BOLD PREDICTIONS: Ravens v. Texans

In a battle of teams that won their respective divisions in 2024, the Baltimore Ravens (1-3) host the Houston Texans (1-3) at M&T Bank Stadium this Sunday (1 p.m. kickoff). Baltimore is 1-1 at home this season, while Houston is 0-2 on the road.

Including playoffs, Baltimore is 13-2 all time against the Texans. The Ravens have won six straight games in this series, including last season’s 31-2 Christmas Day victory at Houston. Baltimore is 8-0 all time against the Texans in Charm City.

Television: CBS / WJZ Ch. 13 (Local Baltimore): Ian Eagle (PBP) J.J. Watt (analyst) Evan Washburn (sideline)

Officiating Crew Chief: Land Clark

Clark has tossed 54 flags in 4 games which is about average for crews so far this season. Fifty-four percent of his yellow laundry is aimed at the home team.

Forecast at Kickoff: Sunny skies, temperature at 84 degrees, 0% chance of rain, winds S at 4 mph

Betting Line:

• DraftKings: Ravens + 2 ½, over/under at 40 ½
• Fanduel: Ravens + 1 ½, over/under at 40 ½
• Fanatics: Ravens +2 ½, over/under 41
• ESPNBET: Ravens + 2 ½, over/under 41 ½
• Bet365: Ravens + 2, over/under 41

Forecast: Sunny and 75 degrees, winds SSE at 6 MPH, 0% chance of precipitation

Tony Lombardi

Fans have been bludgeoned by the ineptitude of the Baltimore Ravens so far during the 2025 season. Just 4 weeks in, this campaign already feels like an eternity and the outlook is rather bleak. That said, things can and do change quickly in the NFL and as they say, “on any given Sunday”.

• As of this writing, Cooper Rush will get the start for the home team. Many this week have lauded Rush’s efforts as a relief pitcher in Dallas but there, Coop had the luxury of a much better offensive line than the one he’ll be standing behind on Sunday, when he’ll be running for his life – quite slowly I might add. Rush will be on his back looking up at the Baltimore blue sky no less than 5 times. Cooper’s effort will be very Jimmy Clausen-esque, connecting 16 times on 35 attempts for 172 yards and 1 INT.
• Derrick Henry will be the workhorse and unfortunately for The King, it will be a bruising afternoon. He’ll carry the ball 24 times for 86 yards and a score.
• Mike Green earns his first sack, and he’ll be joined by Kyle Van Noy and Tavius Robinson.
• The Ravens win the turnover battle 2 to 1.
• LaJohntay Wester gets his first big league punt return for a score in a game that counts, and it proves to be the difference in this painful display of football, one that will hardly be a sight for sore eyes.

Ravens emerge from the ugliness with the dub.

Ravens 20, Texans 17

Rob Shields

The Ravens face a tough test Sunday.  The Texans have an excellent defense and the Ravens are without several starters, including (likely) Lamar Jackson.

It’s a huge challenge in this league to win with so many starters out and, to make matters worse, Kyle Hamilton got hurt in practice. We will see if he’s back at practice Friday but if he’s out, I’m not sure who the leader on defense will be or who will even be calling the signals.

As I write this, the 49ers are beating the Rams 14-0 (they held on to win in OT).  San Fran was playing without their starting QB, multiple weapons and had some defensive injuries. They are on the road and playing a better team than the Ravens are.

I think the Ravens know this is essentially a must-win game and I think they come out with a run-first mentality and find a way to come out on top.

Ravens 24 Texans 20

John Hughey

It’s hard to get excited about Sunday’s matchup, when it gives off 2021 vibes. The team is riddled with injuries, and the lack of stellar play through four weeks, has excitement in the toilet. Cooper Rush is experienced when it comes to being a starting QB in this league, but how well does he fit in to the Ravens scheme? Derrick Henry will be the sole focus for Houston’s defense, and Rush’s lack of scrambling ability has me worried it’ll be another stinker of a performance from the run game. Houston’s front seven is legit, and the underwhelming play of the Ravens o-line hasn’t produced much confidence.

