Can the Browns put the hurt on the Ravens’ postseason opportunity?
The Cleveland Browns are in Maryland to take on the Baltimore Ravens for the first of two pivotal Week 18 NFL games on Saturday. Earlier in the 2024 NFL season, the Browns did the unthinkable by defeating the Ravens 29-24 in front of the Dawg Pound. Key to Cleveland’s win was an efficient attack that saw Baltimore on the short end of the total yards metric, trailing in time of possession, and woefully inept on third down (2-of-10).
More of the same and a healthy dose of good luck and stellar play will be in order if the Browns hope to sweep the Ravens this season. Quarterback Lamar Jackson has put together an MVP-caliber season the likes we usually only see in Madden franchise mode. It’s anyone’s guess as to how much Jackson will play in his pursuit of a second-consecutive AP NFL MVP (and third overall) should Baltimore find itself up big in the second half.
That’s also no guarantee, since you can be sure Cleveland intends on making life difficult on Jackson, running back Derrick Henry, and company. But in the end, it’s the Ravens with far more to play for and intent on winning to better-position themselves as winners of the AFC North. Should that happen, they would be slotted in as the Bills’ divisional round opponent should both teams advance past Super Wild Card Weekend. By losing, the Ravens cede the North to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and travel Texas to face the Houston Texans next weekend in the wild card round.
Entering play, things heavily favor Baltimore, with the oddsmakers at FanDuel Sportsbook listing the Ravens as 19.5-point favorites over the Browns, and an O/U set at 41.5.
Baltimore has proven to be one of the most complete and difficult teams to figure out this season, but they’re not unbeatable — as evidenced by their 11-5 record. Can Cleveland provide a setback to their AFC North rivals? Anything’s possible. I just don’t see Bailey Zappe quarterbacking the Browns to victory over an offense led by an MVP-minded Jackson. This one could get ugly.
Baltimore Ravens 38, Cleveland Browns 3
Here’s your open thread for today’s first AFC North matchup. As always, be kind to one another — and in all things... Go Bills!