NFL Week 3 comes to a close with the Baltimore Ravens (1-1) and Detroit Lions (1-1) in a blockbuster Monday Night Football matchup on September 22. Lions vs Ravens kicks off at 8:15 p.m. ET at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md.; the game will be broadcast on ESPN and ABC.
The Ravens are 4.5-point favorites on the spread over the Lions (Ravens -4.5) with the game total set at 53.5 points. The Ravens are -230 moneyline favorites and the Lions are +190 underdogs.
Led by Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, the Ravens have been an offensive juggernaut this season, putting up 81 points through two games. The Lions are looking to win their second straight after dropping 52 points on the Bears — a game in which Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams went off for four combined touchdowns and 223 receiving yards.
Below, you can find our Lions vs Ravens predictions for Monday Night Football, which include picks for the spread, over/under and Lamar Jackson player props.
Lions vs Ravens Predictions
| Game | Time (ET) | Best Bet |
|---|---|---|
  | 8:15 p.m. | |
| 8:15 p.m. | |
| 8:15 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NFL Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Lions vs Ravens Odds
- Lions vs Ravens Moneyline: Lions +190, Ravens -230
- Lions vs Ravens Spread: Lions +4.5, Ravens -4.5
- Lions vs Ravens Total: 53.5
Monday Night Football odds via bet365
Lions vs Ravens Same Game Parlay
Our Monday Night Football best bets can be parlayed together at bet365 for a +725 SGP.
- Lions +5.5
- Under 53.5
- Lamar Jackson Over 44.5 Rushing Yards
Lions vs Ravens Parlay Odds: +725
Lions vs Ravens Spread Prediction
By Billy Ward
It’s hard to know what to make of the Lions after two games.
In Week 1, they looked terrible against a tough Packers defense. Detroit's playcalling was unimaginative and the red-zone execution was nonexistent in its first game of the post-Ben Johnson era.
Then in Week 2, the Lions dropped 52 points on their former offensive coordinator, looking like the 2024 version of the team that led the NFL in points per game.
Jared Goff completed more than 80% of his passes while averaging more than 11 yards per attempt and throwing for five touchdowns, while Jahmyr Gibbs averaged just under eight yards per carry.
Our Brandon Anderson ranked both the Packers' and Bears' defenses similarly post-Micah Parsons trade, so it’s hard to attribute the Jekyll and Hyde performance of the Lions to anything other than growing pains in a new offensive system.
On the other side, the Ravens are averaging more than 40 points per game despite facing tough units (Browns and Bills), but also have allowed their fair share of offense. I’m not sure the Ravens will be able to stop the Lions, which should keep this game reasonably close.
With the spread rising as high as 5.5 at FanDuel, the Lions could lose a close game and still cover the spread. That’s exactly what I expect to happen here, though I’ll be waiting until close to game time before I take the spread in hopes it gets to the key number of six.
Pick: Lions +5.5; wait for +6 if you can
Dolphins vs Bills Over/Under Prediction
The Lions and Ravens have two of the most explosive offenses in football, so it’s understandable for oddsmakers to line this total as one of the highest we’ve seen in the NFL through three weeks.
However, this game will play out more methodically than the typical Lions game – which is why I see value on the under.
The Ravens have been good against the pass outside of the fourth quarter against Buffalo back in Week 1. Josh Allen averaged just 5.7 yards per attempt through three quarters until the momentum shifted. Joe Flacco mustered just 4.5 yards per pass attempt a week ago against Baltimore.
In fact, the Ravens have been more vulnerable against the run this season. Opposing running backs are averaging 4.7 yards per rush against Baltimore's front seven.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell will make it a point to showcase the ground game that has made this offense so effective in recent seasons. This also happens to be the perfect gameplan to protect Jared Goff on the road.
Goff’s numbers have historically dipped when playing on the road, and more specifically, when he is playing outdoors. The Lions will want to shorten the game and limit possessions, which they should have a good chance of accomplishing behind Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.
When it comes to the Ravens offense, you can expect a heavier dose of Derrick Henry than we saw a week ago. The Lions defense ranks 19th in adjusted line yards per push, so I expect the Ravens to have very manageable third-down situations.
However, the Lions defense has tackled well to open the season, allowing just 1.7 yards after contact per attempt, the sixth-best mark league-wide.
This is important because while Henry should find success on the ground, Detroit should be able to limit the explosive runs that puts points on the board in an instant.
Over the last five seasons, unders have cashed at a 60.5% rate in all games where the total closed above 51. I’d play this down to 52.5.
Pick: Under 53.5; bet to Under 52.5
Lions vs Ravens Player Props
By Brit Devine
These big primetime games are when I want to take Lamar Jackson's rushing overs, and when you factor in that the Lions have played the sixth-most man coverage this season, this line is sitting far too low.
Man coverage generally allows for more yards from QB runs or scrambles, which is the angle we are looking at here that the books don't seem to adjust for.
The Lions allowed the fourth-most rushing yards to QBs last season and the third most in 2023. They have a new defensive coordinator (Kelvin Sheppard) with Aaron Glenn now coaching the Jets, but the scheme seems to be about the same, and they were the top man defense by percentage of plays last season.
I'm betting to win 2 units until 46.5 and 1 unit until 49.5. My NFL bets of 2+ units are 7-2 to start the season.
Pick: Lamar Jackson Over 44.5 Rushing Yards (-115)
