NFL Week 14 Matchup - Preview: Baltimore Ravens at Houston Texans
The Baltimore Ravens will go on the road to take Houston Texans on 13th of December in a nationally-televised game between the teams with vastly different playoff possibilities.
Ravens' receiver Derrick Mason believes that given the talent on the Ravens' offense, they should be much better than they've established the last two weeks.
Baltimore, who lost 13-10 to Steelers on 5th of December, still manage their playoff destiny, but at 8-4 they probably need to win against Texans to have a chance to catch Pittsburgh. Ravens could have an easier time Monday night when they travel
to face the Houston Texans.
According to latest NFL odds, odds makers have made the Ravens favourites for Monday’s game against Texans. According to the Current NFL Public Betting Information, 83% of more than 6,609 bets for this game have been placed on Baltimore.
"It's disappointing because it was such an opportunity for us that we probably have lost in terms of putting ourselves in position to control our destiny for that seed," Coach John Harbaugh said. "But we still have an opportunity to achieve everything from
a division championship to the wild card."
However, the offense faltered again. Ravens were driving late in the 4th quarter when Joe Flacco was sacked and mishandled the ball, setting up the Steelers' go-ahead touchdown. A week after a 17-10 win over Tampa Bay, Baltimore finished with
269 yards - their 2nd lowest total this season.
Defensively, Baltimore’s end Terrell Suggs continues to be one of NFL's top pass rushers, and a challenge for Baltimore will be slowing not only Texans' running back Arian Foster -- the NFL's leading rusher entering the final quarter -- but also the quarterback Matt
Schaub and wide receiver Andre Johnson. Baltimore have totalled 27 points over the last two games after averaging 28.7 the previous six. Mason stood by his comments this week.
"Everybody on this team is on the plane, everybody's thinking the same," Mason said. "We just want to go out there and score a lot of points and get this thing correct."
Texans, at 5-7, have faltered through an unsatisfying middle of the season after winning their first two games. But they remain one of NFL's most-potent offenses, with Johnson playing effectively despite being hampered by an injury much of the season.
Ravens’ offense could be assisted by the return of fullback Le'Ron McClain, who has started nine games and may help provide more defence for Flacco, who was kicked out four times Sunday and completed 51.5 percent of his passes - his 2nd worst
percentage of the season.
Texans have lost five of six with its only win coming against a Titans team that is splitting up.
Houston Texans are break off a 34-27 loss at Philadelphia Eagles last 2nd of December. Houston, which led 24-20 going into the 4th quarter, allowed 416 yards in the game, including 301 passing.
Regardless of a struggling defence, which has given up more than 400 yards in three of the last four games and ranks 29th in overall yards per game (388.8), the Houston Texans are still in the playoff race in the AFC South, and have games still remaining
against division rivals Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars.
However, everyone recognizes that the defence needs to get better if the Texans are to make another late-season run in the hopes of reaching the playoffs for the first time. Texans’ last four losses have been by an average of 6.5 points and all came after
the team entered the 4th quarter with a lead.
Ravens have won all three meetings against Texans, including 41-13 in 2008.
Tags: