The Ravens’ season hasn’t started as anyone would have expected. Baltimore, led at home by backup quarterback Cooper Rush and a list of seemingly endless injuries to key players will face the Houston Texans, also 1-3. Both teams will be desperate for a win.

Baltimore Beatdown’s staff makes bold predictions about the AFC matchup on Sunday.

Keaton Mitchell’s debut touchdown is well within reach. Isaiah Likely gets off to a good start with a 40 yard day. However, the offensive line fails against the Texans pass rush. They give up at least four sacks. Cooper Rush will be in a difficult position for most of the game. He fights hard, but a late interception ends any hope of Baltimore winning. The Ravens’ defense put in a strong performance against a Houston offense that was anemic, but the lack of depth everywhere left too many weak points for C.J. Stroud can pick at. – Nikhil Meta

Malaki Starks, who is having the best game of her young career, finally forces the Ravens’ defense to force a turnover. Keaton Mitchell, making his debut, runs two long runs that are 10+ yards each. One of them is more than 20 yards. Cooper Rush has provided Zay Flowers with plenty of targets to help him cross the 100-yard barrier for the second consecutive season. Derrick Henry rushes 20 times with the ball and scores two touchdowns. Tyler Loop’s game-winning field goals late in the game helped the Ravens overcome the odds to win 20-19. — Frank Platko

The Ravens were simply too depleted on Sunday to win against the Texans, but did not give up without a fight. Zach Orr’s defensive unit has one of its best performances of the year, despite the absence of several key players. They were able to hold off a struggling Houston offensive for most of the game. Orr uses a blitzing strategy to compensate for a pass rush that is ineffective and he gets a few sacks for Baltimore, which is a low bar.

Cooper Rush’s offense is clean, but not impressive. It relies heavily on the quick passing game. Derrick Henry gets the running game going, as he receives more carries than any other player in the league. He also surpasses 100 yards for the first since Week 1. Keaton Mitchel makes his long-awaited debut in the season with a 20+ yd run. Rush is at least five times sacked by the Houston edge rushers. The offensive line has a hard time protecting against them. The Texans won a ugly 20-13 game. Dustin Co