Week 3 of the 2025 NFL regular season concludes with a powerhouse matchup between a pair of expected Super Bowl contenders looking to avoid dropping below .500.
Detroit travels to Baltimore on Monday night with both sitting a 1-1 and a half-game back of two teams in their division.
ODDS AND TRENDS
The Ravens are a consensus 4.5-point favorite, with their lone loss coming late at AFC rival Buffalo while the Lions were overwhelmed with their lone road game that finished in a 27-13 loss at Green Bay during Week 1.
Baltimore has been backed by 72 percent of the spread-line money at BetRivers, where the Ravens’ -245 moneyline has also drawn 79 percent of the money.
The Ravens have won 13 of their past 14 games against NFC teams.
Six of Baltimore’s past seven games against NFC teams have gone over the total points line, and the Over on Monday night’s 53.5-point line at BetRivers has been backed by 89 percent of the money.
KEY STAT
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has not thrown an interception while tossing 22 touchdowns in his nine career Monday night games. That includes two games in which he has thrown five touchdown passes and another with four. He has also racked up 644 yards and three more touchdowns on the ground.
PROP PICKS
–Jackson 200+ Passing Yards (-252 at DraftKings): Despite the low potential payout, this has been the most popular passing yards player prop at the book. Jackson is averaging 217 passing yards per game through two weeks this season, and has hit 200+ in 13 of his past 15 regular-season games.
–Lions WR Jameson Williams Anytime TD (+195 at BetRivers): Williams has scored at least once in five of his past seven games and the electric playmaker is difficult to double team with the attention Amon-Ra St. Brown commands.
THE NEWS
The Ravens lead the NFL in scoring average (40.5) and have reached the 40-point mark in both of their games.
They face another high-scoring team in the Lions. Detroit ranks fourth in scoring (32.5) and is coming off a 52-21 destruction of the Chicago Bears in Week 2.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff matched his career best of five passing touchdowns while hitting 23 of 28 throws for 334 yards. Goff has six touchdown passes and one interception this season.
St. Brown has caught 13 passes for 160 yards and is tied for second in the NFL with three touchdown receptions.
“I feel like we were a lot better than we were (in Week 1) from everything,” St. Brown said. “From the explosive plays, to the communication, to the details, the execution, to taking care of the football. Just the whole top to bottom. …
“But, anytime you put up 50 in this league is tough against any opponent.”
Baltimore scored 40 points in its season-opening loss to Buffalo, a game in which the Bills scored 16 points in the final four minutes to pull off the 41-40 win. Last week, the Ravens pounded the Cleveland Browns 41-17.
Jackson has six passing touchdowns and one rushing score through two games. He hasn’t been intercepted.
Despite the easy victory against the Browns, Baltimore rushed for just 45 yards. Derrick Henry had just 23 yards on 11 carries after rumbling for 169 yards and two scores on 18 carries against the Bills.
“They had a bunch of guys at the line of scrimmage, and they were triggering the run right away,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “When you get a run key, you’re hitting gaps, running through gaps. I would say they were blitzing the run. It wasn’t a blitz call, but it’s a blitz reaction to the run.”
INJURY REPORT
Baltimore will be without standout defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike (neck), who was ruled out Saturday. The two-time Pro Bowler was injured against Cleveland.
Veteran linebacker Kyle Van Noy (hamstring) missed his third straight practice for the Ravens and also was ruled out. Fullback Patrick Ricard (calf) and tight end Isaiah Likely (foot) also will sit out. Likely broke his left foot early in training camp and hasn’t played yet this season.
Detroit defensive end Marcus Davenport (chest) will miss the game. Standout left tackle Taylor Decker (shoulder) missed practice Saturday one day after being a full participant. He was listed as questionable.
The Lions also listed linebacker Jack Campbell (ankle), safety Kerby Joseph (knee) and cornerback D.J. Reed (knee) as questionable.
THEY SAID IT
–“Felt like we were completing a lot of balls and getting down the field with a lot of explosives and the whole thing. It really starts up front. Those guys pass protect like that, it’s going to be tough to stop us. This Monday night, we’d like to throw it like that again.” –Goff
–“I’ll say that probably the extra rest day, extra film, get a good feel for who we’re playing against and go from there.” — Jackson on his Monday night success.
SERIES HISTORY
Baltimore has beaten the Lions five straight times and six of seven overall.
PREDICTION
Baltimore would be 2-0 had it not been for a late-game meltdown at Buffalo. Both offenses are extremely high-powered, with the edge going to the Ravens at home with the superior defense to notch a key stop or two. –Ravens 30, Lions 27
