Ravens odds to win AFC North still high after Week 7 loss
By Kristen Wong
Simmer down, Cincinnati Bengals fans. The division race is a marathon, not a sprint. The Baltimore Ravens remain the favorites to win the AFC North.
According to WynnBET, the Ravens’ odds of winning the division are -120, while the Cleveland Browns sit at +275 odds, the Cincinnati Bengals have +300 odds, and the Pittsburgh Steelers have +2000 odds.
The fact that the Browns still have the second best odds to win the AFC North should humble Bengals fans even more (it is a bit of a head-scratcher).
As Baltimore heads into its bye week, they grapple with positives and negatives surrounding their recent team form.
A few positives: Lamar Jackson continues to be great, though he has dropped off ever so slightly; Josh Bynes has also been dominant at the linebacker position.
The glaring negative, of course, is the Ravens got blown by the Bengals in Week 7.
The Ravens remain the favorites the win AFC North in 2021
The team shouldn’t be quick to panic, though, since they still have one of the strongest rosters in the division.
Aside from a few gaps in the offensive line and at running back, Baltimore has bounced back from their slew of preseason injuries.
A Ravens secondary that allowed over 400 passing yards against Cincinnati played worse than usual that game, and the likes of Marlon Humphrey and Anthony Averett should still keep the defense competitive for the rest of the season.
Jackson, as mentioned earlier, hasn’t reclaimed his early season form when he was breaking records every game.
His fall from excellence hasn’t been nearly as catastrophic as AFC rival Patrick Mahomes for the Kansas City Chiefs, and he’ll continue to be the offensive fulcrum for this Ravens team.
With a host of wide receiver options returning from injury, Jackson can soon take his pick from an excellent receiving corps. Sammy Watkins, Marquise Brown, and Rashod Bateman will likely assume top three duties, but the Ravens have plenty of depth with James Proche, Devin Duvernay, and Miles Boykin.
Overall, there’s definitely more to look forward to than complain about with this group following the bye.
Next. 3 positive takeaways from Baltimore’s disappointing Week 7 loss. dark
One loss to a surprisingly good team has not and will not cripple the Ravens’ chances for a deep postseason run. The Ravens are still primed to claim the AFC North crown, and we fully expect them to do so.