Week 6 odds signal doubt about Lamar Jackson, Ravens defense

The Baltimore Ravens opened Week 6 as 7.5-point underdogs in their upcoming matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, reflecting an expectation that Lamar Jackson will miss another game with a hamstring injury.

While oddsmakers may still favor the Rams given the Ravens’ struggles on defense, it is unlikely that they would be so confident against a Jackson-led team at home. But last week’s loss to the Texans has clearly shifted their perspective on Baltimore.

Last week, there was a four-point swing two-time MVP was expected to miss the game. If Jackson was trending towards playing, a similar swing would still leave the Ravens as home underdogs in Week 6.

That’s probably because of a Rams offense that leads the league in yards per play and a Ravens defense that has allowed the most points and the second-most yards this season. In the last two weeks, Los Angeles has put up 918 total yards while Baltimore has given up 809 yards, along with 81 points. Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua has been near-unstoppable this season and could tear through a banged-up Ravens secondary.

The Rams defense also appears to be suited to stop a Ravens offense that struggled to move the ball without Jackson last week. They rank third in yards per carry allowed and have a strong enough pass rush to make life difficult for backup quarterback Cooper Rush, especially if left tackle Ronnie Stanley misses a second game in a row.

Here are the full betting lines for Ravens-Rams, courtesy of FanDuel: