NFL Football
2025-12-21 - New England Patriots at Baltimore Ravens
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : NFL Week 16
Sunday 21st December 2025 - Scheduled 8:20pm
1:20am (British Time)
Preview
The collapse in the Week 15 loss to the Buffalo Bills have raised the volume of the doubters around the New England Patriots (11-3), but this is a team that remains in charge of the AFC East. Bouncing back with a victory will be a tough test for the Patriots who will be travelling to face the Baltimore Ravens (7-7) who host this Sunday Night Football game knowing they have very little margin for error in their bid to return to the post-season.
Not many teams in the AFC would like to see the Ravens in January, but Baltimore have had to battle through adversity this season.
In Week 15 they secured an important win over the Cincinnati Bengals to snap a two game losing run and the Ravens can still win the AFC North by making sure they sweep the remainder of the regular season scheduled and hope the Pittsburgh Steelers lose twice.
Focus has to be on winning this game and the Baltimore Ravens are going to be really confident that they can establish the run against this Patriots Defensive Line. Lamar Jackson will have to make sure he is using his legs when the pocket breaks down, but the Ravens being in third and manageable spots will give them every chance of making sure they are keeping the chains moving.
Lamar Jackson will know that his Offensive Line has had some issues in pass protection, but the team being in third and manageable should mean the Quarter Back does not need a lot of time. There are Ravens Receivers who can make some big plays, although Jackson will respect this Patriot Secondary and the performances produced this season.
New England are going to try to bounce back from the home loss to the Buffalo Bills, but they are up against an improving Baltimore Defensive unit.
In particular, the Baltimore Defensive Line have really been clamping down on the run in recent games and they will be very keen to make sure they put Drake Maye in a position to beat them where he needs to hold onto the ball a little longer than usual. The Patriots are a strong Offensive Line and TreVeyon Henderson has been in fine form, but they struggled to maintain the run in the loss to the Buffalo Bills and that did ultimately cost them the chance of closing out the win.
Drake Maye does have some solid Receivers around him, much like Lamar Jackson, but it is always going to be more challenging if asked to make plays from third and long spots.
The Quarter Back will know that there are some holes in this Baltimore Secondary that can be exploited, but a desperate Ravens team may still have the edge in this big prime time game.
There have been some doubts about this New England team seeing as they have yet to beat anyone of note outside of Buffalo in the first game, but the Bills earned revenge in Week 15 and the Ravens will feel they are still a genuine Super Bowl contender.
It is a game that matters more to the home team and Lamar Jackson can play well enough to help build on the big win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Patriots are unlikely to roll over under Head Coach Mike Vrabel, but they have a tough task to bounce back from a really disappointing defeat. It also helps that the Patriots can still win the Division even if they lose this game and they will maintain control of their own destiny and the Baltimore Ravens have the clarity to secure an important win and they can cover too.
Prediction
Lay the points with the home favourite.
The Pick :
Baltimore Ravens 27-20 New England Patriots
