Baltimore and Miami are set for a high-profile matchup in Week 17 with plenty of storylines.
The game will feature the ultimate playoff scenario for the AFC’s top teams on Sunday when the Ravens (12-3) host the Dolphins (11-4) at M&T Bank Stadium (1 p.m. ET, CBS).
The winner will be the No. 1 seed in the AFC, earning a first-round bye and a much-needed week of rest and preparation.
Miami will be without wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, while Baltimore will look to continue their defensive dominance against a Dolphins offense that can score points in the blink of an eye.
With the final preparation underway, we’re looking at who the NFL experts pick.
Baltimore Sun--Ravens
All five experts at the Baltimore Sun are picking the Ravens to win.
The Ravens aren’t messing around anymore, having won nine of their past 10. Those late-game collapses earlier in the season (which really dates to their epic fall the last time they faced Miami in September 2022) seem like a thing of the past as they have found their winning formula. The Dolphins pose many challenges but are also banged up — neither of their star receivers, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, are 100% — and their defense isn’t anything special. Baltimore does not want to go into the regular-season finale against Pittsburgh needing a win to lock up the No. 1 seed or even potentially the AFC North. The Ravens are a well-oiled machine right now without any major weakness, and that won’t change Sunday.
NFL.com--Ravens
All five experts at NFL.com are picking Baltimore.
While looking for signs Baltimore might be vulnerable, I instead came away with a greater appreciation for the Ravens’ ability to succeed in nearly any kind of circumstance this season. They’ve won on the road, at home, against good teams, against bad teams, by huge margins and narrow ones. Miami has not shown that kind of resilience yet. The Dolphins could push Baltimore, but the Ravens will not flinch, not with a chance to clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
Pro Football Talk -- Ravens
Mike Florio learned his lesson and PFT is picking Baltimore.
The Ravens will kick the sh— . . . never mind. It will be a close, hard-fought battle between two great teams. Someone has to win. Unless they tie.
Florio: Ravens, 28-24.
Simms: Ravens, 24-20.
CBS Sports --Dolphins
Four of the seven experts at Bleacher Report are picking Miami.
The 33rd Team --Ravens
The experts at The 33rd Team are picking Baltimore.
The Baltimore Ravens dominated the 49ers in San Francisco on Christmas night. The secondary consistently forced tight windows against the 49ers’ loaded group of pass catchers. Baltimore’s five interceptions were the biggest difference in that contest.
The offensive line did a fantastic job against San Francisco’s elite pass rush, and Lamar Jackson continued to create difference-making plays to extend drives. All in all, Baltimore played a near-perfect game against the league’s most talented roster.
The Miami Dolphins slipped past Dallas last week, giving Miami its first win against a premium opponent. Miami’s defense has been better in the second half than it was early in the season.
What makes the Dolphins dangerous is their unprecedented duo of speed demons, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Unfortunately, Hill is playing through an ankle injury, and Waddle suffered a high ankle sprain last week. With those two players, Miami is a very dangerous team. Without them, Miami has a much tighter margin of error against elite teams like Baltimore.
Miami Herald--Ravens
The Miami Herald is picking Baltimore at home.
USA Today -- Ravens
USA Today’s experts are picking the Ravens in this showdown.
The Sporting News -- Ravens
The Sporting News is picking the Ravens.
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
Rewind to that 2022 matchup. Tagovailoa passed for 469 yards and six TDs. Jackson had 318 passing yards, 119 rushing yards and four total TDs. Baltimore has scored 30 or more points in six games this season, so they are more than willing to get in a shootout. This will be the best game of the week.
Pick: Ravens 31, Dolphins 27
The MMQB--Ravens
The MMQB crew is picking Baltimore.
Pittsburgh Post Gazette--Ravens
Gerry Dulac is picking Baltimore.
The Ravens have made easy work of the Jaguars and 49ers the past two games, establishing themselves as the league’s No. 1 team. The Dolphins finally had a significant win by beating the Cowboys. This would be even more significant.
Prediction: Ravens, 34-23
