Detroit Lions vs. Baltimore Ravens MNF Prediction (September 22, 2025)
Week 3 of the NFL season is gonna go out with a bang. The Detroit Lions are headed to Baltimore to play the Ravens in what sports analysts are saying could be a potential Super Bowl preview!
Monday Night Football features two squads that were in contention for the Super Bowl two years ago, and last season, both were bounced in the Divisional Round.
We’re nowhere near playoff stakes, but they’re both trying to get above .500. They both come into this one at 1–1; Detroit beat Chicago last week, and Baltimore took out Cleveland.
This is only the eighth time the teams have ever played each other, and the Ravens are the 4.5-point favorites at home. Why? Because they’ve been formidable at home and they’ve got Lamar Jackson, that’s why.
Who are we backing? Keep scrolling to see the game details, betting odds, team profiles, recent form, matchup analysis, trend, insights, our picks for the three best bets, and a bonus angle for the pros!
Game Details
- Matchup: Detroit Lions (1-1) vs. Baltimore Ravens (1-1)
- Date & Time: Monday, September 22, at 8:15 pm ET
- Where: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
- How To Watch: Airing on ESPN and ABC
Betting Odds
Monday Night Football is prime time betting territory! Here are the current odds and lines listing on BetMGM:
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
Lions | +4.5 (-110) | +195 | Over 53.5 (-110) |
Ravens | -4.5 (-110) | -235 | Under 53.5 (-110) |
Baltimore is the favorite by more than a field goal, and that means the oddsmakers are giving the Ravens the advantage but not projecting it’ll be a blowout. The total at 53.5 signals expectations for a lot of scoring, and if heavier betting comes in on Detroit, the line could move closer to -3.5.
Team Profiles & Recent Form
Let’s take a look at how the Lions and the Ravens have performed in the first two weeks of the season:
Detroit Lions
- Offense: Jared Goff has worked off play-action, using quick throws to St. Brown while Jameson Williams stretches defenses vertically. Rookie Roman Wilson has been great with slot production. In the backfield, Gibbs has speed in space, and Montgomery delivers between the tackles to sustain drives.
- Defense: Hutchinson has pressured quarterbacks, but coverage issues are apparent when plays go long. Linebackers fill against the run, although the secondary can be exposed by mobile passers who extend possessions. Lamar Jackson’s mobility is the hardest matchup they’ve been up against so far.
- Current Outlook: Detroit is 2–0 against beatable opponents, but this is the Ravens. A win here would give them more credibility than just an NFC playoff team.
Baltimore Ravens
- Offense: Jackson has distributed really well; he hits Flowers on crossers and Andrews in the red zone. Edwards and Mitchell give short-yardage power and a change-up element. The threat of Jackson running forces defenses to account for extra looks, which makes space for his receivers.
- Defense: The front has generated pressure with different alignments and blitzes. The weak spot? Coverage depth, where opponents using multiple wideouts have found success. Detroit’s receiver trio will look to stress that group.
- Current Outlook: Baltimore has shown offensive variety but has given up yards through the air when asked to protect leads. At home on Monday night, the expectation is that they’ll depend on their front seven to control the game.
Matchup Analysis
Detroit’s blocking against Baltimore’s rush and Lamar Jackson’s ability to escape pressure will be the deciding factors in how long each offense stays on the field!
- Lions’ O-Line vs. Ravens’ pass rush: Goff has had the time to operate through two games, but Baltimore comes with pressure inside in the form of Justin Madubuike and off the edge with Odafe Oweh. If the line loses one-on-one battles? Detroit’s passing rhythm goes sideways.
- Lamar Jackson’s scrambling: Detroit has had some issues when quarterbacks get out of the pocket. If Hutchinson and the front collapse too aggressively, Jackson will pick up first downs on the ground and extend Baltimore’s drives.
- Red zone efficiency: The Ravens have turned five out of six red-zone trips into touchdowns, and Detroit has kicked three field goals in similar spots. If that trade keeps up, the scoreboard will go Baltimore’s way.
- Home Field Advantage: Under John Harbaugh, the Ravens are 13–4 in primetime home games. The crowd noise at M&T Bank can throw off snap counts and block adjustments, which is a big concern for Detroit’s tackles.
- Rest/Travel: The Lions are coming off a really physical divisional game and have had less prep time; Baltimore had a full week to reset and build its game plan.
- Weather: Mid-70s temperatures with humidity could wear on defenses as the night goes on, which gives Baltimore’s run-heavy game a small advantage.
Betting Trends & Insights
- Detroit (ATS): The Lions have covered 7 of their last 10 games as underdogs. When the pass protection holds, Goff pushes the offense into scoring range often enough to keep them inside the number.
