It's an AFC divisional playoff rematch as the 6-3 Tennessee Titans are in Baltimore to battle the 6-3 Ravens inside M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday as part of the Week 11 slate in the NFL. Of course, the Titans pulled off the upset last January en route to an appearance in the AFC Championship Game.
They knocked off the top-seeded Ravens in Baltimore, who boasted the NFL's best record during the regular season. That win tied the all-time series between the two franchises at 24 wins apiece heading into Sunday.
Critical Stretch
The Titans were once one of the last three undefeated teams in the NFL standing. But since that 5-0 start, they've dropped three out of their last four.
By virtue of their most recent loss to the Colts, they're no longer the outright leader in the AFC South. And it doesn't get any easier over the next three weeks, which will go a long way in determining Tennessee's positioning in (or on the outside looking in) the playoff picture.
First up, of course, is a revenge-minded Baltimore team coming off a loss of its own. Follow that up with another meeting with Indianapolis, and the three-week stretch wraps up with a matchup with the 6-3 Browns in Nashville.
Likewise
The Ravens find themselves in a similar boat, having lost two out of their last three after getting off to a 5-1 start. Most recently, Baltimore was unable to solve the Patriots' run game or the New England weather Sunday night, falling to New England as a near touchdown favorite by six, 23-17.
The Ravens have heard the criticism and were forced to respond to it this week as they prepare for the Titans, with head coach John Harbaugh aiming to block it out altogether.
"The outside, the criticism, whatever, it's just part of it; we understand that, and you just have to put your head down and do your job and try to improve. It's a long season in this league. So, opinions come and go; everybody has them, and that's really how you have to categorize it, and just leave it at that."
Betting Line and Pick
The Ravens are installed as 6.5-point favorites in this one, with an over/under of 49. Baltimore is 4-5 ATS this season and 2-2 at home, while the Titans have yet to cover on the road this year, sitting at 0-3 ATS away from Nissan Stadium.
It's somewhat surprising to see the Ravens as such a heavy favorite coming off that loss in front of a national TV audience. The Titans had the stage all to themselves as well, though, kicking off the Week 10 slate and getting thoroughly outplayed in the second half to their division rivals.
However, Tennessee built the blueprint for thwarting Baltimore's previously unstoppable offense this past January. And, throw in the fact that they are 6-1 ATS in their last seven road games vs. a team with a winning home record, and that solidifies our selection.
Pick: Titans +6.5
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