Baltimore Is Unanimous Pick to Beat Las Vegas in Home Opener
After a heartbreaking season-opening loss to the Kansas City Chiefs final week, will the Ravens bounce again in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders at residence on Sunday?
The reply from pundits is a powerful sure. All 53 we sampled are predicting a win for the Ravens (0-1) over the Raiders (0–1).
Here’s what pundits are saying in regards to the recreation:
The Ravens will win convincingly.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio: “If something we have come to know in regards to the Baltimore Ravens and John Harbaugh over the previous 16 years has any relevance, they won’t lose this recreation, and they’ll win it convincingly. This would be the means they get the unhealthy style out their mouths for the chance that was missed final Thursday evening. I really feel unhealthy for the Raiders. They’re strolling into a troublesome, powerful spot.”
USA Today’s Jordan Mendoza: “Even although it resulted in a loss, Baltimore confirmed it nonetheless can compete with Kansas City and contend to dethrone the defending champions come playoff time. This workforce will take its frustrations out on an offense that’s in massive bother and can hope to be fortunate sufficient to get in the tip zone. It needs to be a cakewalk for the Ravens whereas the frustrations for [Raiders wide receiver] Davante Adams proceed to develop.”
The thirty third Team’s Marcus Mosher: “The Las Vegas Raiders had a robust defensive efficiency in Week 1, however they bought subsequent to nothing from the offense in Week 1. That might be a serious situation going ahead, however the hope is that Gardner Minshew can cool down in the offense and create some performs like he did final season when he went into Baltimore and beat the Ravens early in the yr. Don’t count on the identical end result this time round. The Baltimore Ravens ought to look good after having 10 days to arrange for this contest. Of all of the video games this week, that is the one which has an opportunity to be a blowout if the Raiders cannot rating early.”
The Ravens will win, however it will likely be harder than anticipated.
Los Angeles Times’ Sam Farmer: “Raiders usually are not a superb workforce proper now, however their protection is not horrible. Baltimore is rested after a close to comeback at Kansas City. Baltimore wins at residence but it surely’s a better recreation than many assume.”
The Baltimore Sun’s C.J. Doon: “It’s laborious to examine the Ravens shedding this one and falling to 0-2 when Lamar Jackson is wholesome, however there is a good likelihood there are some tense moments in the second half.”
Intangibles level to a Ravens victory.
The Baltimore Sun’s Childs Walker: “The Ravens by no means misplaced two video games in a row final season and might be motivated to place their agonizing opening defeat behind them. They’ll have a relaxation benefit over an opponent crossing two time zones to play them at 1 p.m. Harbaugh’s groups have historically gained at a excessive price when taking part in with such benefits, and Jackson, with a 58-20 profession common season document, would be the greatest participant on the sphere.”
Look for RB Derrick Henry to have an enormous recreation.
Sports Illustrated’s Evan Massey: “In his debut efficiency with Baltimore, Henry carried the soccer 13 instances for 46 yards and a landing. It wasn’t a nasty recreation, however he will make his presence felt this week in an enormous means. When all the things is claimed and executed, Henry will rush for a minimum of 125 yards and two touchdowns. He’ll present precisely why the Ravens made signing him such a precedence. Henry is poised for his first monster efficiency along with his new workforce.”
ESPN’s Jamison Hensley: “Henry ought to have a possibility to get on observe in opposition to a Raiders protection that allowed 176 dashing yards to the Chargers final week and ranked twenty first in opposition to the run final season. Henry, who was restricted to 46 yards dashing in his Ravens debut, has been held beneath 50 yards dashing in consecutive video games solely thrice since 2019.”
