Injury-Ravaged Ravens Brace for Texans' Challenge in Week 5 Clash

On October 5, 2025, the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans, both with 1-3 records, will clash in a crucial Week 5 showdown at M&T Bank Stadium. The game is set to kick off at 1 p.m. ET.

The Ravens have had a tough start to the season, worsened by a series of injuries, particularly the loss of their star quarterback Lamar Jackson. Jackson is sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained in their Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Without their dynamic dual-threat quarterback, the Ravens are forced to adopt a more traditional pocket-passing strategy with Cooper Rush.

This shift in the Ravens' offense could allow the Houston Texans' defense, led by players like Will Anderson Jr., to exert effective pressure. The Texans' pass rush might capitalize on Baltimore's possibly weakened offensive line if tackle Ronnie Stanley, who is questionable due to an ankle injury, is not fully available.

The Baltimore defense is also feeling the impact of injuries, with linebacker Roquan Smith and cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Chidobe Awuzie being out. This opens up weaknesses in the secondary and run defense that Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud and his receivers can potentially exploit.

Analysts are pointing out that the Ravens' rush defense has been shaky this season, giving Houston's running game a "golden ticket" to keep up and control the game clock. Moreover, with a number of Pro Bowlers missing, including Smith and Humphrey, Houston's up-and-coming players like Stroud could take advantage of mismatches in coverage.

The Ravens hold a 5-0 record against the Texans when Jackson plays, but his absence, coupled with defensive injuries, changes the odds, with most experts leaning towards Houston for a road win. The Texans' offensive coordinator has shown a need to exploit Baltimore's injury-stricken unit by focusing on quick passes and getting the run game going early.