Baltimore Ravens vs Las Vegas Raiders Picks and Predictions September 15th 2024

The over/under line is sitting at 41.5 points as the Ravens are favored by -9.5 on the point spread. The Raiders and Ravens are set to kick off at 1:00 ET on Sunday, September 15th at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. The Ravens are the heavy favorite with a money line of -454, while the Raiders’ money line odds are +351. This week two AFC matchup is being televised on CBS.

Las Vegas vs. Baltimore Key Information

• Teams: Raiders at Ravens
• Where: M&T Bank Stadium Baltimore
• Date: Sunday, September 15th
• Betting Odds BAL -454 | LV +351 O/U 41.5

The Raiders Can Win If…

The Raiders’ most recent game was an AFC West matchup on the road against the Chargers. The Raiders lost 22-10, and their record is now 0-1. They were +3 point underdogs heading into the game, and their 12-point loss meant they didn’t cover the spread. The combined 32 points was lower than the over/under line of 40.5 points.

The Raiders started off well, leading 7-3 after the 1st quarter. However, they didn’t score at all in the 2nd quarter, and the Chargers added a field goal to make it 7-6 at halftime. Las Vegas fell behind in the 3rd quarter and managed only a field goal in the 4th after the Chargers extended their lead in the final quarter. J.K. Dobbins had three rushing touchdowns for the Chargers.

The Raiders’ offense struggled to get much going in their 22-10 loss to the Chargers, managing only 14 first downs and 225 yards. They were also held to just 71 yards on 22 attempts in the running game. Las Vegas’ offensive line allowed Gardner Minshew II to be sacked four times, and he finished with 257 yards on 25/33 passing, including one touchdown and one interception.

Zamir White was the leading rusher with 44 yards, while Jakobi Meyers led the team with 61 receiving yards. The Raiders finished with a 35.7% conversion rate on third down.

In their 22-10 loss to the Chargers, the Raiders’ defense allowed just 140 passing yards, but struggled to stop the run, giving up 176 yards on 27 attempts (6.5 yards per attempt). They also allowed one touchdown through the air. Opposing quarterbacks completed 65.4% of their passes against Las Vegas, and the Raiders held the Chargers to a 26.7% conversion rate on third down.

Despite allowing only 140 passing yards, the Raiders’ offense managed just 10 points in the loss. Las Vegas recorded one sack and had a -1 differential in both QB hits and tackles for loss.

• Las Vegas has put together a record of 1-2 in their last three games (regular season). They have held up well vs the spread in these matchups, going 2-1 as well as an over-under record of 2-1.
• Las Vegas has put together a record of 5-5 in their last ten games (regular season). This includes going 7-2-1 vs. the spread along with an over-under mark of 4-6.

The Ravens Can Win If…

The Ravens are now 0-1 after losing to the Chiefs 27-20 in their most recent game. Baltimore was +3 point underdogs and lost straight-up by seven points. The game saw a 20-10 score in favor of the Chiefs heading into the 4th quarter, but the Ravens made a late push and closed the gap to 27-20.

Baltimore initially took a 7-0 lead after Derrick Henry’s 5-yard touchdown run, but the Chiefs quickly tied it up. From there, the Ravens added a field goal to make it 13-10 in favor of Kansas City in the 2nd quarter. The Chiefs then outscored the Ravens 7-0 in the 3rd quarter, and although the Ravens scored first in the 4th, the Chiefs responded with a touchdown of their own to secure the win.

The Ravens’ offense put up 185 yards on the ground on 32 attempts in their 27-20 loss to the Chiefs. Lamar Jackson led the team with 122 rushing yards, including a 16-yard run. Through the air, Jackson threw for 273 yards, completing 26 of 41 passes (63%) and throwing one touchdown.

Isaiah Likely was the top receiver for Baltimore, with 111 yards on nine catches, including a long reception of 49 yards. The Ravens had 25 first downs and 267 yards passing in the game, with a 50% conversion rate on third down.

The Ravens’ defense gave up 281 passing yards to the Chiefs in their most recent game, with Kansas City completing 71.4% of their passes. Despite this, Baltimore managed to intercept one pass and held the Chiefs to a 44.4% third-down conversion rate. They allowed just 72 rushing yards on 20 attempts, giving up only 3.6 yards per attempt in the running game.

Even though Baltimore lost 27-20, their defense managed to generate two sacks and led in the quarterback hit differential by six. The Ravens’ defense will be looking for more support from their offense in upcoming games, as they allowed just 20 points to a potent Chiefs’ offense.

