After their beatdown of the No. 5 Browns, C.J. Stroud and the Texans travel to Baltimore to meet Lamar Jackson and the top-seeded Ravens. We preview Saturday’s battle between AFC foes.
On a warm September day, C.J. Stroud’s NFL career commenced against the Baltimore Ravens. On that afternoon, Stroud put together a serviceable first start, completing 28 of his 44 passing attempts for 242 yards. It was not enough as the Ravens won, 25-9.
Four months and 10 days later, Stroud and the Texans return to Baltimore as a changed team. DeMeco Ryans has led Houston to heights few would have expected to begin this season: an AFC South title, double-digit victories, and a home playoff victory. Riding high into this contest, the Texans have once before met Baltimore in the Divisional Round.
During the 2011 playoffs, these teams met in Baltimore when Matt Schaub and Joe Flacco were the starters. Baltimore came out victorious on that afternoon, outpacing Houston 20-13. If Stroud and the Texans are to stem the tide of Ravens victories during their matchups – the Ravens have won 10 of the 12 matchups these teams have shared – they will advance to the AFC Championship for the first time in their 22-season history.
Furthermore, a win here would only further solidify the notions that Ryans should be Coach of the Year over his opponent from last weekend, Kevin Stefanski of the Cleveland Browns. However, the Ravens, having spent the last few weeks resting and preparing for this game, have been paying very close attention to what the Browns were able to do against their fellow AFC North rival and will bring their No. 1 defense after Stroud and the Texans offense throughout the afternoon on Saturday.
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Game Info and Preview
Date: Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024
Start time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Location: Baltimore, MD.
Stadium: M&T Bank Stadium
TV Info: ESPN, ABC, NFL+, Sunday Ticket
Betting Odds Preview
Odds courtesy of DraftKings.
Point Spread: HOU +9 (-115), BAL -9 (-105)
Moneyline: HOU (+320), BAL (-410)
Over/Under: O/U 43.5 (-110)
The Texans enter as a nine-point underdog.
What To Watch For
The Ravens open their postseason in the same way they had in 2019: against an AFC South team. However, Baltimore fell into the same trap many other No. 1-seeded teams have over the years and would lose that game to the Tennessee Titans.
One would have to believe John Harbaugh has instilled in his unit lessons from that mistake four years ago. Many of those core players still remain with the team and remember the agony of defeat first-hand. As a result, Harbaugh will have his club much more prepared to defend their home-field advantage over the next two weeks, starting with the Texans and, if they should advance, against the Bills or Chiefs. Only after winning those two games would they punch their ticket to Las Vegas, Nev., for Super Bowl 58.
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