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Lions vs. Ravens: Preview, score prediction for Week 13

By Dustin Cox

BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 27: Head coach Jim Caldwell of the Detroit Lions (R) shakes hands with head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens after their preseason game at M
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 27: Head coach Jim Caldwell of the Detroit Lions (R) shakes hands with head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens after their preseason game at M /
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Detroit Lions vs. Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens will host the Detroit Lions on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium. Both teams are 6-5 and looking to stay alive in the Wild Card playoff race. However, the Ravens currently have the better shot of that, sitting in prime position to make the postseason.

Meanwhile, the Lions face an uphill battle in a loaded NFC. They’ll need a strong showing over the final five games of the season if they’re to make it back to the playoffs for the second-straight year.

Let’s make some predictions and a score prediction to preview this Week 13 matchup.

Ravens will hold the Lions under 50 rushing yards.

The Lions are ranked 30th in the league in rushing yards. The Ravens are 23rd against the run, but Brandon Williams’ absence for several weeks dropped them way lower than they should be. They are playing like a top-five rushing defense since Williams returned.

Detroit has relied on Matthew Stafford to win games through the air, and they will have to rely on that formula again this Sunday. I predict that the Ravens will completely shut down the run early in the game, and the Lions will prematurely abandon it, handing the game completely over to Stafford.

Matt Stafford will throw for 1 TD and 1 INT.

Stafford has led the Lions to the 10th best passing offense in the NFL. The Ravens, on the other hand, have the second-ranked passing defense, and lead the league with 18 interceptions. Stafford has the ability to destroy secondaries, but Baltimore has been very staunch against the pass this year.

I predict Stafford to find the end zone once but also throw an interception. Baltimore is full of ballhawks on the backend, meaning Stafford must tread lightly. They will not allow him to be the gunslinger he normally is.

Next: NFL: 5 Teams on upset alert in Week 13

Score Prediction

The winner of this game will be determined by one matchup in my opinion. Matt Stafford vs. the Ravens defense. I think Joe Flacco and the offense will do just enough against a mediocre Detroit defense to allow their own defense to seal the game. A win for either team would be huge for their playoff chances. The Ravens are starting to find momentum though, and I don’t think it will halt at M&T Bank Stadium this Sunday.

Final Score: Detroit Lions: 19, Baltimore Ravens: 24

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