- Baltimore (SU / ATS): The Ravens are 13–4 straight up in primetime home games under Harbaugh. They’ve also covered 8 of their last 11 when laying less than a touchdown.
- Totals: Both teams are top-10 in yards per play so far. The 53.5 line signals that bookmakers expect touchdowns over field goals when drives get into scoring territory.
Our Best Bets
We’ve got some angles that look pretty good for this game! Here’s what we think are the go-to bets and an angle for the more experienced bettors:
1. Spread Play — Ravens -4.5 (-110)
Our Confidence Level: 7.5/10
- Market Value: At -4.5, the number stays under the main thresholds of 6 and 7, and that leaves some room before a possible late move that could erase the value.
- Matchup Angle: Baltimore’s front gets home with blitzes, and Goff has a clear drop-off when he’s forced to move off his first read. That kind of pressure limits Detroit’s ability to hit on intermediate and vertical throws.
- Situational Angle: The Ravens are 10–3 under Lamar in home prime-time games. Detroit has faltered in similar road environments, and it’s when its protection breaks down.
- Professional Play Note: If this spread climbs above 6, the edge is gone; early backers at -4.5 hold the better ticket.
2. Total — Over 53.5 (-110)
Our Confidence Level: 6.5/10
- Market Value: Yeah, this number is high, but both teams are averaging 25+ points a game in 2025, so the books are pricing in scoring volume.
- Matchup Angle: Lamar against Detroit’s containment is a total mismatch; the Lions rank bottom-third defending QBs who extend plays. And Baltimore’s secondary can be outmatched when its opponents speed things up, which is what Goff does.
- Situational Angle: September games trend higher on totals before defenses have the chance to stabilize. The weather is forecasted to be mild in Maryland, so there’s no real drag on offenses.
- Professional Play Note: If the total pushes to 55, some bettors will look to middle; Over at the opener, Under if the line inflates. At 53.5, the Over still has good value!
3. Moneyline — Ravens -235
Our Confidence Level: 5/10
- Market Value: -235 is overpriced for a single play. At that price, ML bettors will usually pair it with something else.
- Matchup Angle: Baltimore is stronger on both lines and has the QB edge at home. Detroit has the players to land shots, but they don’t have the matchup advantages to justify the ML.
- Professional Play Note: Instead of paying up for the -235, the Ravens ML tied to the Over makes way more sense for plus-money.
Bonus Professional Angle: Player Prop Correlation
If you’re betting the Over? Pairing Lamar Jackson rushing yards Over and Amon-Ra St. Brown receptions Over fits what we expect we’ll see in this game. Baltimore’s blitz packages force Goff into quick throws to his slot, and Lamar has historically run more in prime-time home games!
Bettor Summary
- Best Value: Ravens -4.5. The line is still under 6, and Baltimore’s pass rush, combined with their strong track record in night games at home, makes this the most reliable side.
- Secondary Angle: Over 53.5. Both teams are putting points on the scoreboard, and defensive breakdowns on each squad make a higher total very possible.
- Pass on Standalone: Ravens ML (-235). The price is way too inflated to back by itself and only makes sense when it’s part of a parlay or paired with a total.
- Extra Angle: Props tied to an offensive game script, like Lamar Jackson rushing yards or Amon-Ra St. Brown receptions, can shore up the overall betting card.
Risk Factors & Potential Upsets
- Pass Protection: If Detroit’s offensive line wins enough one-on-one matchups, Jared Goff will have time to attack downfield and convert third downs, which gives the Lions a clear route to covering the number.
- Turnovers: A turnover by Lamar Jackson or a forced takeaway on a Detroit drive would give the Lions short fields and change drive expectations, and that means Detroit has a chance of pulling off an upset against Baltimore.
- Special Teams: Justin Tucker’s range and Riley Patterson’s accuracy inside 50 mean one or two kicks could end up deciding the spread.
The Lions Fight Hard, but Can’t Get Past Baltimore
Projected Final Score: Ravens 31 – Lions 24
We admire the Lions’ scrappiness, but that doesn’t mean we think they can pull off the upset here; we are firmly in the Ravens camp for this game.
Detroit’s offense will def produce, but their defense has not proven that it can hold up against quarterbacks who buy time and attack downfield. Lamar Jackson gives Baltimore that and more, and the Ravens’ pass rush should disrupt enough possessions to separate. Points will be scored on both sides, but Baltimore? It has the finishers to cover at home!
Best Bets Recap
- Ravens -4.5: (7.5/10)
- Over 53.5: (6.5/10)
- Ravens ML: -235 (5/10)
Monday Night Football is here! Before betting on Lions vs Ravens, compare spreads, totals, and props with our football betting sites to secure top odds, fast payouts, and trusted platforms.
