Baltimore Ravens vs Houston Texans NFL Preview: Team news, betting, tickets, live stream, Fantasy Football and more

Week 5 brings a heavyweight showdown in Charm City as the Houston Texans roll into M&T Bank Stadium to face the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Oct. 5.

For Houston, last weekend finally brought the breakthrough they’d been chasing—and they didn't just sneak by, they made a statement. The Texans held Tennessee to a goose egg, nursing a slim 6-0 lead through three quarters before slamming the door with a 20-point avalanche in the fourth. The result? A 26-0 shutout that felt more like an exorcism than a win.

Baltimore, meanwhile, got a taste of the other end of the spectrum. On the road against Kansas City, the Ravens struck first and led 7-3 early, only to get smacked with a 17-point haymaker in the second quarter. From there, it was an uphill battle that ended in a 37-20 defeat. To their credit, Baltimore found the end zone in every quarter, but they also bled points in every frame, a bad recipe against Patrick Mahomes and company.

The Lamar Jackson injury news dealt a gut punch to Baltimore, the two-time MVP is expected to be sidelined for the next two to three weeks with a strained hamstring. That means the Ravens, already stumbling to a 1-3 start after setbacks against the Bills, Lions, and Chiefs, now have to hand the keys to Cooper Rush. It's hardly the ideal situation for a team desperate to claw its way back into the mix, and Rush will need to steady the ship quickly before Baltimore digs itself into a hole too deep to climb out of.

Baltimore Ravens vs Houston Texans kick-off time

The Ravens and the Texans will meet in Week 5 of the NFL season at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland on Sunday, October 5, starting at 1:00 pm ET.

Team news & squads

Baltimore Ravens team news

The Ravens are playing it close to the vest when it comes to Lamar Jackson's status for Sunday's high-stakes showdown with the Texans. 

The two-time MVP was sidelined at Wednesday's practice, still nursing the hamstring injury he picked up in last week's 37-20 beating in Kansas City. It's worth noting — Jackson hasn't missed a snap due to injury since late 2022. But here's the kicker: since he first took the reins in 2018, Baltimore is a woeful 4-10 without him under center. That's not just a stat, that's a warning flare.

If Jackson can't go, the Ravens will be forced to roll with Cooper Rush, the ex-Cowboys backup who inked a deal with Baltimore this offseason. That's quite a downgrade, and Ravens fans know it. That said, Rush is 9-5 in his career as a starter and has a 2:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio in his career. With Rush taking over, the Ravens are likely to lean heavily on running back Derrick Henry. 

And it's not just Jackson. The injury bug has ravaged Baltimore’s roster. Nnamdi Madubuike is done for the year. Roquan Smith is sidelined for weeks with a hamstring. Marlon Humphrey is battling a calf issue and is unlikely to suit up. Nate Wiggins left last week with an elbow injury. Kyle Van Noy hasn’t been seen in two games. Jaire Alexander hasn't played since the opener. 

Also missing from Wednesday's practice were key starters: left tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle) and corners Nate Wiggins (elbow), plus fullback Patrick Ricard (calf).

Baltimore never found its rhythm in Kansas City. Jackson was sharp in spurts, completing 14 of 20 throws for 147 yards with one touchdown, but a costly interception didn't help matters. Justice Hill provided a spark with a jaw-dropping 76-yard scamper on just three carries, but the Ravens couldn’t build much consistency around it. Zay Flowers continued to be the bright spot in the receiving corps, snagging seven passes for 74 yards, but outside of that, Baltimore’s offense felt like it was stuck in neutral.

Ravens injury news: Roquan Smith, LB - Questionable , Nnamdi Madubuike, DT - IR , Marlon Humphrey, CB - Doubtful , Patrick Ricard, FB - Questionable , Nate Wiggins, CB - Questionable , Lamar Jackson, QB - Questionable

Getty Images

Houston Texans team news

For the Texans, fullback Jakob Johnson (hamstring) has officially been moved to injured reserve and won't be suiting up. Meanwhile, defensive end Denico Autry (knee) is riding the questionable tag as his status hangs in the balance.

CJ Stroud looked every bit the franchise quarterback Houston drafted him to be in the win over Tennessee, carving up the Titans' secondary with 233 yards and a pair of touchdown strikes on an efficient 22-of-28 afternoon. The Texans also found balance on the ground, as Jo'quavious Marks churned out 69 hard-earned yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. Nico Collins once again proved to be Stroud’s go-to weapon, hauling in four passes for 79 yards and setting the tone in the passing attack.

Texans injury news: Joe Mixon, RB - NFI-R , Jakob Johnson, FB - IR , Jimmie Ward, S - PUP-R , Jaylin Smith, CB - IR , Justin Watson, WR - IR

Getty Images

Watch and live stream Ravens vs Texans in the USA

The Ravens vs Texans game in Week 5 of the 2025 NFL season will be broadcast live on CBS. Fans can catch the coverage onParamount+ and Fubo (Try for free today!).

