Week 14: Los Angeles Rams (6-6) at Baltimore Ravens (9-3)

When

Sunday, December 10, 2022, at 1 p.m.

Where

M&T Bank Stadium

Spread

Ravens are favored by 7 points (ESPN Bet)

How to watch/listen

Television: FOX / WBFF Ch. 45 (Baltimore)

National radio: ESPN Radio

Stream: Fubo TV

Series history

Baltimore leads the all-time series against the Rams, 5-3, including a 3-1 mark under coach John Harbaugh. The Ravens have won five straight games against the Rams.

By the numbers

4.18 – Passing yards per play allowed by the Ravens, which ranks No. 1 in the NFL. Baltimore has allowed just 10 passing touchdowns, also fewest in the league.

Notable

The Ravens have already clinched their 12th winning season during Harbaugh’s 16 years as head coach. The Ravens’ 9-3 record this season is their best start since 2019, when the team finished 14-2.

2023 rankings

Ravens: Total offense: 7; Total defense: 2

Rams: Total offense: 13; Total defense: 16

Ravens game plan

Offense

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has mostly thrived with new offensive coordinator Todd Monken. The Ravens have been able to find a balance between throwing and running. As the weather turns colder, look for Monken to put more emphasis on the ground game to wear teams down. The Ravens have four players capable of effectively running the football — Jackson, Gus Edwards, Justice Hill, and Keaton Mitchell. The Rams are ranked 16th against the run, allowing 111.1 yards per game. Jackson will likely use the run to set up the deep pass. The Rams have an effective pass rush led by defensive tackle Aaron Donald (six sacks) and nose tackle Kobie Turner (5.5 sacks), so Jackson will have to get rid of the ball quickly when he’s in the pocket. The key for the Ravens will be avoiding turnovers.

Defense

The Ravens have been dominant throughout the season and are allowing just 15.6 points per game, which ranks No. 1 in the NFL. Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen are one of the most dynamic linebacker duos in the league and each can create havoc for opposing quarterbacks. The Ravens’ secondary could get a boost with the potential return of Marlon Humphrey, who has missed the past two games with a calf injury. Humphrey’s return could be vital against the Rams, who like to throw the ball downfield. Quarterback Matthew Stafford has thrown for 2,768 yards with 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Wide receiver Puka Nacua has 77 catches for 1,029 yards, which broke the franchise record for receiving yards in a rookie season. The Ravens will keep Stafford under pressure to prevent him from getting comfortable in the pocket. The Rams will have trouble running the ball against the Ravens’ stout defensive line led by Justin Madubuike. Los Angeles is averaging 22.3 points per game, which ranks 13th in the NFL.

Prediction

The Ravens have won five of their past six games and have beaten two other NFC West opponents — the Cardinals and Seahawks — this season. Baltimore has the look of a Super Bowl contender, but it plays one of the league’s toughest schedules over the final stretch of the season. The Ravens haven’t played a game in almost two weeks and should be mostly healthy. The Rams have won three consecutive games but will struggle in this East Coast game against the Ravens’ tenacious defense.

Ravens 27, Rams 16