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Texans vs. Ravens: Preview, score prediction for Week 12

By Cody Williams

GREEN BAY, WI - NOVEMBER 19: Terrell Suggs #55 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after a sack of Brett Hundley #7 of the Green Bay Packers during the second half of a game at Lambeau Field on November 19, 2017 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WI - NOVEMBER 19: Terrell Suggs #55 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after a sack of Brett Hundley #7 of the Green Bay Packers during the second half of a game at Lambeau Field on November 19, 2017 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens

Whenever the NFL schedule-makers were conjuring up the matchups they wanted to put in primetime, it’s not hard to see the appeal they saw in a Week 12 clash between the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens. By all accounts, this could have been a matchup between two fiery Wild Card contenders.

Instead, however, it’s two teams that have been relatively unamusing throughout much of the season. The Texans were fun with Deshaun Watson at the helm, but his ACL injury has brought the Tom Savage era back, which is something no one wants. Coupled with injuries to the likes of J.J. Watt on the defense, and it’s been a bad go of it for Houston of late.

As for the Ravens, they remain in the playoff hunt, but haven’t been playing the best brand of football. They’re still a defensive force, as you’d expect them to be. However, they’ve been unexciting and uninspiring on the offensive end with Joe Flacco struggling with few weapons and a poor, injury-riddled offensive line.

So, though the shine has worn off from this matchup, it’ll still be played. How could things turn out on Monday Night Football?

Keys to Victory

For the Texans in this matchup, there’s two things that they have to do. Starting with the offense, they have to move the ball effectively on the ground. Not that this is any big secret, but the last thing that the Houston offense wants is to have the game in Tom Savage’s hands. That’s especially true against a stout Baltimore defense. Thus, Lamar Miller needs to break off chunks of yardage whenever he touches the pigskin.

When it comes to their defense, Houston needs to generate pressure on Flacco. That’s easier when they are at full force, of course, but still doable considering the struggles of the Ravens offensive line this season. Baltimore’s offense has been quite anemic this season and, when Flacco is pushed, he is more than mistake-prone. Thus, they must put him in that situation.

Speaking of Flacco and mistakes, the biggest thing that the Ravens offense has to do in this matchup is not lose the game. Even if the Texans focus on running the football, Savage is still liable to make errors that the Baltimore defense can capitalize upon. Thus, the offense has to allow their defense to carry them to victory and not try to force the issue with an offense that is, frankly, incapable of doing so.

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Baltimore -7
Moneyline: Baltimore -340, Houston +280
Over/Under: 37.5

Next: NFL Power Rankings: Saints winning streak finally ends

Prediction

If we’re being honest, neither of these teams are exactly bastions of confidence at this point in the season. With that being said, the Ravens are in a decidedly better position than Houston simply because of their defense. I wouldn’t expect this one to be anything close to pretty as mistakes will be made by both Flacco and Savage on Monday Night Football. When the 60 minutes are up, though, Baltimore should find a way to get the win and stay in the Wild Card hunt, somehow.

Final Score: Houston Texans: 10, Baltimore Ravens: 19

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