Baltimore Ravens vs Houston Texans Prediction: Look forward to a hot one in this quarterfinal

The Houston Texans are set to face the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Divisional Playoffs this Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. The Texans are entering the game with momentum following a convincing victory over the Cleveland Browns in the Wild Card Round. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens enjoyed a first-round bye, providing them with additional time to prepare for this crucial playoff matchup.

Now, let's delve into the previews of this highly anticipated game and provide a prediction for the outcome.

The Baltimore Ravens had an impressive regular season record of 13-4, securing the top spot in the AFC and earning a well-deserved first-round bye. They have been in excellent form, winning six of their last seven games. Their sole loss during this stretch occurred in the final week against the Pittsburgh Steelers when key players were rested in preparation for the playoffs. In their last six victories, the Ravens displayed offensive prowess by scoring 56, 33, 23, 37, 20, and 34 points.

The Ravens' offense has been formidable, averaging 28.4 points per game, with 213.8 passing yards and 156.5 rushing yards per game. Star quarterback Lamar Jackson has contributed significantly, throwing for 3,678 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, while also showcasing his rushing ability with 821 yards and five touchdowns. Running back Gus Edwards has been a crucial asset, amassing 810 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, and wide receiver Zay Flowers has caught 77 passes for 858 yards and five touchdowns.

Defensively, the Ravens have been stout, allowing only 16.5 points per game this season. Heading into this matchup, the Ravens have an impressive record of winning each of their last 11 games as home favorites following a Division loss. However, it's worth noting that they have struggled to cover the spread in eight of their last nine games as home favorites when playing with a rest advantage.

The Houston Texans concluded the regular season with a record of 10-7 and delivered an impressive performance in the Wild Card round, defeating Cleveland 45-14. Despite trailing 14-10 early in the second quarter, the Texans dominated the remainder of the game, scoring 35 consecutive points for a decisive victory. They outgained Cleveland 356-324, forcing two interceptions that were both returned for touchdowns. Houston amassed 280 passing yards, going 2-8 on third downs, and recorded 76 rushing yards. Kicker Fairbairn was perfect, making 1/1 field goals and 6/6 extra points.

Quarterback C.J. Stroud has excelled in protecting the football, while Devin Singletary leads the rushing attack and Nico Collins has been Stroud's preferred target. In the Wild Card game, the defense allowed only 14 points but conceded 7-15 on third-down conversions.

Heading into this matchup, the Texans have a challenging history in interstate games with a rest disadvantage, losing 13 of their last 14. However, they have covered the spread in seven of their last eight games as road underdogs. Notably, the underdogs have won the first quarter in each of the Texans' last four postseason games.

The Baltimore Ravens enter this game as substantial favorites, benefiting from home-field advantage. Boasting the best defense in the NFL, the Ravens face a Houston Texans team with a formidable passing attack. Quarterback Stroud must maintain ball security while adopting an aggressive approach to keep the Texans competitive. While the Texans may find success passing against the Ravens' defense, concerns arise about the Texans' defensive performance.

Anticipating that Baltimore will have offensive freedom, it wouldn't be surprising to see them score around 30 points in this matchup. Considering this, taking the over seems like a reasonable choice, although the Texans might manage to close the scoring gap with at least.