— The Ravens rushing attack will be the sole focus. If they plan to succeed, Henry will need 20+ touches

— KVN’s return pays off, picking up a sack for just the defense’s 2nd of the season

— C.J. Stroud can sling it when confident. This secondary has given plenty of QBs solid performances. Stroud throws for 325 and 2 TDs, picking up his first win against the Ravens

Texans 28 Ravens 17

Derek Arnold

DeMeco Ryans and C.J. Stroud have a couple years’ worth of frustrations to take out on Baltimore, and I don’t think they’re going to feel sorry for whoever is wearing purple jerseys on Sunday, whether it’s the guys who were touted as “the NFL’s best roster,” or moonlighting car salesmen. John Harbaugh’s squad embarrassed Stroud in his NFL debut, knocked them out of the playoffs in 2023, and humiliated them on Christmas Day.

They’re out for blood, and this decimated Ravens roster just isn’t in a position to provide much resistance.

On the other hand…

I’m as sick of John Harbaugh as anyone, but even I can admit that THIS is where he thrives: in getting an out-matched roster to play better than anyone expects. For that reason, I think they keep it close, but Cooper Rush fails to orchestrate the game-winning drive at the end.

Texans 24 Ravens 23

Jared Pinder

I know I have been a Debby Downer when it comes to the 2025 squad but I just can’t predict wins with this roster this injury prone and with the coaches on a seat this hot. In a way this game is probably a must-win for both teams but the Ravens have got to win this game with the Rams up next, no matter who their QB is.

— Cooper rush has a decent Ravens debut but ultimately struggles and throws at least one interception.

— The Ravens lean on Henry and he finds the end zone.

— The Ravens defense does manage to get some pressure, with Mike Green recording his first sack; however, with the secondary shorthanded, Stroud has a three-plus touchdown performance.

I want to feel confident they can somehow pull this out, but with the Hamilton news, I just can’t.

Texans 27 Ravens 14

Vermont Raven

The Ravens respond with their backs against the wall.

— Derrick Henry rushes for 150+ yards and a touchdown.

— The Ravens defense forces 2 turnovers; 1 strip-sack and 1 interception.

— The Ravens defense holds Texans under 200 yards rushing.

— Tyler Loop kicks three field goals.

Ravens 23 Texans 17

Kevin McNelis

“Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane.”-Red, The Shawshank Redemption.

For those who haven’t watched “Shawshank,” spoiler alert, the resolution of the film finds that hope ends up being Red’s deliverance. Unfortunately, this season for Ravens fans has felt more and more like a prison with each passing day, and as Red would tell you, prison is no fairy tale world. I would love to have hope that they’re going to turn this thing around. But hope is a dangerous thing.

— I fully believe that Lamar Jackson is the kind of competitor that would gut out an injury and take the field if he could, but the team’s medical staff ultimately makes that call, and I don’t believe they’re foolhardy enough to risk their franchise QB getting hurt even worse. Unfortunately, this likely means Cooper Rush gets the start for Baltimore, and if you followed us during our preseason and Training Camp coverage, you know confidence is not exactly high in Rush’s fit in the offense. Rush throws two picks in the first half, completing less than 50% of his passes before Tyler Huntley is subbed in at halftime.

— To this point in his young career, CJ Stroud has yet to record a touchdown against the Ravens. That changes on Sunday as the Texans implement their “We’re giving the ball to Nico Collins and there’s nothing you can do about it” offense, similarly to what the Lions did with Amon-Ra St. Brown. Collins goes for 100+ and at least one touchdown as he steamrolls a depleted Ravens secondary.

— The Ravens will feed Derrick Henry in this matchup, and it’ll look good from the outset. Unfortunately, in doing so, Todd Monken will continue to insist that Henry’s carries hit the inside gaps, where guard play continues to be a problem. By the second half, Emory Jones will be taking snaps for either Andrew Vorhees or Daniel Faalele (smart money says for Vorhees), but by then, it’s too late to keep the game in hand, and they once again gravitate away from the ground attack to try to stay in it.

Baltimore enters next week 1-4, and the axes begin to sharpen as the front office contemplates changes to be made at the BYE.

Texans 27 Ravens 16

Chris Schisler

I’ve kind of been dreading this game because it will tell the Ravens a lot about themselves. It looks like the Ravens won’t have Lamar Jackson, which is a big plus for the Houston Texans. I think the Ravens will go back to a ground and pound kind of a game and Derrick Henry can keep the offense viable in a close game.

The Texans might be struggling too, but can you trust the Baltimore defense? I think John Harbaugh has lost the locker room. The injuries on defense are very concerning. Look, I’ll try to find some positivity but I think it’s going to pour because it’s already raining.

Texans 28 Ravens 14

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