. Rookie receiver Malik Nabers leads the Giants in receptions and yards, while rookie running back Tyrone Tracy leads in rushing yards.
To consider for fantasy players, Baltimore’s running back Derrick Henry is a standout option, having previously rushed for 170 yards and two touchdowns in his only road game against the Giants. He currently shares the league lead with 15 touchdowns, 13 of which are rushing, and ranks second in rushing yards with a total of 1,407.