Ravens feel 'disrespected' as underdogs vs. 49ers

The Baltimore Ravens can't wait to prove doubters wrong as they enter their highly anticipated Week 16 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers as underdogs.

"I don't want them to pick us," Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson said Wednesday, according to ESPN's Jamison Hensley. "I like being the underdog. I believe we play better when we're doubted and (when) people aren't choosing us to win the game. I feel like we play better all the time, so just do it all the way to February."

The Ravens are currently 5.5-point underdogs, which would be the second-largest underdog spread of Jackson's NFL career, Hensley notes.

Baltimore safety Kyle Hamilton says his team is being overlooked.

"We feel a little disrespected by that," Hamilton said. "I feel like we are the best team in the league, and we have an opportunity in front of the country to show it."

Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey added that he was "surprised" by the size of the spread versus the Niners.

Monday's heavyweight contest is one of the biggest clashes of the year and will feature two 11-3 teams that are currently the No. 1 seed in their respective conferences. San Francisco has the best point differential in the NFL (plus-191), while Baltimore leads the AFC in that category (plus-159).

Though many around the NFL see the Ravens-49ers matchup as a potential Super Bowl preview, Jackson said he isn't considering that narrative.

"The Super Bowl is in February. We're in December right now," Jackson added, per Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. "We gotta focus on Monday night. I'm not worried about what people said."

The 49ers have won six games in a row, while the Ravens are on a four-game winning streak.