Top Ravens vs. Chargers NFL Sunday Night Football Picks & Predictions (Week 12)
Let’s dive into Sunday Night Football for Week 12 and look at our top pick for Ravens vs. Chargers. We’ll provide the betting outlook for each team along with our best bet for tonight’s Sunday Night Football matchup.
NFL Sunday Night Football Picks
Ravens Outlook
The Week 12 edition of SNF features two teams moving in drastically different directions, with the underwhelming Chargers (4-6) playing host to the AFC-leading Ravens (8-3). Baltimore is absolutely rolling right now, winning 5 of their previous 6 games with each victory coming by a margin of at least 7 points. They have an argument to be made for being the most complete team in the entire NFL, with the league's 2nd-best scoring defense and 4th-highest scoring offense. The Ravens defense ranks top-5 in the NFL in yards allowed per possession, opponent's time of possession and 1st downs allowed, and leads the league in net yards allowed per pass attempt, passing TDs allowed and sacks. The offense took a hit with the recent loss of Mark Andrews, but I still expect them to operate at a high level with Lamar Jackson, who is currently the consensus 2nd favorite to win the MVP award. The Ravens rank 7th in net yards per pass attempt and Lamar has taken exceptional care of the ball, as their 5 team INTs is 2nd-best in the league. They're elite on the ground as well, rushing for the most TDs in the league with the 2nd-most yards gained per attempt. They have the coaching advantage in this game by a mile with John Harbaugh and they have one of the best kickers in NFL history with Justin Tucker. Simply put, the Ravens are an extremely well-coached and well-rounded team on both sides of the ball and have a serious case to be made as the AFC's representative in the Super Bowl.
Chargers Outlook
Meanwhile, the Chargers have been enduring yet another season of unmet expectations, largely due to inept coaching and horrendous play on the defensive side of the ball. The Chargers have surrendered the most 1st downs to their opponents of any other team in the NFL and rank in the bottom-5 in net yards allowed per pass attempt and both yards and points allowed per possession. Their run defense has been middling at best, ranking just 13th in yards allowed per attempt and conceding the 7th-most rushing TDs in the league. Their offense also took a hit earlier in the season with the loss of Mike Williams, but Justin Herbert has still been able to lead them to a clear top-10 offense. Their passing game ranks 10th in net yards per pass attempt and 3rd in passing TDs, resulting in an offense that ranks top-10 overall in both points and yards per possession. They have really taken care of the ball as well, with Herbert actually tied with Lamar at only 5 INTs on the year and their 8 total turnovers leading the entire NFL. Their run game has been a little bit underwhelming, but they utilize their screen game and check downs to Ekeler as an extension of their run game. As I stated earlier though, they are clearly at a coaching disadvantage in this matchup, especially with the defensive-minded Brandon Staley being too stubborn to give up his defensive play calling duties despite the abject failures that they have displayed on the defensive side of the ball.
Best Bet
While the Chargers have been a disappointment this season and clearly have issues on the defensive side of the ball, only one of their 6 losses this season has come by more than 3 points. Baltimore has also had the privilege of home cooking recently, as this will be their first road game since Week 8 and they're likely looking forward to their Week 13 BYE week after this game. I also see the loss of Mark Andrews as an obvious issue in the short-term especially, even with a capable backup in Isaiah Likely. No matter how many points they surrender on the defensive side of the ball, the Chargers offense has the potential to keep them in the ballgame and kick in the back door at the end of the game if necessary. I'll take the points with the Chargers at home here as a team that has played nothing but close games all year long.
Pick: LAC +3
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