Ravens vs. Commanders NFL Week 2 preseason odds, trends: Bettors backing Baltimore for 25th straight exhibition victory Monday

One of the most unlikely winning streaks in NFL history is on the line Monday night. The Baltimore Ravens have won a league-record 24 straight preseason games (20-4 against the spread) and are 1.5-point favorites at the Washington Commanders as Week 2 concludes on ESPN. Ravens starting quarterback Lamar Jackson and other key players are expected to sit, but that hardly has mattered under head coach John Harbaugh. Click here for expert picks.

At BetMGM, the Ravens opened at -3 but are down to -1.5 despite taking 72% of the bets and 59% of the money. On the money line, Washington opened at +130 but is down to +110. The Commanders are taking  41% of the bets and 48% of the money. The total has dropped from 38.5 to 38 with 57% of the bets and 60% of the money on the Under. Since 2004 in NFL preseason games with totals of 38 or more points, the Under is 247-200-6 (55%).

Is there such a thing as preseason bulletin-board material? "I think it's a stupid record. I mean, who gives a [crap] about preseason games?" Commanders offensive lineman Cosmi said of the Ravens' preseason success. "If we beat it, great. We're gonna beat it, so there we go."

Jackson will sit again for Baltimore and so will backup Tyler Huntley. Josh Johnson and Anthony Brown will each play a half as they battle for the third quarterback spot. Johnson was 8-for-12 in the team's first preseason game, passing for 45 yards and one touchdown in the Ravens' 20-19 win. Brown was 3-for-8 for 7 yards with a pick. Huntley did play in that game.

Commanders coach Ron Rivera, to no surprise, has named Sam Howell as his Week 1 starting QB -- over Jacoby Brissett -- and said that the 2022 fifth-round pick would play Monday. It's unclear how many snaps Howell will take. The placekicking competition is also apparently over, with the team releasing Michael Badgley. That leaves Joey Slye as the only kicker on the roster.

The Ravens have won five straight games in the preseason against Washington. Baltimore prevailed 17-15 last year at home. Brown completed 15 of 19 passes for 256 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown pass, and added a 6-yard touchdown run. Howell (24 of 35 for 280 yards, one touchdown, 62 yards rushing) threw a TD pass with 5:31 remaining to pull the Commanders to within two, but their two-point conversion attempt failed.

Harbaugh is 44-12 straight up in the preseason and Rivera is 22-21, dating to his Carolina days. 

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