• Through their last three regular season contests, Baltimore has a record of 1-2. In these contests, the team went just 1-2 against the spread, while going 0-2-1 on the over-under.
• The Ravens have gone 6-4 over their last ten regular season games. Against the spread, Baltimore went 5-5 in these games and finished with an over-under mark of 5-4-1.

The Lean

Our pick vs. the spread is to take the Raiders to cover as 9.5-point road underdogs in their week two matchup against the Ravens. Our score prediction is 24-13 in favor of the Raiders, making them a great pick to cover the spread.

For the over/under, with the line sitting at 41.5 points, we are leaning towards taking the under, with a projected combined score of 37 points.

Ravens Rely on Dual Threat of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry vs. Raiders in Week 2

The Baltimore Ravens are gearing up for their Week 2 clash against the Las Vegas Raiders, hoping to exploit their offensive strengths with both Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson leading the charge. Following a tough 27-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Ravens are seeking their first win of the season, and head coach John Harbaugh is confident that a balanced attack will help them get there.

Ravens’ Multifaceted Offensive Approach

Derrick Henry’s Week 1 performance was relatively quiet, as he finished with 13 carries for 46 yards and a touchdown. Against the Raiders’ defense, which gave up 176 rushing yards in their Week 1 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, the Ravens are poised to improve their ground game. However, Harbaugh made it clear that Henry will not shoulder the offense on his own:

“We didn’t bring Derrick in here to be the guy that gets the ball 30 times a game… The plan is Derrick, Lamar, Mark [Andrews], Isaiah [Likely], Zay [Flowers], ‘Bate’ [Rashod Bateman], and ‘Nelly’ [Nelson Agholor],” Harbaugh explained.

The combination of Lamar Jackson’s dual-threat ability and Henry’s power running presents significant challenges for any defense. Jackson was electric in Week 1, tallying 395 total yards against Kansas City. His mobility and passing prowess, combined with Henry’s physicality, could prove too much for a Raiders defense that struggled to contain the Chargers last week.

Raiders Defense Looks to Contain Lamar Jackson

Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins is well aware of the task his unit faces in trying to stop Jackson.

“He’s the definition of a dual threat,” Wilkins said.

The last time these two teams met in 2021, Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby was a constant presence in the backfield, recording two sacks. Jackson praised Crosby’s relentless motor and edge-rushing skills, noting the mutual respect between them.

For the Raiders to stay competitive, containing Jackson will be their top priority. His ability to extend plays with his legs while delivering precision passes makes him one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the NFL. However, with weapons like Mark Andrews and rookie receiver Zay Flowers in the passing game, Las Vegas will also need to account for Baltimore’s aerial attack.

Baltimore’s Aggressive Defense vs. Raiders’ Struggling Offense

The Ravens’ defense has been a highlight, particularly in their ability to pressure quarterbacks. In Week 1, they managed to sack Patrick Mahomes twice and hit him seven times. Against Raiders QB Gardner Minshew, who completed 25 of 33 passes for 257 yards, a touchdown, and an interception, the Ravens will likely apply the same blitz-heavy approach.

Las Vegas’ offense will need to step up after a subpar rushing performance in Week 1. Running back Zamir White was held to 44 yards on 13 carries, and the team as a whole struggled to find rhythm. The Ravens’ run defense, which limited the Chiefs to just 72 rushing yards, is primed to shut down Las Vegas’ ground game as well.

Key Injuries Heading into Week 2

Both teams are dealing with injury concerns as they head into Sunday’s matchup. Baltimore will be without rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins, who is recovering from a neck injury and concussion sustained in a car accident. Additionally, linebacker Adisa Isaac (hamstring) is doubtful, while pass rusher Kyle Van Noy (eye) is listed as questionable.

For the Raiders, cornerback Decamerion Richardson (hamstring) and defensive end Tyree Wilson (knee) have been ruled out, which could expose vulnerabilities in their secondary. Guard Jackson Powers-Johnson (illness) is also questionable, potentially impacting their offensive line depth.

What’s at Stake

The Ravens are aiming to even their record at 1-1 and secure their first win of the season. With a versatile offense and a fierce defense, they are well-positioned to challenge the Raiders on both sides of the ball. For Las Vegas, containing Lamar Jackson and limiting Derrick Henry will be key if they hope to avoid a 0-2 start. However, if Baltimore can execute their game plan and build on their Week 1 performance, they have a strong chance to leave Las Vegas with a victory.