Ravens vs Texans Predictions: Ravens can ruin Christmas for Houston

The second NFL game on Christmas Day is a key contest in the battle for play-off positioning in the AFC as the Houston Texans play host to the Baltimore Ravens.

Only one divisional title remains unclaimed in the AFC and the Texans are already certain of taking first place in the low-quality AFC South division.

The Ravens, however, are locked in a fierce battle with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the AFC North title which they won last season.

Read on for our Ravens vs Texans predictions, as well as the latest team news and match odds.

Baltimore's 34-17 home win over their rivals on Sunday took them level with the Steelers at 10-5 and both teams now have one head-to-head win against each other. With identical records in the division of 3-2, the Steelers are currently ahead by virtue of the next tiebreaker, which is winning percentage against common opponents.

With a home game against the freefalling Cleveland Browns to come, the Ravens know that a win in Houston would be huge for their prospects.

The Texans, at 9-6, are likely to be the fourth seeds in the AFC playoffs, but beating the Ravens would give them a chance of moving up to third by the end of the season.

The Ravens are favourites on the road for what should be an entertaining game with Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson facing off against the home team's CJ Stroud.

Team news

The Ravens could be without wide receiver Nelson Agholor and running back Justice Hill, who are both in the concussion protocol after getting hurt against the Steelers.

Wide receiver Zay Flowers (shoulder) and guard Daniel Faalele (knee) should be able to play, while cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis (hamstring), centre Tyler Linderbaum (back) and cornerback Tre’Davious White (shoulder) are also dealing with injuries and will be assessed.

The Texans sustained three notable injuries against the Chiefs on Sunday. Wide receiver Tank Dell was hospitalized with a serious knee injury and is set to miss the rest of the season.

Guard Shaq Mason (knee) and safety Jimmie Ward (foot) also went off and are doubtful for this game.

Houston are also monitoring the progress of defensive end Will Anderson (hand), centre Juice Scruggs (foot) but there is a chance that wide receiver John Metchie III (shoulder) and tight end Cade Stover (illness) could return after missing the Chiefs game.

Ravens vs Texans Match Odds

The Ravens are road favourites at 4/9, with the Texans priced at 9/5. Baltimore are asked to give up 4.5 points on the handicap with odds of 20/21, while the Texans are 20/23 getting a start of 4.5 points.

The total points line has been set at 46.5, with odds of 10/11 for either under 46.5 or over 46.5.

Ravens -4.5 @ 20/21

At times during Sunday's game against the defending champions, the Texans showed flashes of getting back to the form that they were in during their play-off run last season.

Even so, they still lost by a fairly comfortable distance of eight points to the Chiefs and that was typical of their performances against top teams this season when they have generally come up short.

The Texans' most notable success was against the Bills back in Week 5, but they have lost against the Vikings, Packers, Lions and Chiefs when they have met other elite teams.

Six of the Ravens' last seven wins have come by seven or more points and they should have the edge in Houston.