The Baltimore Ravens will host the Detroit Lions to close down the Week 3 NFL slate on Monday Night Football. Both teams enter with a 1-1 record and hold legitimate Super Bowl aspirations. Baltimore currently ranks second in Super Bowl odds at +475 on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Detroit is tied for fifth with +1400 odds.
This is an intriguing measuring stick matchup for both sides. The Lions have battled some early struggles due to the change in coordinators on both sides of the ball. The Ravens allowed a comeback victory by the Bills in the opening week after leading by 15 in the fourth quarter, but they properly stomped the Browns last week.
Looking at the odds for tonight’s matchup, the Ravens enter as 4.5-point favorites and hold -225 odds on the moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Lions hold +185 odds of getting the outright victory with the game total set at 53.5 points.
There are plenty of ways to get involved in the action beyond just backing a side. This article will look at my three favorite prop bets on DraftKings Sportsbook for the Week 3 Monday Night Football matchup.
Lions at Ravens Best Prop Bets
Jahmyr Gibbs Anytime Touchdown (-130)
The Detroit Lions selected Jahmyr Gibbs with the 12th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. After being a bit limited in opportunities as a rookie, Gibbs emerged as one of the most dangerous offensive talents in the league last year. He tallied 1,412 yards on the ground, 1,929 total yards from scrimmage and reached the end zone a league-leading 20 times.
Gibbs makes an impact as a rusher and in the pass game for this Lions offense. Through the opening two matchups, he has tallied 154 yards from scrimmage and one score. David Montgomery remains in the mix in the Lions’ backfield, but there is a level of explosiveness Gibbs possesses that stands out every time he has the ball. The Alabama product has scored 32 touchdowns in 34 games in his career and found the end zone in 13 of the 17 games last season, as well as twice in the playoff loss.
He will now face a Ravens defense that has allowed touchdowns to the opposing running back in both games so far this year (James Cook and Dylan Sampson). Whether it is through the air or on the ground, count on Gibbs being a key part of the Lions’ offense throughout tonight’s matchup and for him to find paydirt again this week. Getting -130 odds for one of the most consistent touchdown scorers in the NFL is solid value, and the 53.5-point game total indicates we should be braced for some scoring tonight.
Lamar Jackson Over 284.5 Passing & Rushing Yards (-113)
The postseason shortcomings will continue to stick with him, but Lamar Jackson has been a model of how the quarterback position should be played in recent years. The two-time MVP is coming off a season in which he threw for 4,172 yards, 41 touchdowns and four interceptions while leading the NFL in touchdown percentage, yards per pass attempt, QBR and quarterback rating. This does not even mention the 915 rushing yards he added while leading the league in yards per rush attempt and how he has tallied over 1,000 rushing yards twice in his career.
Jackson threw for 209 passing yards against the Bills in the season opener while adding 70 yards with his legs. He followed that up with a 225-yard passing performance against the Browns in which he rushed for 13 yards. He will now lead the team into a matchup with the Lions, who rank 25th in the NFL in EPA per pass attempt. Jackson has yet to record over 284.5 combined passing and rushing yards this year, but he has taken just 19 and 29 pass attempts in the two games played thus far.
Baltimore failed to keep its foot on the gas in the opening-week loss against the Bills, and this should serve as a lesson learned. Jackson is at the epicenter of everything the team does offensively and this will be the case tonight in what should be a high-scoring affair. He is also averaging 9.7 rush attempts per game in his career on Monday Night Football, so I am opting to take the combined passing and rushing total. The Louisville product tallied over 284.5 combined passing and rushing yards in nine games last year, so expect tonight to be his most impressive statistical output of the season so far.
Jameson Williams Longest Reception Over 22.5 Yards (-115)
The biggest X-factor in the Lions’ offense is Jameson Williams. The Alabama product is a home-run threat every time the ball is in his hands and he currently leads the NFL by averaging 21.8 yards per reception. He had a 64-yard reception in addition to his 44-yard touchdown in Week 2 against the Bears.
Williams tallied 1,001 receiving yards last season while finding the end zone eight total times and averaging 17.1 yards per reception. He will face a Ravens defense that has given up the second-most passing yards in the league through two games, with 596 yards allowed. Whether it is a screen pass that Williams takes for extra yardage or a deep shot down the field, count on the Lions’ speedster having a few different chances at a big play in this matchup.
He tallied a reception of over 22.5 yards in nine games last year, and these types of deep shots are necessary to open up the rest of Detroit’s playbook. Baltimore has allowed receptions of over 22.5 yards in both games so far. Expect the trend to extend and for the Lions to give Williams a few chances at a big play tonight.
