The Las Vegas Raiders and Baltimore Ravens are in the same boat as they enter their Week 2 matchup at M&T Bank Stadium after both teams lost their season-openers last week.
The Raiders saw an ugly effort on offense that ultimately led to their 22-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. The Ravens had a tough Week 1 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs but literally lost by a toe.
Las Vegas enters this game with multiple concerns. The Raiders are plagued by injuries at defensive end, with Malcolm Koonce on injured reserve and Tyree Wilson trending in the wrong direction.
As if that wasn’t enough, Las Vegas’ run defense was poor during the preseason, and that continued in Week 1. That’s bad, bad news for a matchup against a Baltimore team that can run the ball with the best of them.
Knowing all that, it’s no surprise that experts are all in on the Ravens winning this game. Here’s a look at several picks and predictions from analysts from different media outlets ahead of Ravens versus Raiders in Week 2.
NFL picks Week 2: Raiders vs. Ravens predictions
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: Ravens 26, Raiders 14
Iyer: “The Raiders got destroyed by the Chargers’ rushing attack, and they now face a more dangerous one against Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. The Ravens had a mini-bye to rest up and rev up their defense to rebound vs. a hot and cold Gardner Minshew and an inconsistent running game. Baltimore flexes a bit, leaving Las Vegas in further freefall.”
Bill Bender, Sporting News: Ravens 34, Raiders 20
Bender: “This is the highest line of the week. The Ravens piled up 452 yards in a Week 1 loss to the Chiefs. Lamar Jackson will make it work with the combination of Derrick Henry on the ground and tight end Isaiah Likely, who starred in Week 1 with nine catches for 111 yards and a TD. Las Vegas did not run the ball consistently around Gardner Minshew in Week 1. Baltimore was 6-4 ATS as a home favorite last season, but this should be a comfortable victory.”
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: Ravens 28, Raiders 16
Prisco: “This a second straight road game for the Raiders against a team playing its home opener with rest — and it’s on the East Coast. That’s a brutal trip for the Raiders. Their offense struggled against the Chargers and it will here. The Ravens won’t struggle. Lamar Jackson has a nice game.”
John Breech, CBS Sports: Ravens 27, Raiders 16
Matt Bowen, ESPN: Ravens
Mike Clay, ESPN: Ravens
Dan Graziano, ESPN: Ravens
Kalyn Kahler, ESPN: Ravens
Eric Moody, ESPN: Ravens
Lindsay Thiry, ESPN: Ravens
Seth Wickersham: Ravens
The Raiders and Ravens will kick off from M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 15, at 1 p.m. ET.
