The Houston Texans face the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Round at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday at 3:30 P.M. Central Time. Baltimore is favored by 9.5, and the over/under is 43.5.
This Divisional Round matchup will be a rematch from Week 1.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Houston Texans 25-9 in Week 1. C.J. Stroud completed 28 out of 44 pass attempts for 242 yards.
Lamar Jackson completed 17 out of 22 pass attempts for 169 yards and one interception. J.K. Dobbins scored a touchdown in the first quarter, and Justice Hill had two in the third.
The Houston Texans exceeded expectations.
Houston exceeded expectations for having a rookie coach and a rookie quarterback. Their offense ranks 13th in points, 12th in yards, 7th in passing, and 22nd in rushing.
C.J. Stroud completed 319 out of 499 pass attempts for 4,108 yards and threw 23 touchdowns and five interceptions in the regular season, and completed 16 out of 21 pass attempts for 274 yards and three touchdowns in their blowout win against Cleveland.
Their top three receivers were Nico Collins with 80 receptions for 1,297 yards (8 TDS), Tank Dell with 47 receptions for 709 yards (7 TDS), and Dalton Schultz with 59 receptions for 635 yards (5 TDS).
Their leading rusher is Devin Singletary, with 898 yards on 216 carries (4 TDS).
Their defense improved from last season. They rank 11th in points, 14th in yards, 16th in takeaways, 23rd in passing, 6th in rushing, and 14th in sacks.
Their leading sacker is Jonathan Greenard, with 52 tackles, 15 for a loss, 22 QB hits, and 12.5 sacks.
Their leading tackler is Blake Cashman, with 106 tackles (56 solo+50 assists), nine for a loss, and two sacks.
Their most reliable cornerback is Derek Stingley. Stingley Jr. had 39 tackles, five interceptions, 13 pass deflections, and allowed 23 completions on 48 targets for 288 yards, two touchdowns, and a 41.3 passer rating allowed in coverage.
The Baltimore Ravens clinched the 1st seed.
Baltimore has a very talented roster. They have one of the best offenses, and Lamar Jackson is on his way to another MVP. Their offense ranks 4th in points, 6th in yards, 21st in passing, and 1st in rushing.
Lamar completed 307 out of 457 pass attempts for 3,678 yards and threw 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also led the team in rushing with 821 yards on 148 attempts (5 TDS).
Their top three receivers were Zay Flowers with 77 receptions for 858 yards (5 TDS), Odell Beckham Jr. with 35 receptions for 565 yards (3 TDS), and Mark Andrews with 45 receptions for 544 yards (6 TDS).
Their defense has been sensational. They rank 1st in points, 6th in yards, 1st in takeaways, 6th in passing, 14th in rushing, and 1st in sacks.
Their leading sacker is Justin Madubuike, with 56 tackles, 12 for a loss, 33 QB hits, and 13 sacks,
Their leading tackler is Roquan Smith, with 158 tackles (84 solo+74 assists), five for a loss, and 1.5 sacks.
Their most reliable defensive back is Kyle Hamilton. Hamilton has 81 tackles, four interceptions, one pick-six, 13 pass deflections, and allowed 34 completions on 63 targets for 166 yards, one touchdown, and a 38.4 passer rating allowed in coverage.
1 Offensive and 1 Defensive Key to Victory-Houston Texans:
The first key to victory is C.J. Stroud. If Houston wants to win, Stroud needs to play flawlessly against the elite defense.
The second key to victory is stopping the run. Baltimore has the best-rushing offense, and Houston has the 6th best rushing defense. They have a better chance of winning if they stop their elite rushing attack.
1 Offensive and 1 Defensive Key to Victory-Baltimore Ravens:
The first key to victory is to run the ball efficiently.
The second key to victory is to force turnovers. Houston’s offense has the least turnovers in the league, and Baltimore’s defense has the most takeaways. Win the turnover battle, you win the game?
PREDICTION:
I predict that the Baltimore Ravens win by 3 and I’m taking the over.