The second and final week of Saturday night football in the NFL features an interesting matchup between the Baltimore Ravens (8-6) and the Los Angeles Chargers (11-3).
The Chargers play at home after a huge win on the road over the division rival Kansas City Chiefs. They face a Ravens team that has been revitalized since quarterback Lamar Jackson took over from Joe Flacco.
This will be a game that will feel like a playoff preview as both teams can’t afford to lose and will rely on their quarterbacks to try and grind out the win.
The Chargers have won four straight games and are tied with the Chiefs atop the AFC West, while the Ravens, who defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week, have won four of their last five and are half a game behind the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North.
This is a game that features two different style quarterbacks facing each other as Jackson, a dual-threat playmaker, takes oh Phillip Rivers an accurate an intelligent passer that knows how to dissect opposing defenses to exploit their biggest weakness.
Jackson, who has a 4-1 record as starting quarterback, can not only get it done with his arm, but with his legs, which he uses to buy time and escape pressure as the pocket collapses around him. He’s an explosive athlete that is averaging almost 86 yards on the ground per game, and also knows how to use run-pass options to keep defenses honest.
The Ravens are not throwing a lot in each game, but they are throwing enough to complement what is a very dominant and dangerous running game that has been thriving since Jackson took over.
As for Rivers he will face arguably the best defense in the league so he will need to rely more than ever on the offensive weapons around to carry his team to victory. Fortunately for him running back Melvin Gordon (out in the previous three games) and wide receiver Keenan Allen are expected to be back from injury this week.
Second-year wide receiver Mike Williams will also be a key piece on offense as he’s built a nice rapport with Rivers this season who’s learned to trust him more and more in clutch plays.
Both teams are playing great football right now, but the Chargers are probably the favorites in this one, not only because they’re playing at home but also because they have all the momentum and the energy deriving from that clutch win over the Chiefs.
Prediction: Ravens 17 – 24 Chargers.
