CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The 3-13 Cleveland Browns will end their season in an all too familiar way as they travel to Baltimore to take on the 11-5 Ravens in Week 18.
Here’s what we are watching for.
Tanktastic – Welcome to another meaningless Week 18 in which the Browns are playing for draft positioning. Cleveland enters the week with the No. 3 selection. The path to the No. 1 overall pick requires the Browns to lose along with losses by the Patriots to the Bills and Titans to the Texans.
QB 40 – Bailey Zappe will start making hm the 40th different starting quarterback for the franchise since 1999. This marks the second straight year and third overall since the team returned they have used four different starters in a season. In 14 games with eight starts, Zappe has completed 63.2% of his passes for 2,053 yards with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Zappe has been sacked 31 times.
Sackmaster Myles – Myles Garrett enters Week 18 tied with Trey Hendrickson of the Bengals for the league lead with 14 sacks with a chance to win the sack title. Garrett became the first in NFL history, or at least since sacks became an official stat in 1982 to tally 14 sacks in four consecutive seasons. Garrett has 8.5 career sacks against Baltimore.
One for the books – Receiver Jerry Jeudy is six catches shy of breaking Kellen Winslow Jr.’s franchise record for catches in a single season. Jeudy, who was named to his first Pro Bowl, leads the team with 84 grabs.
Season over – Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward, Pro Bowl alternate tight end David Njoku as well as running backs Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong Jr., receiver Cedric Tillman defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson are all out with injuries which should help the quest for a 14th loss.
Division champs – The Ravens can lock up their eighth AFC North title as well as the third seed in the AFC with a win.
Last Time – October 27, 2024: Browns 29, Ravens 24
Series – Ravens lead 36-15
Last week – Browns lost to the Dolphins 20-3; Ravens beat the Texans 31-2
How they compare – Here’s a look at how the two teams match up statistically.
Points scored: Browns 15.5, Ravens 30.19
Yards: Browns 305.3, Ravens 424.2
Rushing: Browns 97.0, Ravens 185.6
Passing: Browns 208.3, Ravens 238.6
Points allowed: Browns 25.0, Ravens 21.9
Yards allowed: Browns 336.2, Ravens 330.1
Rushing yards allowed: Browns 124.1, Ravens 81.6
Passing yards allowed: Browns 212.1, Ravens 248.5
Turnover ratio: Browns -20, Ravens +4
Friday moves – The Browns signed receiver Kaden Davis, defensive tackle Michael Dwumfour and safety Christopher Edmonds to the active roster from the practice squad and placed running back Jerome Ford (ankle), tight end David Njoku (knee) and running back Pierre Strong Jr. (concussion) on injured reserve. In addition, the team elevated cornerback Kahlef Hailassie and running back Jacob Kibodi from the practice squad. Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (knee) was downgraded to out for Saturday’s game.
Injury report – OUT: LB Jordan Hicks (concussion), CB Denzel Ward (shoulder); QUESTIONABLE: DE Ogbo Okoronkwo (knee), TE Blake Whiteheart (knee), QB Jameis Winston (shoulder), WR Michael Woods II (knee)
Uniforms – White jersey, orange pants, orange helmet
Broadcast – 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 WNCX and the University Hospitals radio network; WEWS TV-5 (ESPN/ABC)
Kickoff – 4:30 p.m. M&T Bank Stadium; Baltimore, Maryland
Our prediction – Ravens 27, Browns 6
