NFL Week 13: Baltimore vs Pittsburgh Odds, Analysis

The Baltimore Ravens had never been favored in Pittsburgh in a game that Ben Roethlisberger was going to play. That changes on Sunday as the Ravens look to add to the Steelers’ woes as nearly 5-point favorites on the NFL odds.

How to Bet Ravens at Steelers NFL Odds & TV Info

When: Sunday, 4:25 PM ET
Where: Heinz Field
TV: CBS
Radio: http://www.siriusxm.com/nfl
Stream Option: NFLSUNDAYTICKET.TV
Opening NFL Lines: Ravens -4.5 (total 44)

Last Season

Pittsburgh won both matchups in 2020, including 19-14 at home. The Ravens were down several players in COVID protocols, including star QB Lamar Jackson. Ben Roethlisberger threw for 266 yards and a TD. Joe Haden returned an interception 14 yards for a TD. John Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin will make NFL history Sunday. The game will mark the 30th meeting between the two coaches, marking only the third time in league history that opposing coaches have met at least that many times.

Why Bet on Baltimore?

The Ravens (8-3) beat Cleveland 16-10 last Sunday. Lamar Jackson completed 20-of-32 passes for 165 yards with a touchdown and four interceptions. Jackson led the Ravens with 68 rushing yards on a team-high 17 carries. It was one of his worst passing games of the year with all four of his interceptions coming on ill-advised throws. This could have gone a lot worse, as Jackson got his touchdown and 39 of his yards on a desperation throws to tight end Mark Andrews.

Jackson did not blame his poor performance on being rusty after an illness that forced him out the Week 11 game in Chicago. It had been 17 days since he played and the previous time was another rough day in Miami.

“Bad passes and inaccurate, underthrown passes – that’s all I’ve seen. Bad reads. I looked like a rookie. I looked like a rookie,” Jackson said.

It was the first four-interception game of Jackson’s NFL career. He had only once thrown three interceptions, which coincidentally happened in Pittsburgh in 2019. In four career games against the Steelers, Jackson has five picks and a 59.2 quarterback rating.

Andrews caught 4-of-10 targets for 65 yards and that touchdown. Andrews was targeted on all four of Jackson’s interceptions. Marquise Brown caught 8-of-10 targets for 51 yards — Brown tied for the team lead in targets after sitting out in Week 11.

Top pass-rusher Calais Campbell returned to practice this week on a limited basis after sustaining a concussion in Week 11. Campbell is having one of his best seasons, leading the team’s defensive linemen in tackles (36) and quarterback hits (nine).

Why Bet on Pittsburgh?

The Steelers lost their second straight game last Sunday, a 41-10 rout in Cincinnati as the Bengals completed their first season sweep of the Steelers since 2009. Cincinnati scored on its first four drives, and then cornerback Mike Hilton jumped James Washington’s route and ran back the interception 24 yards for a touchdown with 30 seconds left in the half.

Ben Roethlisberger completed 24-of-41 attempts for 263 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Roethlisberger saved his statistical day with a fourth quarter drive while down 38 points. He seemed to be out of sync with Chase Claypool throughout the game, resulting in a first quarter interception on a pass to the sideline while Claypool streaked downfield. Roethlisberger was sacked three times and pressured on nearly every drop back.

Tight end Pat Freiermuth left with a possible concussion but has practiced this week and should be out there. Freiermuth has five touchdowns over his past five games. Claypool was upgraded to a full practice participant on Thursday. Claypool is playing through a painful turf toe injury that had him sit out in Week 10. Fellow wideout Ray-Ray McCloud was activated from the COVID list this week. McCloud was seeing a heavy dose of targets before missing Week 12.

Pittsburgh could be thin on defense as linebackers T.J. Watt and Robert Spillane are on the COVID list. Watt has 12.5 sacks and three forced fumbles in nine games this year. He is playing at a Defensive Player of the Year level and was going to be one of the keys to Pittsburgh slowing Lamar Jackson. Spillane has served as the Steelers’ No. 3 inside linebacker most of this season and at times was increasingly siphoning snaps away from starter Devin Bush. Spillane did get hurt last week so might have missed this game regardless.

Pittsburgh is 94-43 (.686) overall against the AFC at Heinz Field. The Steelers are 86-37 (.699) in the regular season against the AFC at Heinz Field. Pittsburgh’s 86 regular-season victories against the AFC at Heinz Field rank third in the AFC since 2001.