One of many greatest Christmas Day showdowns since Shaq vs. Kobe 2004, and Rocky vs. Drago is going down on Dec. 25, 2023. The No. 1 seed within the AFC — the Baltimore Ravens — goes up in opposition to the highest NFC seed — the San Francisco 49ers. Personally, I choose when the NFL doesn’t insert itself into the sporting calendar on one of many NBA’s signature days, however for a matchup like this, I’ll indulge.
The Ravens are hoping that taking part in the “nobody believes in us card,” will assist push them to their greatest victory of the season. Most sportsbooks have them as a 4-5.5 level underdog on the highway in opposition to the 49ers.
Kyle Hamiton advised the media that the staff feels disrespected by that time unfold. Marlon Humphrey went as far as to say it, “hurt my feelings a little bit.” John Harbaugh did affirm with the media that the unfold has been mentioned in staff conferences.
Oddsmakers know what they’re doing. They’re attempting to tempt as many individuals as attainable to guess on the sport, and that line is juicy. The 49ers have gained all of their video games by double digits because the bye week. That features wins in Jacksonville, Philadelphia, and Seattle. They’re a buzzsaw.
Whereas the Ravens have the identical report, they haven’t gone via their schedule with the identical stage of domination. They’ve gained their final 4 by double digits, however one is a 20-10 victory in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers, and final week they went to Duval County and beat the Jacksonville Jaguars — with a hobbled Trevor Lawrence — 23-7. The 49ers play like a wave in comparison with what generally is a ripple from the Ravens.
This recreation is the spotlight of the 2023 common season. Each groups are comparatively wholesome and the winner may have the within monitor on the high general seed of their respective convention. That proper there’s the true significance of the sport. The winner will finish the day with three losses, whereas the loser falls into the pack of groups of their convention with 4.
The Ravens will be of their emotions concerning the unfold and speaking heads can bloviate all they like about this being a measuring-stick recreation for Lamar Jackson & Co. This highly-anticipated Christmas Day showdown is only one of 17 common season video games.
Sure, it will be a wonderful search for the Ravens to knock off the mighty 49ers in entrance of America, however that’s all it will be. Whatever the outcome, there’s nothing left for the Ravens to show within the yr 2023.
Each step they take within the subsequent three weeks must be constructing towards a playoff crescendo. What they want most is for this newly reworked offense to carry up when a loss is greater than a disappointment — it’s last. In the event that they win on Monday, they’ve to show round and play the Miami Dolphins six days later, presumably with the AFC high seed on the road.
The Ravens can be at liberty to put up the purpose spreads for his or her Christmas tilt in opposition to the 49ers all around the follow facility and their locker room at M&T Financial institution Stadium. It may well’t damage. Nonetheless, in the event that they win, the celebration ought to final solely till they hit the showers.
Beating the 49ers will make them look good and enhance their report, however there’s extra work to be finished.
