Baltimore (1-0) at Washington (1-0)
When: Monday, August 21st, 2023
Where: FedEx Field,
Landover, MD
Time: 8:00 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Baltimore -3.5/38.5
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Week 2 of the NFL preseason schedule concludes on ESPN’s Monday Night Football in the Nation’s Capital with the Washington Commanders hosting the Baltimore Ravens. It’s been no secret that one of the craziest winning streaks in sports history belongs to the Ravens. Since 2015, Baltimore has not lost a preseason game – an amazing streak of 24 in a row. The Ravens edged the Philadelphia Eagles 20-19 last week to extend that run.
This week’s game is sure to be a physical one with Washington, as these teams had joint practices this week that got chippy. Ravens star tight end Mark Andrews body-slammed a Washington defender, which was one of several fights that broke out. Baltimore has a six-game winning streak over Washington and are 4-1-1 ATS in those games. The Ravens have also covered in 11 of their last 13 August contests overall.
The Commanders come into this game having allowed a ton of yards last week, but still managed to pull out a 17-15 victory over the Cleveland Browns. Washington just missed the playoffs last year, finishing 8-8-1 and are predicted to finish last this year in a tough NFC East. The Commanders have not won a postseason game in 18 years and a lot will depend on quarterback Sam Howell.
Sam Howell has been named the starting quarterback pic.twitter.com/XOfZu8mBxH
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) August 18, 2023
The roster plan for Monday will probably be the same as in Week 1 when the Ravens edged the Eagles by a single point. Lamar Jackson, along with several key starters did not play and will likely sit again. That means quarterbacks Tyler Huntley, Josh Johnson, and Anthony Brown are all probable to play again. Huntley, who is a capable backup, started last week and completed 8-of-11 passes and a touchdown.
Baltimore’s trademark is running the football and the rumbled for 133 yards in last week’s win with eight players recording at least one carry. Justice Hill led the way with 48 yards thanks to a 37-yard run. Tylan Wallace and Devin Duvernay caught touchdown passes, while Justin Tucker nailed a 60-yard field goal.
2022 fifth-round Howell has won the starting gig for the Commanders to start the season. He solidified that last week when he completed 9-of-12 for 77 yards and a score. Second-year receiver Jahan Dotson from Penn State caught Howell’s touchdown throw.
Veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett completed 6-of-10 last week but with an interception. Brissett also ran in a touchdown in the win and will likely be Howell’s backup this season. Byron Pringle led all Washington receivers with 32 yards on just one catch.
When a team is riding a long winning streak, you just have to keep on them until they lose. The game opened at -3.5, but now the Ravens are favored by just one. I might not have laid 3.5, but I’ll surely lay a single point with a team that has won 24 in a row.
Pick: Ravens -1
