The Baltimore Ravens have a good recod in this fixture of late and there are plenty of factors to suggest they'll improve on it even further...
Match Odds: Baltimore [1.63], Houston [2.40]
Baltimore are usually thought of as a defensive team but they have the offensive talent to make things happen, although that has not happened in the past two weeks. The defeat last Sunday was particularly damaging as they lost control of their own fate in the division after a 13-10 loss to rivals Pittsburgh.
The defence did their job on that occasion, holding the Steelers to 288 yards, but the offense faltered again - a late fumble by quarterback Joe Flacco costing them a late touchdown, this coming a week after a 17-10 win over Tampa Bay. There Baltimore finished with 269 yards - their second-lowest total this season. Baltimore have totalled 27 points over the last two games after averaging 28.7 the previous six and a trip to the porous Houston Texans defence could be the tonic that the Ravens need.
Their coach John Harbaugh has been critical of their ability to run the ball but he may well want to place even more emphasis on the passing game on Monday night. The Texans, who are coming off a 34-27 loss at Philadelphia last Thursday, led 24-20 going into the fourth quarter, but allowed 416 yards in the game, including 301 passing. The Texans are last in the NFL in pass defence - including 14 completions of 40-plus yards - and the Ravens should have mismatches all over the field in three-receiver sets.
Continued:
Baltimore Ravens @ Houston Texans : NFL : Betfair.net
12-13-2010, 03:13 PM
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