Ravens vs Patriots NFL Week 4 Prediction & Preview

NFL Week 4 Sunday, Oct. 4 - 1 p.m. Eastern - CBS

Baltimore Ravens (3-0) at New England Patriots (2-1)

In Sunday's Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots game, the Ravens' historically stifling defense will take aim at a Patriots offense that has struggled in the early part of the 2009 NFL season. CBS will televise the Ravens-Patriots game regionally at 1 p.m. Eastern.

Baltimore has rolled to a 3-0 start, while New England bounced back from a Week 2 loss to the New York Jets (16-9) to win convincingly at home against previously unbeaten Atlanta, 26-10.

The Ravens-Patriots game may require some change in thought process from bettors. Baltimore's defense, which has dominated in recent years, hasn't been quite as good this season, allowing 50 points in the Ravens first two games. However, Baltimore bounced back on defense last Sunday, whipping Cleveland, 34-3. It's the Ravens offense that is garnering headlines, having topped the 30-point mark in all three wins behind quarterback Joe Flacco and running back Willis McGahee. For comparison, the Ravens had scored more than 30 points only one time in their last seven games of the 2008 season.

New England's offense, which dominated the NFL with a healthy quarterback Tom Brady in 2007, hasn't been quite as potent this season with Brady's return from injury. The Patriots are averaging only 20 points per game, and they hit a season high in scoring last Sunday with the 26 points against Atlanta. In 2007, New England scored at least 30 points in 13 of 19 games. Even without Brady last season, the Patriots scored at least 30 points in four of their final seven games.

New England is 1-2 ATS this season. At home, the ATS record is 1-1 for the Patriots. The Ravens, meanwhile, are 3-0 ATS this season. Baltimore was a 1-point underdog at San Diego in its only road game this season, winning 31-26.

The Ravens and Patriots have been among the NFL's most successful teams in the past few years. The Ravens reached the AFC championship game last season, losing to Pittsburgh, 23-14. New England, meanwhile, had a 16-0 regular season in 2007, before losing in the Super Bowl to the New York Giants.

The Ravens and Patriots last played Dec. 3, 2007, in Baltimore, where the Patriots had one of their biggest scares during their perfect regular season before winning 27-24 as a 19-point favorite. The Patriots scored the winning touchdown with 44 seconds to play on a scoring pass by Tom Brady. Ravens safety Ed Reed had an interception of Brady in the game.

The last Baltimore at New England game was in 2004, when the Patriots won easily, 24-3, as a 7-point favorite.