NFL Predictions: Ravens vs. Chargers Preview

Written by Jake Thompson
Sunday, 18 December 2011 17:52

It’s time for some predictions in the NFL Sunday night late game between the Ravens and the Chargers.

The Baltimore Ravens (10-3) and the San Diego Chargers (6-7) will meet up in the Sunday late game tonight, and our predictions will help make sense of this clash.  The Ravens are currently on top of the AFC North standings, while the Chargers are still very much alive in one of the NFL’s worst divisions.  These teams last met up in 2009 when the Ravens won 31-26 in San Diego as 1-point underdogs, and Baltimore will once again be the road team here.

Legends Sportsbook has the NFL betting odds favoring the road-team Ravens at -2.5, while the total is sitting at 44 currently.  Although the Ravens have amassed an impressive 7-0 record in Baltimore this year, they have gone just 3-3 on the road.  The Chargers are 4-3 in San Diego and have now won 2 straight on the season after dropping 6 in a row previously.  Baltimore enters this game on a 4-game winning streak but has lost road games against the Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Seattle Seahawks despite being favored in all 3 contests.

Ravens’ Offense vs. Chargers’ Defense:

Baltimore has a nice balance of the run and the pass, but they do tend to struggle offensively a bit when they are not able to get their rushing attack going.  Quarterback Joe Flacco (3122 yards, 56.6%, 15 TD, 9 INT) isn’t capable of carrying the offense by himself, but luckily for him that won’t be an issue against the Chargers.  The San Diego defense isn’t good at stopping the run, and Baltimore is really turning it up on offense lately.  Look for the Ravens to get what they want since the Chargers simply don’t have the skills to stop them.

Chargers’ Offense vs. Ravens’ Defense:

San Diego’s offense is extremely similar to Baltimore’s, and they are also starting to heat up as the season progresses.  The Chargers have more of a passing threat but you have to question quarterback Philip Rivers (3745 yards, 62.9%, 22 TD, 17 INT) after a season of poor mistakes and bad decision making.  The Ravens once again have one of the elite defenses in the NFL, and they are capable of taking away San Diego’s rushing threat.  The Chargers have struggled at times when they are not able to run effectively, but San Diego is still good enough to put some points on the board at home.

Ravens vs. Chargers Predictions:

Predictions in the Ravens vs. Chargers game call for a competitive clash that could go either way.  I expect Baltimore’s defense and running game to be the difference here, but San Diego has the offense to keep pace with anyone if they can avoid mistakes.  My predictions say the Ravens win by 3 or 4 and the over 44 is the bet to make.

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Ravens 27

Chargers 24