Texans at Ravens: Final Thoughts and Score Prediction

The Ravens stand between the Texans and their first AFC Championship game in franchise history

The Baltimore Ravens are one of the best teams in football and they’re all that stands between the Texans and uncharted waters for this franchise.

It's no big deal, just the best team in the AFC and the defense that has allowed the fewest points all season.

This shouldn’t be an easy one. If it is though, get the mortgage ready and book your trip to the Super Bowl. But it, again, shouldn’t be easy. It won’t be easy.

The Ravens have a nasty defense. I don’t love their cornerbacks, but that might be the lone weakness to that side of the ball in Baltimore. They have half the starting defense playing to a career-best level. It’s impressive.

I’m not worried about a lot of the offense for the Texans though. C.J. Stroud has played some of his best football in the past two weeks. The offensive line has settled and is protecting well. Nico Collins feels close to uncontainable. The rushing attack has been enough. The tight ends are making plays. It’s coming together.

Stopping the Ravens won’t be easy. That’s sort of the motto for this game. It won’t be easy. Nothing ever is this deep in the playoffs.

Lamar Jackson is dynamic. I have a tremendous amount of respect for what he has accomplished this year. He’s the MVP. He’s also the author of some playoff disappointments in his career. Sure, he has the best offensive group around him in forever, but I still don’t think they’re amazing. Odell Beckham seems to be on his final bit in the NFL. Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor aren’t threats. Zay Flowers has been fantastic but let’s see if he can get open against Derek Stingley and Steven Nelson.

This will have to be one of the best games of the season for the Texans to win. It just so happens they’re playing their best football. Isn’t that always the goal for a big game?

Score Prediction

The Houston Texans defeat the Baltimore Ravens 31-28. I can’t get the disappointment from a few years ago from the Ravens out of my head. They were the top seed, Lamar Jackson was the MVP, and they stunk the joint up against the Titans and lost. C.J. Stroud is playing out of his mind and will have to be excellent. I believe in him. I also feel like DeMeco Ryans has something for this game. Maybe it’s an aggressive moment deciding to go for it, or a trick play. There is something there. I can feel it. Down go the Ravens. Down go the Ravens.

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