The Baltimore Ravens just keep finding ways to lose. The Ravens had never gone 1-4 before Sunday’s loss to the Cleveland Browns; it’s also the first time that they lost their first two games at home. And it doesn’t get any easier in Week 6 as they play on the road in the San Francisco 49ers’ Levi’s Stadium out West. The 49ers are also 1-4 to start off this season, but put up much more of a fight in a tough loss to the New York Giants on Sunday night.
The Baltimore Ravens led 27-22 with 5:56 left in the fourth quarter, but lacked just one big play to seal the victory. Still, quarterback Joe Flacco had a serviceable game going 19 of 35 for 210 yards and a touchdown, and was sacked only once in the 33-30 overtime loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Running back Justin Forsett also seems to be over his slow start, rushing for 121 yards and a score on 21 carries.
[sc:NFL240banner ]Baltimore’s receivers failed to get going, though. With leading receiver Steve Smith Sr. nursing micro-fractures on his back, Kamar Aiken led the Ravens with 78 yards receiving, but caught four of the nine targets headed his way. Forsett did aid in the receiving game, though, catching 4 of 5 passes for 49 yards. But with or without Smith, the Ravens should fancy their chance against a 49ers defense that allowed a whopping 441 passing yards and three touchdowns in Week 5.
The Ravens could compliment their passing with some big gains from Forsett on the ground. The 49ers are allowing 108 yards rushing per game this season and have allowed eight total rushing touchdowns (the second-most rushing touchdowns in the league).
If Forsett can’t play or is hampered by the right leg injury that had him exiting Sunday’s game in the fourth quarter, rookie running back Javorious Allen could be solid in his own right. Allen rushed for 58 yards on eight carries against the Browns on Sunday, but the bulk of his carries came on a long 44-yard dash in the third quarter.
On the other side of the ball, the Ravens have a solid pass rush that could manage to bully past San Francisco’s leaky offensive line. 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been regularly pressured all season long. The Ravens, meanwhile, are ranked fifth in the league with 15 sacks this season, with four players in the front seven having two sacks for the year: linebackers Za’Darius Smith, Elvis Dumervil and C.J. Mosley, together with defensive end Lawrence Guy.
The Ravens have won their last four games against the 49ers, going 3-1 ATS.
Betting on the San Francisco 49ers (1-4)
Colin Kaepernick masterfully engineered a seven-play, 80-yard drive in the fourth quarter to give the San Francisco 49ers a 27-23 lead with under two minutes left in regulation. He went 2 for 3 for 51 yards (with the pair of completions 25- and 26-yarders to Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin, respectively) before Carlos Hyde plunged for a two-yard touchdown in the heartbreaking 30-27 dying-minutes loss to the Giants on Sunday night.
Kaepernick wasn’t just good in the fourth-quarter of that game, though. He showcased an ability to make quick reads and took advantage of underneath routes to finish with a season-high passer rating of 107.1, and ended the game going 23 of 35 for 262 yards and two touchdowns. Anquan Boldin led the receiving corps with 107 yards and a score on eight catches.
And at least the passing game got the necessary support it needed from running back Carlos Hyde, who had 93 yards rushing and a score on 21 carries. It was Hyde’s first game with 90 yards or more since exploding for 168 yards and two touchdowns in the season opener. The 49ers’ offense could once again explode against Baltimore’s 24th-ranked total defense, allowing a whopping 378.6 offensive yards per game.
Having the San Francisco offense guns blazing will be very crucial. The 49ers’ defense has been one of the worst in the league, allowing 406.8 total yards of offense per game (31st in the league). The 49ers are also giving up 28 points per game this season, bad enough for 27th in the league.
The 49ers are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games at Levi’s Stadium.
Writer’s Prediction
The Ravens’ pass rush get to Kaepernick early and often. Flacco has a big game against San Francisco’s secondary as the Ravens run away with their first blowout win of the season. Create a betting account now and get plenty of football action coming your way.
