Eagles vs Ravens Odds, Pick, Prediction: NFL Preseason Preview

The greatest dynasty in (preseason) sports will take the field for the first time in 2023 as we make an Eagles vs. Ravens pick on Saturday night.

Continue reading for my Eagles vs. Ravens preview below to see how should you bet this game as Baltimore looks for its 24th straight ([) preseason victory.

Since John Harbaugh took over in 2008, the Ravens' preseason trends speak for themselves.

• 43-12 (78.2%) straight-up (SU)
• 38-16-1 (70.4%) against the spread (ATS)
• +7.4 average point differential

The full body of work is impressive, but the turn up since 2016 is the stuff legends are made of.

• 23-0 SU
• 19-3-1 (86.4%) ATS
• +12.2 average point differential

If the NFL preseason were a video game, the Ravens would be a cheat code.

But in examining their success since The Streak began, what stands out is that they're not spamming any one thing. Each year's squad has showcased different strengths (and overcome different weaknesses), though some trends have emerged. Below is a chart of the rankings of Baltimore's preseason Pro Football Focus grades in each category:

The one thing the Ravens have been consistently great at in the preseason is defense. While their offense has ranked as low as 31st (2017) and their special teams as low as 32nd (2022), their defense has been top-11 every single year.

Looking deeper, they've been consistently great at run defense (8.0 average rank) and pass coverage (8.2), solid at tackling (12.7) and middling with their pass rush (15.2). Their run defense has been the most consistent, never ranking lower than 15th while all their other units have ranked outside the top 20 at least once.

It makes sense that run defense takes on added importance in the preseason, as backup quarterbacks and offensive lines aren't going to be able to overcome second-and-long or third-and-long often, even against a shaky pass rush or coverage unit.

The Ravens defense that takes the field against the Eagles should once again be strong against the run — Baltimore's depth issues come on the perimeter (edge rusher, cornerback) rather than the interior. Run defense will be key against an Eagles team that will rotate a stronger group of running backs than we usually see in the preseason. Rashaad Penny said he's playing, and former 49ers third-round pick is a talented back who has had a great camp.

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Lamar Jackson isn't expected to play, and Jalen Hurts likely won't get more than a series as the Eagles have a quick turnaround for Monday's joint practices with the Browns.

The Ravens have gotten great quarterback play the last two preseasons, and I'd easily take their backup quarterback depth (Tyler Huntley/Josh Johnson/Anthony Brown) over the Eagles' (Marcus Mariota/Tanner McKee/Ian Book).

Johnson is a 16-year NFL vet who has a 12-to-3 career preseason TD/INT ratio; Brown averaged 9.9 yards per attempt on 47 attempts last preseason with 3 TDs and one interception while adding another score on the ground for the Ravens.

Book, meanwhile, is averaging 5.4 YPA with 2 TDs and 3 INTs across his preseason career, and McKee is a rookie sixth-round pick in his first NFL action.

While Nick Sirianni's squad is 0-2 SU and 0-2 ATS in Week 1 of the preseason, the Ravens have been excellent ATS in Week 1 of the preseason under Harbaugh. According to our Action Labs data, Baltimore is 13-1 (92.9%) ATS in preseason Week 1, covering by 12.3 points per game.

Since 2016, 65.2% of the Ravens' wins have come by at least seven points — they've had no five- or six-point wins over that span. Of course, 65.2% isn't 100%, so I'd always recommend getting some action on Baltimore's moneyline as well.