Former NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and the 11-3 Baltimore Ravens head into Christmas night’s road date with the San Francisco 49ers (11-3) as 5.5-point underdogs.
Baltimore has won eight out of nine since starting the season with a 3-2 record. Its only loss during this span was a narrow two-point defeat at the hands of the Cleveland Browns back on Nov. 12.
For the current No. 1 seed in the AFC, there is a certain disrespect they feel for being underdogs against San Francisco.
“We feel a little disrespected by that. I feel like we are the best team in the league, and we have an opportunity in front of the country to show it,” Ravens star safety Kyle Hamilton told reporters on Wednesday, via ESPN.
In what could very well be a Super Bowl preview, we’re talking about two titans of the 2023 NFL season. Baltimore ranks fourth in the NFL in scoring at 27.4 points per game. It is yielding the fewest points (16.1 PPG).
Winners of six consecutive, the NFC West champion 49ers rank third in the league in scoring at 30.4 points per game while yielding the second-fewest points (16.7).
Despite this, it does seem like the oddsmakers are giving San Francisco more than just home-field advantage in this one. It isn’t sitting well with Baltimore. It also gives the Ravens a bit more incentive.
“I don’t want them to pick us,” Lamar Jackson said. “I like being the underdog. I believe we play better when we’re doubted and [when] people aren’t choosing us to win the game. I feel like we play better all the time, so just do it all the way to February. That’s all I ask.”
Related: Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson’s standing in Sportsnaut’s NFL QB rankings
Baltimore Ravens heading into hostile situation against San Francisco 49ers
Led by NFL MVP favorite Brock Purdy, the 49ers have won six consecutive games. Their average margin of victory during that span is 19.3, pretty much matching San Francisco’s average for the season (19.5).
Dating back to Purdy’s first start as a member of the 49ers back in December of last season, the 49ers are 8-1 at home. They are defeating their opponents by an average of nearly 20 points per outing during that span.
This hasn’t stopped Baltimore from displaying the necessary confidence to go into Levi’s Stadium Christmas night and come away with what would be a huge win.
“I’m betting on us 10 out of 10 times,” All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith said. “I don’t really care too much about others’ opinions.”
Whether this translates into a win remains to be seen. Remember, the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles played the underdog card at home heading into Week 13’s outing against San Francisco. Jalen Hurts and Co. ended up getting blown out by the score of 42-19 by the 49ers.