The Baltimore Ravens don’t know for sure if Lamar Jackson will be able to play this weekend against an improving Pittsburgh Steelers squad, but their problems go beyond Lamar’s uncertain health status. Baltimore is in a dogfight with the defending AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals for first place in the AFC North. It is critical the Ravens win that battle in order to not only host a playoff game, but maintain a chance of getting the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs. The Buffalo Bills are in the best position to get the second seed, but they don’t have an easy schedule in a balanced and competitive AFC East. The Ravens need to apply pressure and force Buffalo to win all its remaining games.

Pittsburgh is a 2-point favourite to win on the NFL odds.

NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The Ravens have won five of their last six games but they’ve failed to cover the spread in three straight. The good news is they’re 6-1-1 against the spread in their last eight as an underdog.

Meanwhile, the Steelers have won and covered in three of four. They are 5-2-1 ATS in their last eight at home and 4-1 ATS in their last five a favourite.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens beat the Denver Broncos, 10-9 last week in a game marred by an injury to quarterback Lamar Jackson, who left the game in the first half. Baltimore trailed nearly the entire game as their offence was incompetent. Denver led for 48 of the game’s first 59 minutes and was still up 9-3 when Baltimore scored a touchdown with 28 seconds left.

Baltimore backup quarterback Tyler Huntley, who has led game-winning drives in previous seasons (as recently as last year) with Lamar injured, produced a 16-play, 91-yard touchdown drive to get the job done.

This week, the defence has to be great to keep the Ravens in the hunt. Kenny Pickett and the Steelers offence has momentum right now. The rookie quarterback is playing well enough for the team to earn wins, which they’ve done in three of their last four. The Ravens offence was thrown for a loop last week when Huntley had to step in. This week, they better be better prepared to score more than 10 points or they’re likely to lose.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers’ defence is getting the job done for a team which finally won back-to-back games for the first time this season. Pittsburgh was 3-7 through 10 games but has won two straight and three of four.

Two weeks ago, the Steelers won at Indianapolis on Monday Night Football, 24-17. This past week, they went into another domed stadium and beat the Atlanta Falcons, 19-16. The defence has been the star of the show. Pittsburgh held both the Colts and Falcons under 310 total yards. Pittsburgh forced a turnover against both opponents and made big late-game defensive stands to secure a pair of one-score victories. The offence hasn’t been special, but it did just enough. Importantly, the Steelers committed zero turnovers against the Falcons. Pickett is avoiding the big mistakes, and in the NFL, that is often enough to win. He has no interceptions in his last four games after throwing for eight in his first five starts.

One other key stat: The Pittsburgh defence has allowed opponents only three third-down conversions in each of the past two games. The Colts were 3-of-12, the Falcons 3-of-10. That will play. If they can keep the Ravens offence on the sidelines, they’ll be in good shape to earn the win.

NFL Prediction: Who Will Win Ravens vs. Steelers?