NFL fans will find one more present to unwrap this Christmas as the Ravens travel to San Francisco to take on the 49ers in a potential February preview.
If these teams meet in February, it would be a rematch of Super Bowl XLVII. On that night 10 years ago, the Ravens rolled to a 28-6 lead before the lights in the now-Caesars Superdome went out, delaying the game for 34 minutes. Once the lights were restored, the Ravens withstood a late surge from the 49ers to claim their second Lombardi Trophy.
The last time these teams met in the regular season was also a heavyweight matchup, where the Ravens emerged victorious in Week 13 of the 2019 season, 20-17. The 49ers eventually returned to the Super Bowl that season.
With both teams entering Week 16 at 11-3, this game has home-field implications aplenty for both clubs. The 49ers, with a win of their own and losses by the Eagles, Cowboys, and Lions, will have the NFC’s No. 1 seed secured two full weeks early. Baltimore must wait at least one more week after this regardless of the result to secure the AFC’s No. 1 seed, but they can clinch the AFC North title with a win and a Cleveland loss.
If Baltimore wants to emerge victorious, Lamar Jackson will need to deliver more passing yards than he had the last time these teams met in 2019. On that day, Jackson only threw for 105 yards on 14 completions but made great use of the ground game as he racked up 101 yards on 16 carries. Expect Jackson to also use his legs as much as possible once again. Consequently, this could also be the game where Christian McCaffery makes a statement as to why he should be the first running back in NFL history to win MVP. His 20 combined touchdowns have him head and shoulders above almost everyone else at the position thus far this season.
Click here for more Week 16 game previews.
Game Info
Date: Monday, Dec. 25, 2023
Start time: 5:15 p.m. PT
Location: Santa Clara, Calif.
Stadium: Levi’s Stadium
TV Info: ABC, ESPN+, NFL+, Sunday Ticket
Betting Odds
Odds courtesy of DraftKings.
Point Spread: BAL +5 (-110), SF -5 (-110)
Moneyline: BAL (+180), SF (-218)
Over/Under: O/U 47 (-112)
The 49ers open as five-point favorites at home.
What To Watch For
Expect the teams in this contest to play at a level befitting the stakes that are present. Both clubs make very few mistakes, so the first to blink and give their opponent golden opportunities to score will find themselves walking out of Levi’s Stadium having lost this game. Furthermore, the loser of this game will depart having brought their closest competitors for home-field advantage back into the mix.
Main Image Credit:
