San Francisco @ Baltimore preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 18, 2015 ) Baltimore 20, San Francisco 25

The San Francisco 49ers are tied for the best record in the NFL but no team is hotter than the Baltimore Ravens, who have ripped off seven consecutive victories and outscored their last three opponents by a staggering 135-26 margin. The 49ers' top-ranked defense will try to slow Lamar Jackson and Co. when they visit the sizzling Ravens on Sunday.

In a matchup between arguably the top two teams in the league, Baltimore safety Earl Thomas was not shy about saying that many observers are thinking -- that Sunday's matchup could be a Super Bowl preview. "You think the 49ers are going to the Super Bowl? It could be; let's see," Thomas said. "We just go out there and try to play the best football we can possibly do. When the Super Bowl comes, whoever we play, they're going to be in trouble." San Francisco rebounded from its lone loss to Seattle with back-to-back wins, including a 37-8 mauling of Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay on Sunday night. "They're playing at the highest level right now," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said of the 49ers. "Nobody's crowned, like I said. They're the best team in football right now. February's when they make that decision still."

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Ravens -6. O/U: 46.5

ABOUT THE 49ERS (10-1): San Francisco may not rival the defensive numbers of the New England Patriots, but it ranks No. 1 overall in overall yards (248.0), passing yards (136.9) and sacks (44.0), with ends Arik Armstead and rookie Nick Bosa registering 10.0 and 8.0, respectively. The passing game received a huge boost in Sunday's win when star tight end George Kittle returned from a two-game injury absence and snagged six catches for 129 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has registered a passer rating of at least 111.2 in four of his last five games with 13 touchdowns and four picks during that span. Matt Breida returned to practice Wednesday to join a three-headed backfield with Tevin Coleman and Raheem Mostert.

ABOUT THE RAVENS (9-2): Jackson was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week after throwing for five scores and rushing for 95 yards in the 45-6 wipeout of the Los Angeles Rams, becoming the third player overall and first since Tom Brady to win the weekly honor four times in a season. Jackson is tied for the league lead with 24 scoring passes and needs 124 yards rushing to reach 1,000 on the season. Mark Ingram surpassed 100 yards on the ground for the fourth time last week and has amassed 12 touchdowns (nine rushing) while tight end Mark Andrews and rookie Marquise Brown each have six scoring receptions. The Ravens are allowing 12.2 points over their last six games and rank third versus the run (87.7 yards per game).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Jackson has 13 TD passes and zero interceptions while rushing for 300 yards and three scores in his last four games.

2. It will mark the second meeting between the teams since Baltimore edged San Francisco 34-31 in Super Bowl XLVII.

3. 49ers WR Dante Pettis left Wednesday's practice with an apparent knee injury.

PREDICTION: Ravens 30, 49ers 20