Baltimore Ravens vs San Diego Chargers – Betting Trends
December 18, 2011 in Guest Blogger
WagerWeb Guest
The San Diego Chargers appear on one of their typical late-season surges, but the Bolts have to win out to get into the playoffs. Baltimore, meanwhile, would be the AFCs’ No. 1 overall seed for the first time in franchise history if it wins out.
Last week, the Ravens’ defense feasted on the visiting Colts, restricting them to 167 offensive yards in a 24-10 victory. It was Baltimore’s fourth straight win and sixth in its past seven games. The triumph inched the Ravens closer to a fourth consecutive playoff berth, something they can clinch with a win Sunday against the Chargers. Baltimore has been missing Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis but he is expected to return.
But perhaps the key defensive player that San Diego must focus on is LB Terrell Suggs. Suggs, who has a career-high 13 sacks which leads the AFC, went wild with three sacks and three forced fumbles last week. That’s the third time this season he’s had a three-sack game.
The Ravens are the AFC’s best in rushing defense, the NFL leader with 45 sacks and and fewest touchdown passes (nine), giving up an average of just 15.5 points per game and an opponents’ third-down percentage of just 28.7. Baltimore’s 8-5 in prime-time games during coach John Harbaugh’s tenure, 4-1 in “Sunday Night Football’ affairs.
The Chargers have outscored their opponents 75-24 over the past two games, while the defense has forced four turnovers to help end a six-game losing streak that may be too difficult to overcome. Philip Rivers, the NFL’s leader in giveaways, Rivers played another solid game in last week’s win over Buffalo, throwing for 240 yards and three touchdowns. He’s thrown seven touchdowns and zero interceptions over his last three games.
Baltimore will attempt to wear down a San Diego defense that allows 128.9 yards a game on the ground. RB Ray Rice will get a lot of early touches on the ground and through the air to set up play-action, and the Chargers lack a strong pass rush. Rice leads the NFL with 1,622 yards from scrimmage.
The Chargers have a good vertical passing game, but will Rivers have the time to throw over the top? He has been sacked 30 times behind a beat-up offensive line, and the Ravens lead the NFL with 45 sacks. If RB Ryan Mathews isn’t involved early, Rivers will be throwing under duress.
WAGERWEB.COM NFL FOOTBALL BETS — Ravens -2.5 (44.5)
- RECORD VS. SPREAD — Baltimore 7-5-1; San Diego 4-9
- SERIES RECORD — Ravens lead 4-3
- LAST MEETING — Ravens beat Chargers 31-26, Sept. 20, 2009
- LAST WEEK — Ravens beat Colts 24-10; Chargers beat Bills 37-10
- RAVENS OFFENSE — OVERALL (14), RUSH (13), PASS (15)
- RAVENS DEFENSE — OVERALL (3), RUSH (2), PASS (5)
- CHARGERS OFFENSE — OVERALL (8), RUSH (16), PASS (7)
- CHARGERS DEFENSE — OVERALL (8), RUSH (23T), PASS (7)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — Ravens have won four straight — all without LB Ray Lewis — and tied for best record in AFC with New England, Houston and Pittsburgh. … Baltimore’s Ray Rice leads NFL with 1,622 yards from scrimmage; fifth in rushing with 1,029 yards. … Three Chargers are closing in on milestones. With 582 career catches, TE Antonio Gates needs five more to supplant Hall of Famer Charlie Joiner as team’s all-time leading receiver. Joiner, Chargers’ wide receivers coach, had 586 catches from 1976-86, final 11 seasons of his 18-year NFL career. QB Philip Rivers needs 255 yards passing for fourth straight 4,000-yard season. He would join Peyton Manning (1999-04 and 2006-10) and former teammate Drew Brees (2006-11) as only QBs in NFL history with at least four-straight 4,000-yard seasons. Second-year pro Ryan Mathews needs 57 yards rushing for first 1,000-yard season. Mathews has gained 100 yards in three straight games for first time. … San Diego S Eric Weddle tied for NFL lead with seven interceptions
