The Baltimore Ravens will open their home schedule in Week 2, giving fans their first look at the team under new head coach Jesse Minter at M&T Bank Stadium.
After an impressive 41-23 road win over the Indianapolis Colts, Baltimore enters with plenty of momentum, and much of the excitement centers around an offense that looked extremely comfortable in Declan Doyle's system. Lamar Jackson threw for 324 yards, while Derrick Henry ran for 144 yards and three touchdowns, giving the Ravens a balanced attack that Indy struggled to contain. Zay Flowers was another major catalyst, exploding for 150 receiving yards and a touchdown before leaving the game with a hamstring injury. His availability will be something to monitor heading into Sunday, particularly
against a Saints team that just demonstrated it can create plenty of offensive fireworks.
New Orleans endured a heartbreaking opening-week loss in Detroit, falling 31-30 in overtime after rallying from a 21-0 deficit. The Saints eventually tied the game on Tyler Shough's touchdown pass to Juwan Johnson, then answered Detroit's overtime touchdown with another score from Shough to Noah Fant. New Orleans opted to go for the win with a two-point conversion, but Shough's attempt fell incomplete. Despite the crushing finish, Shough provided plenty of encouragement in his second season. After a rough start, he finished 35-of-56 for 410 yards and three touchdowns. Now, the Saints face another tough challenge in Baltimore. The Ravens' offense looked explosive in Week 1, while New Orleans showed it can fight back from adversity.
The question is whether the Saints can avoid another slow start - and whether Flowers is healthy enough to give Baltimore its full complement of weapons.
Saints at Ravens live odds
Opening Lines
- Spread: Ravens -8.5
- Moneyline: Ravens -400; Saints +340
- Over/Under: 45.5
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Saints at Ravens picks against the spread
Adam Kaufman: Ravens -8.5
Lamar Jackson is 25-5 against the NFC, but that doesn't make laying more than a touchdown automatic. The Saints rallied from 21-0 down to force overtime in Detroit, with Tyler Shough throwing for 410 yards and three scores. Alvin Kamara is expected back, too. Still, Baltimore put up 506 yards and 41 points in Indianapolis. Jackson and Derrick Henry faced little resistance, and I don't expect New Orleans to have an answer for both. The question is who'll be available to help them: Zay Flowers, Trey Hendrickson and two starting offensive linemen have each missed the first two practices. If that group is mostly healthy Sunday, I'll lay the points. If the absences pile up, I'll reconsider the number.
Tom Viera: Saints +8.5
Much like the Saints' opener, they are just getting too many points on the road against Baltimore. New Orleans showed plenty of offensive firepower in Week 1, storming back from a 21-point deficit against Detroit and ultimately falling in overtime. Tyler Shough threw for 410 yards and three touchdowns, while Chris Olave erupted for 182 receiving yards. That comeback should give the Saints confidence heading into another difficult road matchup. Baltimore could also be without - or at least have a limited- Zay Flowers, who is dealing with a hamstring injury. If New Orleans can avoid another slow start, its offense has enough firepower to keep this within one score.
Nick Brinkerhoff: Ravens -8.5
The Saints are a frisky bunch that came all the way back in Detroit to almost win in overtime. However, let's not forget that they were down 21-0 to the Lions before staging the second-half comeback. Unlike Detroit, don't expect Baltimore to take its foot off the gas. Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry looked like a duo in midseason form, something we didn't see from a rusty Lions team that stumbled out of the gate. The Ravens will take care of business and make another statement in the process.
Blake Schuster: Ravens -8.5
The Ravens won't play with their food the same way the Lions did in Week 1 against New Orleans. I have no doubt the Saints are vastly improved — and will look even stronger if and when Jordyn Tyson returns — but the Ravens look like legitimate Super Bowl threats after thrashing the Colts on the road in Week 1. Heading back to Baltimore for their home opener should produce a similar result. Too bad for the Saints moral victories don't count in this league.
Where to watch Saints at Ravens
- Matchup: Ravens vs. Saints
- Date: Sept. 20
- Time: 1 p.m.
- Venue: M&T Bank Stadium
- Location: Baltimore, Maryland
- TV: CBS
NFL Week 2 Sunday picks, predictions, odds
- Saints at Ravens
- Vikings at Bears
- Packers at Jets
- Panthers at Falcons
- Bengals at Texans
- Steelers at Patriots
- Eagles at Titans
- Browns at Buccaneers
- Dolphins at 49ers
- Jaguars at Broncos
- Commanders at Cowboys
- Seahawks at Cardinals
- Raiders at Chargers
- Colts at Chiefs
Super Bowl 61 updated odds
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ravens vs Saints spread predictions, odds for NFL Week 2 game
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