The Houston Texans battle the Baltimore Ravens in the first game of the new season. The Texans have a new coach and a new quarterback, and fans are excited to see if they can produce wins. The Ravens, on the other hand, are looking to secure a playoff berth and prove they are contenders in the AFC.
Will the Texans shock Baltimore, or will the Ravens cruise to an easy week one win?
Rookie @CJ7STROUD vs veteran @Lj_era8… Who’s getting a Week 1 dub? @HoustonTexans | @Ravens
📺: #HOUvsBAL — Sunday Sept. 10 on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/uUqE7WCtsf— NFL (@NFL) August 31, 2023
Texans vs. Ravens Odds and Match Details
|
Team |
Spread | Total | ML |
| Houston | +10
-110 |
O44
-110 |
+380 |
| Baltimore | -10
-110 |
U44
-110 |
-500 |
- Fixture: Houston @ Baltimore
- Date and Time: September 10, 2023 at 1 p.m.
- Location: M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland
- Weather Forecast: 60% Chance of Rain (Scattered Thunderstorms) and 84
- Field Surface: Sportexe Momentum 51 Turf
Texans vs. Ravens Injury Report
Texans Injuries
- Blake Cashman (LB): Hamstring- Did Not Practice
- John Metchie III (WR): Hamstring- Did Not Practice
- Jimmie Ward (S): Hip- Did Not Practice
- Christian Harris (LB): Shoulder- Limited Practice
- Dare Ogunbowale (RB): Hamstring- Limited Practice
Ravens Injuries
- Mark Andrews (TE): Quad- Limited Practice
- Marlon Humphrey (CB): Foot- Did Not Practice
- Ronnie Staley (OT): Ankle- Limited Practice
Texans Key Stats
Houston finished last in the AFC South in 2022 with a record of 3-13. The ownership has taken a few steps in the right direction by hiring new head coach DeMeco Ryans and drafting CJ Stroud as their new quarterback. I am not totally sold on Stroud’s abilities, and he has a weak supporting cast. Ryans is a defensive mind coach who helped make the 49ers a defensive juggernaut.
CJ Stroud earned his captaincy.
The locker room didn't vote for Stroud simply because he's the quarterback — he's earned the respect of his teammates."It was a huge honor and a blessing. I don't take that lightly."
👇👇👇 pic.twitter.com/byzsy7TPXr
— Will Kunkel (@WillKunkelFOX) September 6, 2023
One of the key offseason additions for the Texans was signing veteran safety Jimmie Ward. He was in San Fran with Ryans and should help solidify these vulnerable secondary. They also added cornerback Shaqul Griffin, defensive lineman Sheldon Rankins, EDGE Chase Winovich, and linebackers Denzel Perryman and Cory Littleton. This Texans team is dedicated to improving on defense this year and was able to address some of their weaknesses from a year ago in the offseason.
2023 Houston Texans Captains 🤘
QB C.J Stroud
LT Laremy Tunsil
S Jalen Pitre
S Jimmie Ward pic.twitter.com/Ehbp7r6Tg0— Nick Schwager (@NickSchwagerNFL) September 4, 2023
On the offensive side of things, they brought in a plethora of weapons to help CJ Stroud succeed. They signed tight end Dalton Schultz and receivers Robert Woods, Noah Brown, and Steven Sims. Houston also brought in running back Devin Singletary and offensive lineman Michael Deiter. To help Stroud adjust to the NFL, they brought in veteran quarterback Case Keenum.
The Texans offense, on paper, doesn’t look bad. Running back Dameon Pierce had a solid season as a rookie, and Singletary provides quality depth. Robert Woods is in the twilight of his career but is still a solid receiver. Nico Collins will likely have a breakout season now that he has a quarterback capable of getting him the ball. Noah Brown is decent, and Tank Dell, Xavier Hutchinson, and John Metchie III all have a shot to prove themselves in 2023.
Laremy Tunsil is the heart and soul of this offensive line. Houston’s O-line will be decent this year, and according to the depth chart, Josh Jones, Jarrett Patterson, Shaq Mason, and Tytus Howard are the projected starters.
Houston looks like they will be mediocre on defense. They drafted defensive end Will Anderson Jr. in the draft, and their secondary is looking fierce. Jimmie Ward, Steven Nelson, Derek Stingley Jr., and Jalen Pitre are the probable secondary starters.
