The Sports Xchange

Baltimore Ravens (1-4) at San Francisco 49ers (1-4)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, at Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif. – TV: CBS

*TV announcers: Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon, Jamie Erdahl

*Keys to the game: No moral victories were earned in a close loss to the Giants according to Jim Tomsula, but the 49ers’ coach gets two key players back this week in LB Ahmad Brooks and TE Vernon Davis. The 49ers allowed only 20 combined points in their two home games and the Ravens’ inability to stop the run has a lot to do with their 1-4 record. The 49ers are conservative to extremes, but QB Colin Kaepernick might carry over some confidence from his best individual showing of the season last week. The Ravens’ secondary is a rolling wheel of injuries, and Kaepernick’s top two targets are Baltimore castoffs.

Ravens QB Joe Flacco has to protect the NFL’s 25th-ranked defense all while getting to know a band of receivers few envisioned playing a key role this season. San Francisco is allowing 299 passing yards per game, but Baltimore will try to rely on its running attack to control the tempo and keep its banged-up defense fresh. That approach could be tossed should RB Justin Forsett (ankle) be limited or ineffective.

*Matchup to watch – Ravens K Justin Tucker vs. 49ers K Phil Dawson: Tucker might be the Ravens’ best offensive weapon. He’s third in the league in field goals, hitting on 11 of 13 attempts. Dawson is 6-for-7, with a highlights-filled history against the Ravens in his back pocket, including hitting seven straight from 50-plus yards.

*Player spotlight – 49ers WR Torrey Smith: He might regret taking the money to leave receiver-starved Baltimore as much as the Ravens lament letting him go. The matchup with old practice nemesis CB Jimmy Smith should make for good entertainment.

*Fast facts: Only 10 total players who started in the 49ers-Ravens Super Bowl in 2012 remain. Six for the 49ers, four for the Ravens.

WHO WILL WIN AND WHY

Baltimore’s four losses came by an average of 4.25 points. Without the playmakers to turn the corner, the Ravens continue their slide unable to slow down the 49ers’ run-based attack.

*Our pick: 49ers 24-17.