RAMS (3-2) at BALTIMORE RAVENS (1-4)
When: 10 a.m. PT Sunday
Where: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore
TV/Radio: FOX (Ch. 11)/710 AM; 93.1 FM; 1330 AM (Spanish); Sirius 383, 229
Line: Rams by 7.5
Notable injury designations
Rams: DOUBTFUL: RT Rob Havenstein (ankle), LB Omar Speights (ankle); QUESTIONABLE: TE Colby Parkinson (concussion), WR Tutu Atwell (hamstring).
Ravens: OUT: QB Lamar Jackson (hamstring), CB Chidobe Awuzie (hamstring), OT Emery Jones (shoulder), FB Patrick Ricard (calf), LB Roquan Smith (hamstring), WR Devontez Walker (oblique); QUESTIONABLE: WR Zay Flowers (shoulder).
What’s at stake? The Rams want to start their nine-day road trip – to the East Coast and then London – with a victory, as well as bounceback from last week’s dispiriting loss to the 49ers. The Ravens are simply trying to keep their season alive at this point after a 44-10 home loss to the Houston Texans a week ago.
Who’s better? The Ravens probably would have gotten the nod in the preseason if you’d asked then. But the first five weeks of the season have proven that wrong, both in terms of the Ravens’ roster construction and the injuries that have plagued that team. The Rams have played better football this season, have a healthy quarterback and a defense that is not on pace to allow an NFL-record 600 points, as the Ravens currently are.
Matchup to watch: Ravens RB Derrick Henry vs. Rams linebackers. Henry isn’t playing up to his usual standards so far this season, but is always a threat to put up a big game. The Rams’ linebacking group is banged up, with Speights unlikely to play and Nate Landman dealing with ankle soreness this week. If the Rams can shut Henry down, it should effectively temper the Ravens’ offense without Jackson, the two-time NFL MVP. But if Henry can get going, it will give backup QB Cooper Rush room to operate.
Rams win if: They hold Henry below 80 yards rushing. … The kicking operation is clean, without any blocked field goals or extra points. … QB Matthew Stafford extends his interception-free streak to three games.
Fantasy sleeper: Ravens QB Cooper Rush. The backup-turned-starter for the weekend could be a good streaming pick in super flex or two-quarterback leagues this week.
Prediction: Rams 34, Ravens 10. Beat reporter’s record: 4-1 on the season; 3-2 against the spread.