One of many largest 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 towards the highest NFC seed — the San Francisco 49ers. Personally, I desire 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 “no person believes in us card,” will assist push them to their largest victory of the season. Most sportsbooks have them as a 4-5.5 level underdog on the street towards the 49ers.
Kyle Hamiton advised the media that the crew feels disrespected by that time unfold. Marlon Humphrey went as far as to say it, “harm my emotions a little bit bit.” John Harbaugh did verify with the media that the unfold has been mentioned in crew conferences.
Oddsmakers know what they’re doing. They’re making an attempt to tempt as many individuals as doable to wager on the sport, and that line is juicy. The 49ers have received 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 by way of their schedule with the identical degree of domination. They’ve received their final 4 by double digits, however one is a 20-10 victory towards 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 could have the within monitor on the prime general seed of their respective convention. That proper there may be 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 might 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 may be nothing left for the Ravens to show within the 12 months 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 closing. 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 prime seed on the road.
The Ravens can be happy to publish the purpose spreads for his or her Christmas tilt towards the 49ers all around the follow facility and their locker room at M&T Financial institution Stadium. It might probably’t harm. Nevertheless, 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 may be extra work to be achieved.
