The Patriots and Ravens were flexed into prime time (8:20 p.m. ET) at M&T Bank Stadium, so the country will be watching as Mike Vrabel’s team looks to bounce back after a stinging loss last week.
After running out to a 24-7 lead against Buffalo with the AFC East on the line, the Patriots collapsed in the second half. Oddsmakers took notice, and New England opened as 2.5-point underdogs in Baltimore.
Bet on Vrabel and the Patriots to bounce back.
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Though Baltimore skunked Cincinnati last weekend, 24-0, Lamar Jackson hasn’t been himself since the calendar hit November.
The Ravens quarterback has completed 56.4% of his passes and averaged 189.5 passing yards over his last six games, while throwing four touchdowns and five interceptions. Beyond that, Jackson has run for 25.5 yards per game on 4.4 yards per carry, well below his career numbers.
Look for Vrabel to take advantage of that.
Though the Patriots have struggled against the run in recent weeks, they should get linebacker Robert Spillane back in Baltimore, and Vrabel won’t hesitate to load the box and make Jackson beat them.
On the other side of the ball, Buffalo flummoxed Drake Maye and company in the second half last week, so that’s (understandably) the lasting memory.
However, New England was humming in the first half, thus the 24-7 lead, and the final two quarters were an aberration from what Maye put on tape for most of the season. There’s a reason he’s still Top 3 in MVP odds.
The second half didn’t feel like a blueprint to beat the Patriots, as much as New England getting away from what they’d been doing well. Bank on last week being an exception to the rule. Jackson hasn’t been close to Josh Allen this year.
Final score prediction: Patriots 27, Ravens 20.
