The Baltimore Ravens (8-8) and Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) meet tonight on Sunday Night Football. Kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m. ET from Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa. Ravens vs Steelers will broadcast on NBC and Peacock.
The Ravens are 3.5-point favorites on the spread (Ravens -3.5), with the over/under set at 41.5. The Ravens are -200 favorites on the moneyline; the Steelers are +165 homeunderdogs.
Let's get into my Ravens vs Steelers predictions for Sunday Night Football.
Ravens vs Steelers Predictions, Picks
- Ravens vs Steelers pick: Over 40.5 (play to 41.5)
My Ravens vs Steelers best bet is on the over. Find the best odds by checking our live NFL odds page.
Ravens vs Steelers Odds
| Ravens Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3.5 -110 | 41.5 -110o / -110u | -200 |
| Steelers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3.5 -110 | 41.5 -110o / -110u | +165 |
Sunday Night Football Preview, Prediction
The Ravens may be playing for the AFC North title — one that's hard-earned year after year — but it's hard to say they've done much to earn the opportunity. Sure, Lamar Jackson has been on and off the field due to injury, but this defense has remained a massive liability.
Last week, things were just as bad as they've been in a while, even though the defense limited the Packers to 24 points in a win. Malik Willis looked like a superstar, going 18-of-21 for 288 yards, and on the ground, he led the team with 60 yards on nine carries while the team as a whole averaged close to five yards per tote.
This is just what we've seen week after week out of Baltimore. The run defense has held up for the most part, but the secondary has ranked 20th in DVOA against the pass and the team's allowed the third-most yards per game and a high number of passing plays.
The irony is that this Ravens offense is built around the run, carrying the highest run-play rate in football, and they've managed to keep this season afloat.
Derrick Henry carried a whopping 36 times last week, going for 216 yards and four touchdowns, and even with Jackson expected to return, I wouldn't put it past the Ravens to give Henry a similar workload, considering he's one of the few things that works about this team.
It looks like Rashod Bateman and corner Marlon Humphrey may miss this game, but given what we've laid out about the shortcomings of the Ravens' secondary and their affinity for the run, it's unlikely this makes a huge impact.
The Steelers have fully recovered from their midseason stumble, taking three out of their last four en route to a chance to play for the AFC North.
It certainly wasn't easy with Pittsburgh requiring a win over the Ravens, Dolphins and Lions — with just the game against Miami coming at home — and after that stretch, the offense came to a screeching halt in Cleveland, where Pittsburgh looked to be putting its season in jeopardy.
That game was simply a tough one to really read too far into, as the Browns' elite pass rush had Aaron Rodgers throwing the ball almost immediately after receiving the snap.
It led to a shaky game through the air, but things should really change in Week 18 when Rodgers meets a generous Ravens secondary and a front seven that has come up with the ninth-lowest pressure rate in the NFL.
I'm expecting the Steelers to throw the ball a lot here — they rank 10th in pass-play rate and are entering into a solid matchup.
We can also take solace in the fact that Rodgers had been shining up until that loss to the Browns, beginning with a 284-yard day against the Ravens in early December.
He wasn't sacked and put forth a 103.1 passer rating in what was a convincing game.
Baltimore's passing attack had a pretty rough go of it with Jackson going just 19-of-35, but on the ground, the Ravens averaged 5.4 yards per carry.
Pittsburgh's run defense has held up pretty well this year, but judging by that performance and the last month or so for Baltimore, it may not matter.
Ravens vs Steelers Predictions, SNF Betting Analysis
I know this has the feel of a grind-fest. We've seen both of these teams play very close games with the stakes high over the years, and with Baltimore's ground-heavy attack in particular, it may not feel as if points will be easy to come by.
I am a big fan of this matchup for the Steelers, however, even with the Ravens entering as one of the best road teams in the AFC.
Baltimore's secondary has simply been atrocious, and its defensive line hasn't forced nearly enough pressures to make up for it. The loss of Humphrey would simply be the icing on the cake.
The Ravens have found something in simply giving the ball to Henry upwards of 30 times, however, and I'm not sure this Steelers team can stop them.
They couldn't do it a few weeks ago, and it hasn't seemed like any defense — even some of the most competent — has had an answer in the latter stages of the season. There should be offense.
Pick: Over 40.5 (-115) | Play to Over 41.5 (-110)
Ravens vs Steelers Betting Trends
Ravens vs Steelers Viewing Info: Channel, Start Time, Streaming
| Location: | Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa. |
| Date: | Sunday, Jan. 4 |
| Time: | 8:20 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming Options: | NBC | Peacock |
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