It’s onerous to body it some other method: It’s been a nightmarish begin to the 2025-26 NFL season for the Baltimore Ravens. After all, it is a staff that entered the season among the many favorites to win the Super Bowl and with a preseason MVP favorite in QB Lamar Jackson.
Starting Week 1 by blowing a 40-25 fourth-quarter lead on the heels of RB Derrick Henry’s backbreaking fumble in a 41-40 loss to the Bills, the problems have mounted because the accidents have piled up. With Jackson possible out a number of weeks now with hamstring damage, star DT Nnamdi Madubuike out for the season with a neck damage and an damage report that reads like a CVS receipt, Baltimore’s protection fell to a brand new low on Sunday in a 44-10 house loss to the Houston Texans.
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Among the Ravens’ inactives on Sunday had been cornerback Marlon Humphrey, security Kyle Hamilton, linebacker Roquan Smith and offensive deal with Ronnie Stanley — not solely stars for this staff, however among the finest gamers at their respective positions within the NFL.
But regardless of a 1-4 document — and with a house recreation on Sunday in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams as 7.5-point underdogs looming — the Ravens stay the betting favourite at sportsbooks to win the AFC North and are still favored to make the postseason.
At BetMGM, Baltimore is a +105 favourite to win the division, simply forward of the Pittsburgh Steelers at +110. With the Cincinnati Bengals at 16-1 and Cleveland Browns at 18-1, it appears clear it is a two-team race for the division title.
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“I think the bigger concern for the Ravens is the defense,” Thomas Gable, sportsbook director at The Borgata in Atlantic City advised Yahoo Sports. “The defense has really struggled, especially stopping the run, and Kansas City, who for weeks everyone was questioning if the Chiefs were the same team, moved the ball at will. While they might be able to win some shootouts once Lamar gets back, this Ravens team has always been built around the defense. It’s not good there at the moment.”
Baltimore opened as a -145 favourite to win the AFC North at BetMGM and was as excessive as -400 heading into Week 3. The Steelers have essentially the most whole wagers (42.3%) and whole {dollars} wagered (47.3%) to win the AFC North on the sportsbook.
Baltimore still has two video games in opposition to Pittsburgh — in Weeks 14 and 18 — presumably when Jackson will probably be again wholesome. But will the division be out of hand by then?