More details on where to watch the game in the United States, including streaming options, will be released soon, so keep an eye out for our dedicated coverage.

Watch and live stream Ravens vs Texans worldwide

For fans outside the U.S. looking to stay plugged into the action,NFL Game Pass on DAZN is the ultimate ticket. It serves up more than 200 regular-season and playoff matchups, complete Super Bowl coverage, plus access to NFL Network, NFL RedZone, and plenty more to keep you locked in all year long.

To bypass regional restrictions or to access the game if you are travelling abroad, you can watch the action using a Virtual Private Network like ExpressVPN.

How to buy Ravens vs Texans tickets

The showdown between the Ravens and the Texans is set for M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, a venue that packs in up to 71,008 fans and promises a fiery atmosphere on game day.

Tickets are already up for grabs on StubHub, with entry starting at $386. From there, prices climb through the tiers — $300, $400, $500, $600, $700, $800, $900, $1,000, and stretching all the way into the premium ranges of $2,000, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $6,000, and topping out at $10,406 for the best seats in the house.

Check the link below for the full breakdown of how to purchase tickets to NFL games.

READ MORE: NFL 2025 Tickets: Prices, deals, season tickets & membership information

Ravens vs Texans Fantasy Football

C.J. Stroud (15.9 projected Week 5 fpts) finally looked like he was settling in, capitalizing on his softest matchup of the season as Houston's offense showed its first real pulse. The young QB posted season-best marks in completion percentage (78.6%) and passing yards (233), finishing the week as QB14 with 18.4 fantasy points. Not quite QB1 territory, but the arrow is pointing up, especially against a banged-up Baltimore squad.

From a fantasy lens, Stroud is still more of a matchup-based QB2 than a weekly lock, but if you’re desperate for a spot starter, he’s a perfectly serviceable one-week rental.

Meanwhile, Baltimore turns the keys over to Cooper Rush (12.7 projected Week 5 fpts) with Lamar Jackson shelved by a hamstring. Rush is a stash-worthy pickup in superflex/2QB leagues, but let’s not kid ourselves — matchups against Houston and then the Rams don't exactly scream "fantasy safety net."

With Rush under center, expect the Ravens to lean heavily on Derrick Henry (14.7 projected Week 5 fpts). The veteran back managed 42 rushing yards on eight carries and added 16 receiving yards in last week’s 37-20 loss to Kansas City, but Baltimore will need a lot more than that if they want to survive without Jackson.

The real breakout from Week 4, though, was rookie Woody Marks (10.5 projected Week 5 fpts). The Texans' young back went off for 69 yards rushing, 50 yards receiving, and two touchdowns, looking every bit like a player who deserves more touches moving forward. Against this patched-up Ravens defense, he’s in prime position for another big day.

And here’s the kicker — with Jackson out, Houston’s D/ST is suddenly a fantasy darling. This unit has shown flashes of improvement, and now they’ll get to tee off on a Ravens offense missing its heartbeat. If you’re streaming defenses, this is as good as it gets.

Ravens vs Texans Game Predictions

Two struggling squads meet with matching 1-3 records, but the tale of the tape couldn't be more different. The Ravens boast the league's third-ranked offense, while the Texans hang their hat on having the NFL's stingiest defense. The catch? Houston hasn't figured out how to win on the road, dropping both of its away games so far.

Long term, I still buy stock in the Baltimore Ravens. But in this spot, with Lamar Jackson nursing a hamstring injury and the Ravens limping, the smarter play looks like Houston with the points.

The Texans’ offense has sputtered, no doubt. But Baltimore's defense has been equally suspect, 29th in opponent EPA per play, 27th in success rate allowed, and giving up 5.7 yards per snap (a bottom-six mark across the league). That's not the Ravens' brand of football.

The offensive line has been another sore spot. Jackson has been dropped 15 times already — the third-most sacks allowed in the NFL. Now they’ll try to fend off a Texans front that’s piled up 11 sacks through just four weeks. Good luck with that.

All signs point toward this clash being tighter than many expect. I'll take Houston and the cushion here — because this matchup screams “dogfight.”

Ravens vs Texans Betting Odds

Spread

Texans +3.5 (-110)

Ravens -3.5 (-110)

Moneyline

Texans +140

Ravens -165

Total

OVER 43.5 (-105)

UNDER 43.5 (-115)

Form

Head-to-Head Record

Useful links

• Ravens 2025 NFL schedule: TV channel, livestream & where to watch the games
• Texans 2025 NFL schedule: TV channel, livestream & where to watch the games
• How to watch and live stream NFL football for free and without cable
• 2025 fantasy football rankings: Running back (RB) | Wide receiver (WR) | Tight end (TE) | Quarterback (QB)