Rams at Baltimore Ravens: Who has the edge?
RAMS (6-6) at RAVENS (9-3)
When: 10 a.m. Sunday
Where: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Md.
TV/Radio: FOX (Ch. 11)/710 AM; 93.1 FM; 1330 AM (Spanish); Sirius 226, 381
Line: Ravens by 7½
Notable injury designations:
Rams: DOUBTFUL: TE Tyler Higbee (neck); QUESTIONABLE: OLB Michael Hoecht (knee), OLB Byron Young (knee), S Quentin Lake (hamstring)
Ravens: QUESTIONABLE: LB Malik Harrison (groin), OLB Malik Hamm (ankle), CB Damarion Williams (ankle)
What’s at stake: While the Ravens are trying to remain tied with Miami for the AFC’s No. 1 overall seed and a playoff bye, the Rams need a win to at least stay locked in a four-way tie for the NFC’s final two playoff spots, or hopefully with a little help from other teams, move ahead of one or two of Minnesota, Green Bay or Seattle.
Who’s better: The Rams are young upstarts who have surprised the NFL at large, but the Ravens have lived up to the preseason hype as one of the best teams in the league. QB Lamar Jackson is completing passes at a higher rate than his 2019 MVP campaign, with a more talented group of receivers than he had that year. RB Keaton Mitchell is a home-run threat, while veteran Gus Edwards is money at the goal line. And the defense is first in the league in points (15.6) and second in yards (273.9) allowed per game.
Matchup to watch: Rams DBs vs. Ravens WRs. TE Mark Andrews is on injured reserve with an ankle sprain, so the Rams don’t have to worry about him, but the rest of Jackson’s targets present plenty of challenges. Rookie Zay Flowers isn’t putting up Puka Nacua numbers, but he’s shown why he was a first-round pick with his ability to pick up yards after the catch. Former Ram Odell Beckham Jr. is averaging 15.1 yards per reception after missing all of last season with a knee injury. And Rashod Bateman is a dangerous jump-ball target. The Rams’ defensive backs have strung together four strong performances, holding each opponent below 250 yards passing. But they’ll need to replicate that to allow the pass rush time to get to the elusive Jackson.
Rams win if: They don’t commit any turnovers in a rainy, windy environment against a team that averages 1.6 takeaways per game. … RB Kyren Williams rushes for more than 100 yards to take pressure off the passing game in the elements.
Fantasy sleeper: TE Brycen Hopkins. Granted, this is a deep sleeper and likely only a move if waivers in your league are barren at the position. But the Rams have featured tight ends more prominently in the passing game the past couple of weeks and, with Higbee likely out, Hopkins could see a bump in targets on Sunday.
Prediction: Ravens 24, Rams 10. Beat reporter’s record: 7-4 for the season; 6-5 against the spread.