Baltimore Ravens vs Philadelphia Eagles Point Spread Picks

Jalen Hurts hasn't played in a Sirianni-coached preseason game in years, and Saturday won't be the exception, while Lamar Jackson is out for the first time since 2021 as new Baltimore head coach Jesse Minter reserves his established players for joint practices instead. That leaves Philadelphia's backup battle between Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee to run the show, with rookie Cole Payton waiting for a look late, while Baltimore turns to some combination of Tyler Huntley, Skylar Thompson, and Joe Fagnano. None of those six passers is auditioning to protect a scheme, they're auditioning to make a 53-man roster, and that's the group of players actually taking the field Saturday night. Backup-heavy football like this tends to run loose: unfamiliar quarterback and offensive-line combinations, defenses full of camp bodies who haven't practiced together, and players pressing for a job rather than playing it safe. That combination inflates preseason scoring more often than it tightens a game up. Back the OVER Saturday night.

Philadelphia has won seven in a row, but the Eagles have won 0-7 ATS in their past seven December games. Baltimore has won eight of 10 and its past five December contests. The Ravens come off a 30-23 victory over the Chargers on Monday night while holding Los Angeles to 83 yards rushing on 20 carries. That run defense will come in handy as the Ravens face Saquan Barkley, who torched the Rams for 255 yards on Sunday night, averaging 9.8 yards per carry. Baltimore is #2 in the NFL in rush defense, allowing just 77.9 yards per game, and the Ravens are #1, allowing 3.5 yards per carry. Baltimore has won seven of its past eight against the NFC East. Lamar Jackson completed 16 of 22 for 177 yards and two TDs with no picks against the Chargers, while Derrick Henry ran for 140 yards on 24 carries. The Ravens held a 389-285 edge in total yards. Look for Philadelphia's win streak to end with this matchup and take the Ravens.

Philadelphia is on a 7-2 run OVER the total in preseason. The 2024 QB rotation is very good with Jalen Hurts, Kenny Pickett, and Tanner McKee. In the last two years, the offense was in the Top 10 in yards and points. Baltimore has gone OVER the total in five of its last seven preseason contests. These teams clashed in Week 1 last August in a game that sailed OVER the total, 20-19, as both teams combined to go 16-of-32 on third down. Philadelphia had 154 yards rushing while Baltimore had 133 yards on the ground. Take Philadelphia/Baltimore OVER the total. 

The Baltimore Ravens just keep rolling along and have now lost just one regular-season game since the start of last year if they were not playing the Chiefs. The Ravens may have trouble bringing their "A" game here vs. the Eagles. The Eagles also match up well vs. the Ravens blitzing defense that sends extra rushers on almost half their defensive downs. Carson Wentz threw a pair of TDs last week against the Pittsburgh blitz, and he may have more opportunities vs. the Ravens. Lamar Jackson sat out part of the week before the Bengals game because of a knee injury, and he carried the ball just twice on designed runs. He may not be at 100%. And if that turns out to be true, the Eagles have a lot better chance here than many will be giving them. Make the play on Philadelphia.