NFL Week 12 Ravens at Rams Free Pick: Total 46.5
Baltimore Vulnerable - or Dominant - on National TV?
The sporting world gets to feast their eyes on Lamar Jackson in the NFL week 12 Ravens at Rams free pick. The MVP candidate has Baltimore riding a 6-game win streak into the Monday Night Football game with the Rams. At first glance this game has the potential to be a high scoring affair that goes ‘over’ the 46.5 total. Both of these teams have great offensive upside – but their defensive units are very underrated as well.
Jackson Set to Cement His MVP on MNF?
This feels like a late season college football game in where the Heisman front-runner cements his legacy with a Madden-like game. Lamar Jackson knows a thing or two about winning awards and has a great chance to get all the attention of voters in the nationally televised Monday Night Football game. The NFL week 12 Ravens at Rams free pick is the MNF debut for Jackson as well.
Jackson has definitely put up the numbers in leading Baltimore to a 6-game winning streak. They’ve scored 40+ points in consecutive games and at least 37 in the last three. Jackson threw for 4 TD (0 INT) last week vs. Houston and now has 8 TD to 0 picks in his last three. Baltimore has also ran for 200+ yards in 2 of the last 3 but the Rams are a top 5 defense against the run. Mark Ingram has just one game over 100+ yards rushing in his last 7. If the Rams do stop the run though – does that lead to more Jackson passes and thus a higher scoring game more likely?
The Ravens also have a top tier defense that is giving up less than 20 points per game. Baltimore has held five straight opponents to 20 or less and there have been games against Seattle, New England, and Houston over that span. The Rams have scored 12 points and 17 points in their last two games (Pittsburgh, Chicago). LA even put up just 24 against the Bengals in the game preceding their bye in week 9.
Can Rams Defense Give Them the Edge?
Granted they haven’t faced an offense quite as dynamic as the Ravens, but Los Angeles has been playing great defense as of late. LA has held five straight opponents to under 20 points and have held teams to 10 or less in three of those games. LA has held opponents to under 90 yards rushing on the season, and their pass defense has been manageable, ranking 16th in the air game.
Believe it or not the big questions for Monday come from the Los Angeles offense. The wheels started to come off in a week 6 home defeat to the 49ers in which Jared Goff was 13/24 for just 78 yards. More recently, the Rams had a decent game vs. the Bengals with 98 rushing and 372 passing yards – but that’s the Bengals. The struggles have continued lately with a 12-17 loss to Pittsburgh and a 17-7 win over the Bears.
Goff has guided the Rams to the #7 passing attack in the league and could get Brandin Cooks back after he’s missed the last three games with a concussion. Goff has a lot to prove after throwing 0 TD and 3 INT the last two weeks, but Baltimore has stymied Deshaun Watson (169, 0/1), Tom Brady (285, 1/1), and Russell Wilson (241, 1/1) in games over the last month-plus.
NFL Week 12 Ravens at Rams Free Pick
Two teams going different ways on the momentum scale meet up in this one. The moment of his first Monday Night Football game shouldn’t be too much for Jackson, who has broken down every barrier that has stood in his way in professional football thus far. The Ravens are going to get theirs, and right now the Rams offense isn’t good enough to keep up with the pace.
Free Pick: Ravens / Rams *Under* 46.5
