Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton. Jessica Rapfogel-USA TODAY Sports

Ravens don’t take kindly to being underdogs in 'MNF' matchup with 49ers

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 12/21/23

The Baltimore Ravens are 5.5-point underdogs heading into their Week 16 matchup with the San Francisco 49ers on “Monday Night Football.”

It’s only the second time this season that Baltimore hasn’t been favored to win — something a few of the team’s top players are taking personally.

“We feel a little disrespected by that,” safety Kyle Hamilton told reporters on Wednesday. “I feel like we are the best team in the league, and we have an opportunity in front of the country to show it.”

.@RealSkipBayless anticipates a tightly contested Ravens-49ers matchup on Christmas Day:

“The Ravens will come in with a chip on their shoulder pads. If I were a betting man, I would take the 5 and a half points.” pic.twitter.com/gYZ2HkLsxN
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) December 21, 2023

The 49ers, who have the longest win streak in the NFC (six games), and Ravens, who have the longest in the AFC (four games), are about as evenly matched as two teams can be.

Both are 11-3, both have scored the second-most points (San Francisco 425, Baltimore 384) in their respective conferences, and both have top-10 offenses (San Francisco No. 2, Baltimore No. 5) and defenses (Baltimore No. 2, San Francisco No. 9).

The Ravens travel to San Francisco to take on the 49ers on Christmas night

It will be the first time two teams with a share of the best record in the NFL meet this late in the season since Cowboys - Giants in 1993.

(via @EvanHAbrams) pic.twitter.com/VT1dwSq6Yf
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) December 21, 2023

The Ravens have allowed the fewest points (224) and fewest touchdown passes (14) in the NFL this year, while the 49ers have allowed the second-fewest, 234 and 15, respectively.

The Ravens also lead the NFL in rushing offense (163.8 yards per game) and sacks (50), while the 49ers rank third (139.9 yards per game) and seventh (43). San Francisco leads the NFL in takeaways (25), while Baltimore ranks fifth (21).

“I was surprised to see [the betting line],” cornerback Marlon Humphrey added. “But I definitely want to make that incorrect for sure. And hopefully some people lose some money betting with them and make some money betting with us.”

Many are projecting Monday’s matchup to be the Game of the Year and a possible Super Bowl preview. The game is in San Francisco, where the 49ers have a 5-1 record, but the Ravens are 6-1 on the road this year.

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