Detroit Lions are the first NFC opponent the Baltimore Ravens have faced this season. They will be playing on Monday Night Football.

Baltimore Beatdown staff members make bold predictions about the Super Bowl matchup between two Super Bowl contenders.

The Ravens have had a normal start to the season with a divisional win and a heartbreaking defeat in their first two games. Normaly, the Ravens’ next step would be to destroy a few NFC opponents in September and/or October. After losing 52 points to the Bears in Week 14, The Lions answered many questions.

This game is a sure-fire shootout, which will go over the O/U of 52.5. In the first half, both teams will score. The Ravens take the lead in the third. Baltimore must protect its lead against an explosive offense in the fourth quarter, but they won’t be able to break. This time, the offense will close the door on the defense with a late splash play. – Nikhil Mehta

This is going to be a knockdown and drag-out. Detroit will do everything it can to prevent a repeat of the Lions’ humiliation in Baltimore, 2023. Few teams, and especially those at home, play as well as the Ravens during primetime. On Monday, the Ravens’ offense will face its biggest challenge yet. The Ravens offensive line will not be able handle the Lions pass rush. Lamar Jackson’s first interception this year, against the NFL’s best safety tandem of Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch, could throw him off his game. The Ravens have found their rushing offense again. Derrick Henry runs for 70+ yard, Justice Hill is able to make plays in the air and Keaton Mitchel gets his first activated of the season. He rips off a run of over 30 yards. The Ravens are still struggling to score against the Lions rush.

The Ravens’ defense should also be able keep the Lions at bay. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams are Lions weapons, and they’ll make plays. Ravens’ defensive line is usually able to handle quarterbacks with below-average mobility, even if Jared Goff has a great game. The pass rush will still be able impact Goff even if Nnamdi isn’t playing.

The game will be very close. I think the Ravens have a chance to get an interception during the fourth quarter. They win if they get it. Both teams scored in the low 20s. – Zach Canter

Rashod bateman, in his first game of the year, leads the Ravens with receiving yards. Isaiah Likely catches a timely touchdown late in the 4th quarter, on his return from injury. Likely’s touchdown gives the Ravens an edge, and the Ravens defense is able to come through when it was needed. Odafe Oweh, with Kyle Van Noy absent, forces a fumble by strip-sacking Jared Goff as the Lions drive to win the game. The Ravens recover and Lamar Jackson’s first-down conversion runs close the door on a 34-28 win. – Frank Platko

After being stifled by the Browns last week, the Ravens’ rushing offense is on fire this week. Derrick Henry scores a 40+ yard touchdown and ends the game with more than 150 yards on the floor for the second consecutive season. Lamar Jackson continues his excellence as he throws five touchdowns and finishes with a perfect passer score to add to the collection of games like this. DeAndre Hopkins scores an absurd contested catch for the third consecutive week, while Zay Flower continues to dominate passing attacks for the Ravens by accumulating his second 100+ yard receiving output in three weeks.

Baltimore’s defense is strong, despite a few shaky points. It stands up to Detroit’s powerful offensive attack. Malachi Starks, a rookie safety, makes his first career interception against Jared Goff. The pass rush steps in to replace Kyle Van Noy and sacks Goff four time on the night. Dustin Cox