Their linebacker corps looks thin, with Christian Harris, Denzel Perryman, Jake Hansen, and Tavierre Thomas as the starters. The defensive line will feature rookie Anderson Jr., Maliek Collins, Sheldon Rankins, and Jonathan Greenard. New head coach DeMeco Ryans is a defensive guru, and I see him proving they have a solid defense.
Ravens Key Stats
The Baltimore Ravens finished 10-7 last year and second in the AFC North standings. Coach John Harbaugh and the Ravens resigned star quarterback Lamar Jackson in the offseason, and have taken great strides to provide him some weapons in the passing game.
The Ravens were active in free agency this year, signing wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor, and cornerbacks Rock Ya-Sin and Trayvon Mullen. Fans will miss offensive guard Ben Powers, cornerback Marcus Peters, EDGE Justin Houston, and tight end Josh Oliver, who all signed with new teams in the offseason.
Ravens WR Odell Beckham Jr. on QB Lamar Jackson: "We all follow 8. We go as he goes.
"He's definitely different than any other quarterback that I've had. The leadership comes from the smile on his face, the confidence that he puts within us. … He's a leader, and we follow… pic.twitter.com/0bfsWEyT3i
— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) September 6, 2023
Baltimore had a solid draft this year and gave Lamar Jackson a new toy with receiver Zay Flowers from Boston College. Personally, I have seen him in the offseason, and he is a future star in the NFL and could be Offensive Rooke of the Year in 2023. In the third round, they selected linebacker Trenton Simpson out of Clemson, who led the Tigers with 72 tackles and 2.5 sacks. He is a very agile linebacker who ran a 4.43 in the 40 at the combine and knows how to hit.
We are so close to seeing Zay Flowers take ur fav CBs ankles weekly☺️#RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/e8fWOOLWFT
— 𝙕𝙖𝙘𝙝🦦® (@NewEraZach) September 4, 2023
The Ravens also drafted Brian Kelly’s son, cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly, in the fifth round. He stands 6 foot tall and weighs 191 lbs, a good size for a corner in this league. One other player worth noting is their seventh-round pick, offensive guard Andrew Voorhes. At 6’6″ and 310 lbs, he was an AP All-American last year at USC but unfortunately tore his ACL at the combine. This dude is a monster, and while he will sit out this year, he is a future star for the Ravens’ offensive line.
The Ravens offense is looking good this year and has the potential of being one of the best in the league. Led by star quarterback Lamar Jackson, he has a variety of weapons at his disposal, unlike the last few years. The receiving group is looking deep with Odell Beckham Jr., Rashod Bateman, Zay Flowers, Nelson Agholor, Tylan Wallace, and return specialist Devin Duvernay.
Fans are hoping this is the year that J.K. Dobbins can stay healthy and prove how good he really is. But they have depth with Gus Edwards and Justice Hill. Both have proven they can impact a game. This is Dobbins’ job to lose, and barring any setbacks, he could be one of the best running backs in the league. Let’s not forget Ol’ Reliable Mark Andrews, who has been Jackson’s go-to guy for the last several years.
Baltimore’s offensive line looks decent, with Ronnie Staley, John Simpson, Tyler Linderbaum, Kevin Zeitler, and Morgan Moses as the projected starters. They just need to do a decent job this year, considering Lamar Jackson’s ability to run the ball and escape pressure.
This Ravens defense is stacked and ready to wreak havoc on the league. Up front, they have Justin Madubuike, Michael Perce, and Broderick Washington. The linebackers group looks scary, with Odafe Oweh, Roquan Smith, Patrick Queen, and David Ojabo listed as the starters. They also signed Jadeveon Clowney to provide depth at the position.
Despite losing Marcus Peters in free agency, this secondary looks volatile. Rock Ya-Sin, Ronald Darby, Kyle Hamilton, Marcus Williams, and Marlon Humphrey all will play a part in defending against the pass. This defense, as a whole, is really good and will be one of the best in the league, AGAIN.
Game Prediction
Let me start off by saying I love what DeMeco Ryans is doing in Houston, but this game does not favor them at all. The Ravens will be one of the best teams in the league this year, and could very well win the AFC North.
This is a coming-out party for Lamar Jackson and all of his new shiny toys, letting everyone know they are serious contenders. Stroud will struggle in this one against a stout defensive unit and will start his career with a loss. Back the Ravens to win and cover the spread in this one. They will annihilate the Texans, and the Ravens will start 1-0.
Final Pick
Baltimore Ravens -10 (-110)
