Tonight's "Sunday Night Football" game is easily the best matchup on the Week 9 NFL schedule. In a game scheduled to kick off at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC, the Ravens will host the Patriots at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. Lamar Jackson against a potentially historic defense? Yes, please.
Undefeated New England is a 3 1/2-point favorite (via Sportsbook Review) over 5-2 Baltimore with good reason. The Patriots are 8-1 against the Ravens in the regular season all-time and, per Sporting News' NFL power rankings, are the best team in the league this season.
MORE: Full betting preview for Patriots vs. Ravens
Not that anybody needs to search for reasons to watch Patriots vs. Ravens on Sunday night, but this is a matchup of the NFL's two highest scoring offenses. The Patriots rank first in the league in points per game (31.3) while the Ravens rank second with 30.6 points per game. It marks the first time since Week 14 of the 2017 season that the top two scoring offenses in the NFL were both averaging at least 30 points per game and met in Week 8 or later.
New England also allows the fewest points per game (7.6) this season, joining the 2006 Bears as the only teams since 1990 to rank first in both points per game and points allowed per game through the first eight weeks of a season.
Below is all the info you need to watch Patriots vs. Ravens on Sunday night, including the TV channels and kickoff time.
Who plays on Sunday Night Football tonight?
- Matchup: New England Patriots at Baltimore Ravens
- Kickoff time: 8:20 p.m. ET
In both our Week 9 NFL picks against the spread and straight-up predictions, Sporting News projected a Patriots victory Sunday night. Below are the explanations.
Pick against the spread: The Patriots' offense isn't all that explosive at the moment with a limited running game and short on deep threats. The Ravens can be explosive, using the power running of Jackson and their traditional backs to set up downfield shots off play-action. This feels like a low-scoring defensive struggle, as Tom Brady will see the field compressed and Jackson will be contained more in the pocket by Bill Belichick's coverage and spying schemes. Brady is more adept at getting the ball out quickly in the short-to-intermediate passing game, while Jackson will be hung out to dry more trying to escape the pocket and hit on home runs. Pick: Patriots win 23-16 and cover the spread.
Straight-up prediction: One of two things will happen in this game. Either New England's league-best defense will contain the NFL's top rushing offense and force Jackson into uncomfortable situations on its way to another win, or Jackson will have his national TV coming out party as one of the league's best players to anybody who still doubts him. Thanks primarily to their dangerous QB, the Ravens are one of few teams capable of keeping the Pats from going undefeated this season. But Belichick's teams have won 21 straight games against first- or second-year QBs for a reason. Prediction: Patriots 27, Ravens 20.
MORE: Week 9 TV coverage map
What channel is Sunday Night Football on?
- TV channel (national): NBC
- TV channel (Boston): WYCN
- TV channel (Baltimore): WBAL
- Live stream: NBC Sports App, NBCSports.com
As is the case for all "Sunday Night Football" games on NBC this season, Al Michaels will call the Patriots vs. Ravens play-by-play action, and Cris Collinsworth will provide analysis. Michele Tafoya will report from the sidelines, and NFL rules analyst Terry McAulay will explain penalties and other officiating rulings throughout the game.
For those who can't watch Patriots vs. Ravens on TV and wish to find the game on the radio, the New England call can be heard on Sirius channel 81 and XM channel 225, and the Baltimore call can be heard on Sirius channel 83 and XM channel 226.
MORE: Watch every NFL game and RedZone on DAZN (Canada only)
Sunday Night Football TV schedule 2019
All "Sunday Night Football" games start at 8:20 p.m. ET.
| Week 1 | Sept. 5 (Thur.) | Packers at Bears |
| Sept. 8 | Steelers at Patriots | |
| Week 2 | Sept. 15 | Eagles at Falcons |
| Week 3 | Sept. 22 | Rams at Browns |
| Week 4 | Sept. 29 | Cowboys at Saints |
| Week 5 | Oct. 6 | Colts at Chiefs |
| Week 6 | Oct. 13 | Steelers at Chargers |
| Week 7 | Oct. 20 | Eagles at Cowboys |
| Week 8 | Oct. 27 | Packers at Chiefs |
| Week 9 | Nov. 3 | Patriots at Ravens |
| Week 10 | Nov. 10 | Vikings at Cowboys |
| Week 11 | Nov. 17 | Bears at Rams |
| Week 12 | Nov. 24 | Seahawks at Eagles |
| Week 13 | Dec. 1 | Patriots at Texans |
| Week 14 | Dec. 8 | Seahawks at Rams |
| Week 15 | Dec. 15 | Vikings at Chargers |
| Week 16 | Dec. 22 | Chiefs at Bears |
| Week 17 | Dec. 29 | TBD |