Baltimore, MD (92.3 The Fan) – Sunday afternoon the sun officially sets on what has been one of the more enjoyable seasons in over a decade for the Browns, who look to go out with a bang while crushing the playoff dreams of the Ravens.
Having won 5 of their last 6 games, the Browns hold Baltimore’s playoff fate in their hands for the first time since 2002, and they can send the Ravens home for the winter by beating and sweeping them to complete their first winning season since 2007, and just the third in the 20 for the franchise since 1999.
A Browns victory combined with a Steelers win over Cincinnati keeps the Ravens home, but a Baltimore win clinches the AFC North and it would be Pittsburgh that would stay home.
For as delightful a situation the Browns find themselves in, they’ve spent the week focused on themselves and not helping to decide the fate of 2 rivals. Gregg Williams can move to 6-2 as their interim coach, which would mean they would also tie the longest regular season win streak in the expansion era – 4, previously set at the end of the 2009 season.
Cleveland won 12-9 in overtime on Oct. 7 in Cleveland and Sunday’s season finale figures to be another low-scoring, points at a premium affair.
The Browns will be without rookie Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward, who had an interception and blocked a field goal in the first meeting between the teams, after he suffered his second concussion in 4 weeks.
For all the talk about the vaunted Ravens D, the Browns are 7-0 this season when they hold their opponents to 20 or fewer points.
Since October both teams’ fortunes have turned for the better. Cleveland’s thanks to a coaching change, Baltimore’s thanks to a quarterback change.
Containing Ravens rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson and undrafted rookie running back Gus Edwards will be the top priority defensively. Jackson leads all NFL quarterbacks with 605 yards rushing this season and he is 5-1 as a starter while Edwards has been stopped for negative yardage just once on 125 carries this season. His 578 yards since week 11 are fourth-most in the league.
In addition to trying to close out with a sixth win in 7 weeks, a few Browns have some other marks in their sights Sunday as well.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield, who starts his 13th game, is 2 touchdown passes shy of tying Russell Wilson and Peyton Manning’s rookie league record of 26 in 16 starts but Baltimore’s stingy defense stands in the way.
Running back Nick Chubb, who already has broken the rookie franchise rushing record, is 28 yards shy of the coveted 1,000-yard mark.
Defensive end Myles Garrett needs 2 sacks to tie Bill Glass’ 14.5 unofficial sack count in 1965. Reggie Camp holds the official record of 14 in 1984 because sacks didn’t become an official stat until 1982.
Here’s a look at how the teams match up this week.
Last week – Browns beat the Bengals 26-18, Ravens beat the Chargers 22-10
Last Time – Oct 7, 2018: Browns 12, Ravens 9 F-OT
Series – Ravens lead 29-10
Rankings – Points scored: Browns 19 (22.3), Ravens 13 (24.2)
Yards: Browns 14 (364.9), Ravens 12 (369.1)
Rushing: Browns 10 (122.9), Ravens 2 (143.0)
Passing: Browns 15 (242.1), Ravens 21 (226.1)
Points allowed: Browns 20 (24.4), Ravens 1 (17.5)
Yards allowed: Browns 29 (388.3), Ravens 1 (284.1)
Rushing yards allowed: Browns 24 (124.5), Ravens 3 (85.1)
Passing yards allowed: Browns 27 (263.9), Ravens 4 (198.9)
Turnover ratio: Browns 4t (+4), Ravens 22 (-5)
Probable Starters – Offense: WR Jarvis Landry, TE Darren Fells, LT Greg Robinson, LG Joel Bitonio, C JC Tretter, RG Kevin Zeitler, RT Chris Hubbard, QB Baker Mayfield, TE David Njoku, WR Rashard Higgins, RB Nick Chubb
Defense: DE Myles Garrett, DT Larry Ogunjobi, DT Trevon Coley, DE Emmanuel Ogbah, WILL Genard Avery, MIKE Joe Schobert, SAM Jamie Collins, CB Terrance Mitchell, CB TJ Carrie, FS Damarious Randall, SS Jabrill Peppers
Inactives – CB Denzel Ward, QB Drew Stanton, WR Blake Jackson, OL Kyle Kalis, OL Desmond Harrison, DL Chad Thomas and DL Carl Davis.
Broadcast – Radio: 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 WNCX and the University Hospitals Cleveland Browns radio network. TV: NFL Network, WOIO CBS-19
Kickoff – 4:25 p.m. – M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland
Our prediction – Browns 19, Ravens 17
