Baltimore is set to face Houston in a highly anticipated matchup on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. EST, which will be aired on Netflix. The Ravens come into the game with a record of 10-5 and are favored by 5.5 points according to BetMGM. Against the spread, the Ravens show a record of 8-6-1, while the Texans hold a slightly less favorable 6-7-2. Historically, the Ravens lead their series with the Texans, boasting a 12-2 advantage, with their last encounter resulting in a decisive 34-10 victory for Baltimore during the playoff divisional round on January 20 in Baltimore.
In their most recent games, the Texans faced a setback, losing to the Chiefs 27-19, while the Ravens secured a strong win against the Steelers with a 34-17 scoreline. Baltimore’s offense has been formidable this season, currently ranking first overall, second in rushing, fifth in passing, and third in scoring. Conversely, the Ravens’ defense ranks 16th overall but excels against the run, holding the top position in that category while struggling against the pass, sitting at 31st in that area. On the other hand, the Texans’ offensive stats paint a mixed picture, with them sitting at 20th overall, 18th in rushing and passing, and 13th in scoring. Their defense stands out in the rankings, coming in fourth overall, 11th against the run, and sixth against the pass, with a scoring rank of ninth.
Key player to watch for the Ravens is quarterback Lamar Jackson, who has been stellar, throwing at least two touchdown passes in his last four games and maintaining a quarterback rating above 100. He is currently second in the NFL this season with a career-high 37 touchdown passes and requires just 87 rushing yards to break Michael Vick’s record for the most rushing yards by a quarterback in NFL history. Jackson has also performed exceptionally against the Texans historically, maintaining an unbeaten record with seven touchdown passes and two rushing scores over four games, including the playoffs.
For the Texans, wide receiver Nico Collins is poised to take on a crucial role, especially following Tank Dell’s season-ending knee injury. Collins leads the team with 909 receiving yards and has shown remarkable performance at home, with all six of his touchdowns this season coming in Houston. He will be under significant pressure as the receiving corps is further weakened by the absence of star receiver Stefon Diggs, who is out with a torn ACL from Week 8.
A critical matchup to keep an eye on will be between the Ravens’ running back Derrick Henry and Houston’s run defense. Henry ranks second in the NFL with 1,636 rushing yards and has historically excelled against the Texans, recording four of his six 200-yard rushing games against them. This season, he has rushed for over 100 yards in two of his last four games, including a notable 162-yard performance last week.
Injury reports ahead of the game indicate that several Ravens players, including receiver Nelson Agholor (concussion) and cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis (hamstring), have been limited in practice, while others such as guard Dan Faalele (knee) and receiver Zay Flowers (shoulder) have also been sidelined. For Houston, safety Jimmie Ward has undergone foot surgery and is out for the season, while Shaq Mason is likely to miss the game due to a knee injury.
Historically, the Ravens have dominated this series, winning the last five matchups. Houston’s last victory over Baltimore was back in 2014. The Ravens have already secured a playoff berth for the third consecutive year and are eyeing another division title alongside their impressive rushing statistics, which have seen them outrun opponents by an average of 98.1 yards per game. Additionally, they are on a record streak, having outperformed rivals in rushing for 15 straight games.
The Texans, champions of the AFC South for the second consecutive season, come into this game with significant defensive prowess as evidenced by their franchise-record tie of 46 sacks. Quarterback C.J. Stroud is also spotlighted, needing just eight passing yards to reach a remarkable milestone. Players on both sides are boosting their stats, with Collins chasing a second consecutive 1,000-yard season while both Henry and tight end Dalton Schultz pose threats in the red zone.
From a fantasy perspective, Henry looks to be an appealing choice given his history against Houston, making him an excellent candidate for points this week. As the game approaches, anticipation builds around both teams’ strategies and performances that could determine their trajectories leading into the playoffs.
