The Intriguing Game of the Week NFL Week 9 2024_25

 

NFL Intriguing Game of the Week

Denver Broncos 5-3-0 @ Baltimore Ravens 5-3-0

Bias+ Score 6.5 favors Broncos

By Barry Sterling Mitchell

When there are when there are about 5 or more games that could qualify as an intriguing game, I generally go to the games with the smallest bias plus. The implication of the small bias plus is that these two teams are closely matched generally that’s when I look for coaching matchups as well as unit matchups. But first let’s look at the numbers starting with the Ravens.

Ravens coming to this matchup ranked 12^th and average net points at +4 point this has been enough to get Quarterback Lamar Jackson’s name in the MVP The challenge with the Ravens the Ravens is on the defensive side of the ball where they are ranked 26^th allowing 26.1 points per game. The saving and did I mention Lamar Jackson as MVP Baltimore is scoring an average of 30.3 points per game. So the fact that they are ranked 12^th in average net points becomes clear with the large divergence between the scoring productivity of the offense and the scoring proclivity of the defense.

Now for the Denver Broncos Denver Broncos are ranked 7^th in average net points at plus 6.6. in that particular situation in that particular situation the Denver Broncos are the exact opposite of the Baltimore Ravens. Their offense is ranked 20^th scoring only 21.6 points per game that puts them.1 points ahead of the Jacksonville Jaguars and .2 points ahead of the Dallas Cowboys however their saving grace is their defense where they are ranked third allowing only 15 points per game behind only the Pittsburgh Steelers and the LA chargers who are ranked one and two.

Can the Broncos put the kibosh on the Ravens run game? Let’s hear our breakdown on the Ben andBarry on Football™ show.

This became my choice for ‘Intriguing game’ due to the dichotomy of the strengths and weaknesses of these two teams.

Admission, last week I said that I thought that the Ravens should be the odds-on favorite to win the next Super Bowl. It was because I thought that the Jackson/ Henry combo would be too hard to stop. I neglected to account for a defense ranked 26^th in average points allowed at strikingly 26 PPG.

The Surprise will be if Bo Nix can have a favorable game because he will be compared to Lamar Jackson.

Bottom line, the Denver Broncos hold 7^th place in Average Win Margin at + 6.6 while the Ravens rank 12^th at +4.1. Gotta luv it.

Barry Sterling Mitchell

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