NFL
Sunday, December 18
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Sunday Night Football: Ravens at Chargers
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Baltimore Ravens at San Diego Chargers (+2.5, 44.5)
THE STORY: The Baltimore Ravens are locked in a four-team fight for the best record in the AFC in what promises to be a suspenseful finish to the regular season. The Ravens, though, can remove much of the drama by winning their final three games, which would ensure the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Baltimore's biggest hurdle to winning out could come Sunday night, when it travels to San Diego to take on a Chargers team that again is looking much better than their record (6-7). The Ravens have ripped off four consecutive victories, but will face a stern test against San Diego, which has posted back-to-back lopsided wins.
TV: NBC, 8:20 p.m. ET.
LINE: The Ravens opened as a field-goal favorite on the road but was bet down below the key number to -2.5. The total has climbed a bit from 43.5 to 45 points.
ABOUT THE RAVENS (10-3, 7-5-1 ATS): Baltimore’s winning streak has come without star LB Ray Lewis, who has sat out four games with a toe injury. LB Terrell Suggs has stepped up in his absence, recording three sacks and three forced fumbles in last week’s 24-10 win over hapless Indianapolis. The Ravens have allowed only 26 points in their last three wins and are third in the league in scoring defense (15.5 ppg). RB Ray Rice had his second straight 100-yard effort to go over 1,000 yards for the season. His 53 receptions lead all NFL running backs.
ABOUT THE CHARGERS (6-7, 4-9 ATS): San Diego has rebounded from a seven-game losing streak by outscoring its last two opponents 75-24. QB Philip Rivers entered December leading the league in interceptions (17), but he has thrown three TD passes in the routs of Jacksonville and Buffalo and hasn’t been picked off. Second-year RB Ryan Mathews has three consecutive 100-yard games and needs 57 to reach 1,000 for the season. Since 2006, San Diego has posted an NFL-best 20-1 record over the final four weeks of the season. S Eric Weddle is tied for the league lead with seven interceptions.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Rivers is 22-2 in December for his career, the best mark in the Super Bowl era.
2. Baltimore has not won five straight games since November 2006.
3. Chargers TE Antonio Gates needs five receptions to surpass Charlie Joiner (586) for the most in franchise history.
TRENDS:
* Ravens are 4-1 ATS in their last five meetings.
* Home team is 6-2 ATS in their last eight meetings.
* Under is 5-2 in the last seven meetings.
* Favorite is 5-2 ATS in their last seven meetings.
PREDICTION: Chargers 27, Ravens 24 - The kings of December put a dent in Baltimore’s bid for the No 1 seed in the AFC.
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Sunday, December 18
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Sunday Night Football: Ravens at Chargers
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Baltimore Ravens at San Diego Chargers (+2.5, 44.5)
THE STORY: The Baltimore Ravens are locked in a four-team fight for the best record in the AFC in what promises to be a suspenseful finish to the regular season. The Ravens, though, can remove much of the drama by winning their final three games, which would ensure the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Baltimore's biggest hurdle to winning out could come Sunday night, when it travels to San Diego to take on a Chargers team that again is looking much better than their record (6-7). The Ravens have ripped off four consecutive victories, but will face a stern test against San Diego, which has posted back-to-back lopsided wins.
TV: NBC, 8:20 p.m. ET.
LINE: The Ravens opened as a field-goal favorite on the road but was bet down below the key number to -2.5. The total has climbed a bit from 43.5 to 45 points.
ABOUT THE RAVENS (10-3, 7-5-1 ATS): Baltimore’s winning streak has come without star LB Ray Lewis, who has sat out four games with a toe injury. LB Terrell Suggs has stepped up in his absence, recording three sacks and three forced fumbles in last week’s 24-10 win over hapless Indianapolis. The Ravens have allowed only 26 points in their last three wins and are third in the league in scoring defense (15.5 ppg). RB Ray Rice had his second straight 100-yard effort to go over 1,000 yards for the season. His 53 receptions lead all NFL running backs.
ABOUT THE CHARGERS (6-7, 4-9 ATS): San Diego has rebounded from a seven-game losing streak by outscoring its last two opponents 75-24. QB Philip Rivers entered December leading the league in interceptions (17), but he has thrown three TD passes in the routs of Jacksonville and Buffalo and hasn’t been picked off. Second-year RB Ryan Mathews has three consecutive 100-yard games and needs 57 to reach 1,000 for the season. Since 2006, San Diego has posted an NFL-best 20-1 record over the final four weeks of the season. S Eric Weddle is tied for the league lead with seven interceptions.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Rivers is 22-2 in December for his career, the best mark in the Super Bowl era.
2. Baltimore has not won five straight games since November 2006.
3. Chargers TE Antonio Gates needs five receptions to surpass Charlie Joiner (586) for the most in franchise history.
TRENDS:
* Ravens are 4-1 ATS in their last five meetings.
* Home team is 6-2 ATS in their last eight meetings.
* Under is 5-2 in the last seven meetings.
* Favorite is 5-2 ATS in their last seven meetings.
PREDICTION: Chargers 27, Ravens 24 - The kings of December put a dent in Baltimore’s bid for the No 1 seed in the AFC.
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