Ravens at Texans Betting Preview: Ravens (-7/-110), Texans (+7/-110)
Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors after throwing three touchdown passes in the Ravens’ 38-6 season-opening romp over Cleveland last Sunday.
The reigning NFL MVP would love a repeat performance of that contest this week, or better yet a duplicate effort of his four-touchdown showing in Baltimore’s 41-7 victory over Houston on Nov. 17.
Jackson, who also tormented the Texans with 79 yards on the ground, connected with Mark Ingram II for a pair of receiving scores in that contest.
While Ingram was limited to just 29 yards in the season opener, fellow running back J.K. Dobbins rushed for two touchdowns in his NFL debut.
Tight end Mark Andrews found the end zone on two occasions last week and also scored one of his team-leading 10 receiving touchdowns in the previous encounter versus Houston. Speedy Marquise Brown had five catches for a team-high 101 yards in the season opener.
Houston Texans
The new-look Texans didn’t fare well in their first game without four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, with Deshaun Watson being limited to just 253 yards passing in the Texans’ 34-20 season-opening setback to Kansas City on Sept. 10.
Watson was flustered in his last encounter with the Ravens, throwing for just 169 yards and an interception while being sacked six times. David Johnson, who was acquired from Arizona in the trade for Hopkins, totaled 109 scrimmage yards (77 rushing, 32 receiving) and a touchdown in his debut against the Chiefs. Johnson also found the end zone in his last meeting with Baltimore, doing so while playing with the Cardinals.
Will Fuller V stepped up in the absence of Hopkins, reeling in team-high totals in receptions (eight) and yards (112) versus the Chiefs. Offseason acquisitions Brandin Cooks and Randall Cobb combined for four catches and 43 yards while Kenny Stills did not reel in a throw from Watson.
Ravens at Texans Betting Pick for Week 2
One has to feel bad for the Texans, who are facing their second NFL MVP in as many games to begin the season. After 2018 winner Patrick Mahomes tossed three touchdowns against Houston, look for the reigning title holder to carve up the Texans’ defense for the second consecutive week.
Defensively, the Ravens limited the Browns to just 306 total yards and forced three turnovers in the season opener. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who shared the team lead with three interceptions in 2019, got off on the right foot with one pick in the season opener.
Ravens at Texans Betting Pick:
Ravens 34, Texans 21
Ravens at Texans Best Bet for Week 2
Offense is the name of the game for Baltimore, which led the NFL in rushing yards (3,296) as well as the AFC in total yards (6,521) last season. The Ravens didn’t step off the gas in the opener, as their 38 points trailed only Green Bay for the most in the league.
J.J. Watt and the Texans will have a hard time chasing down Jackson and slowing Baltimore’s high-octane offense in this one.
Ravens at Texans Best Bet: OVER 52 (+105)
–Field Level Media
