Denver (5-3) at Baltimore (5-3)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS
BetMGM NFL Odds: Ravens by 9
Against the spread: Broncos 6-2; Ravens 4-3-1
Series record: Baltimore leads 10-6
Last meeting: Ravens beat Broncos 10-9 on Dec. 4, 2022, at Baltimore.
Last week: Broncos beat Panthers 28-14; Ravens lost to Browns 29-24.
Broncos offense: overall (25), rush (14), pass (27), scoring (20)
Broncos defense: overall (3), rush (7), pass (4), scoring (3)
Ravens offense: overall (1), rush (1), pass (5), scoring (2)
Ravens defense: overall (25), rush (1), pass (32), scoring (26)
Turnover differential: Broncos even; Ravens plus-2
Broncos player to watch
OLB Nik Bonitto. The fourth-year pro is having a breakout season and has had a sack in six consecutive games, the longest active streak in the NFL and the longest streak by a Broncos pass rusher since Von Miller’s six-game sack streak in 2018.
Ravens player to watch
S Kyle Hamilton dropped an interception late in last weekend's game, giving Cleveland another chance to score the winning touchdown, but he's still a terrific all-around player for a struggling Baltimore defense. This is a chance for him to bounce back.
Key matchup
Denver's DL vs. Baltimore's QB. Lamar Jackson is off to perhaps the best start of his career. The two-time MVP has a passer rating of 115.4 and has rushed for 501 yards in eight games. He's been sharp against the blitz so it may be important for the Broncos to produce pressure without bringing extra pass rushers. Denver’s 30 sacks rank second in the league behind the New York Giants’ 35. Jackson missed practice time this week with back and knee issues. Josh Johnson is Baltimore's backup.
Key injuries
S P.J. Locke (thumb) and RT Mike McGlinchey (knee) are the only two Broncos with injuries of note. ... Baltimore DE Brent Urban (concussion) missed practice time this week. CBs Marlon Humphrey (knee) and Nate Wiggins (shoulder/illness) were limited.
Series notes
Baltimore has won three straight meetings. ... Jackson injured his knee in the most recent matchup, and although the Ravens won, their star QB didn't play again that season. ... Baltimore beat Denver 38-35 in double overtime in the playoffs at the end of the 2012 season. Jacoby Jones caught a 70-yard TD pass with 31 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to tie the game, and the Ravens went on to win the Super Bowl.
Stats and stuff
Baltimore and Denver have each won five of six after starting 0-2. ... Although Broncos rookie QB Bo Nix has just eight TD throws so far, he’s only thrown five interceptions and been sacked just 11 times. ... Nix’s 124.2 passer rating against Carolina last week marked the best ever by a Broncos rookie QB. … Nix had the best October of any rookie QB in the NFL. He ranked first in touchdown throws with seven and his three wins tied Washington’s Jayden Daniels. ... Denver TE Adam Trautman had a career-high 85 yards receiving and his first TD of the season last week and TE Nate Adkins had his first career TD reception. … The Broncos’ six consecutive games with at least 100 yards rushing is their longest since a seven-game string in 2017-18. … The Broncos’ 5-3 start is their best through eight games since 2016 when they started 6-2. … DE Zach Allen has a tackle for loss in seven games so far and his 10 TFLs rank second in the NFL. … CBs Patrick Surtain II (third) and Ja’Quan McMillian (first) had interceptions last week. … Denver held Carolina to 284 total yards in Week 8, marking its eighth consecutive game holding its opponent to 350 or fewer yards. That is its longest such streak to start a season since 2003. ... The Ravens are the fourth team to score at least 20 points with at least 375 total yards in each of their first eight games of the season. The others were the 2000 Rams, the 2007 Patriots and the 2013 Broncos. ... Baltimore has rushed for at least 100 yards in 41 consecutive games, two shy of the record shared by the Ravens (2018-21) and Pittsburgh Steelers (1974-77). ... The Ravens have 25 TDs in 33 red zone trips for a league-leading 75.8%. ... Baltimore RB Derrick Henry needs 54 yards for his sixth 1,000-yard rushing season. He's scored in all eight games. ... The Ravens have a sack in 46 straight games, the longest active streak in the NFL. ... Jackson leads the NFL in passer rating, total yards (2,600) and TD/INT differential (15).
Fantasy tip
Broncos WR Courtland Sutton is coming off his first 100-yard receiving game since Week 2 of 2022 — and the Ravens' secondary is not in great shape at the moment.
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