The Baltimore Ravens met the Cowboys in Dallas last week looking down the gun barrel of three straight losses to open the 2024 season. Having lost to the Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders to open their season was bad enough, it reduced their statistical chances of earning a playoff berth to 11%. But a third straight loss would have made their chances for a playoff berth miniscule.
Since 1990, 162 NFL teams opened their season with three straight losses and only four of those squads went on to land a playoff date, and none advanced to the Super Bowl.
With the win last week in Dallas, the Ravens put themselves in a position to move back into the thick of the playoff hunt in the AFC North Division with a victory tonight when they host the undefeated Buffalo Bills.
The Bills, in contrast to the rocky start endured by Baltimore, have swept their first three games in convincing fashion. After falling behind in their home opener to the Arizona Cardinals, they came charging back to notch a satisfying opening victory, 34-28. Over the past two weeks their margin of victory has been significantly more with wins over the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars by scores of 31-10 and 47-10 respectively.
So, given the Bills are a perfect 3-0 and the Ravens have struggled out of the gate this season, who do you think is favored at M&T Bank Stadium tonight when these two AFC foes meet?
The 1-2 Ravens are giving 2½ points on the line.
What?
Why?
Well, in the world of need, the Ravens come into this game looking to even their record and avoid long odds to make a push to the playoffs. The Bills, riding a three-game winning streak would love to pull three games ahead in the standings against an AFC team they certainly considered a worthy opponent for home field advantage in the playoffs before this season opened.
Yep, the Bills are thinking about padding their home field advantage edge, while the Ravens are fighting for their very lives. That’s why they are favored on the point spread, and more importantly, why they will in all likelihood pull to within one game of the Bills with a victory tonight.
Qoxhi Picks: Baltimore Ravens (-2½) over Buffalo Bills