The Ravens keep finding ways to win, and they head into Week 6 looking like a team plenty of bettors still haven’t fully caught up to.
Baltimore pulled out its fourth victory of the season on Sunday Night Football, rallying late after Lamar Jackson was sidelined and then beating the Atlanta Falcons in overtime. That result sent the Ravens back on the road, where they’ll now face the Cleveland Browns in an AFC North matchup.
Cleveland comes in at 3-2, but the mood is different after a poor loss to the New York Jets. That sets up a division game with a line that’s drawing interest, especially with the possibility of Jackson returning.
There’s a chance Jackson is back for Baltimore this week, and if he is, the Ravens are likely to be a strong number at -4.5. If he isn’t, Baltimore still has a case because Tyler Huntley showed on Monday night that he can handle the job as a backup.
The broader argument for the Ravens goes beyond one quarterback decision. Baltimore has quietly put together one of the strongest profiles in the league, ranking second in offensive success rate and eighth in opponent success rate. They’re one of only four teams in the top 10 in both categories, alongside the 49ers, Rams, and Bears.
That’s why the lean here is Baltimore at -4.5 to win and cover against the Browns.
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In Other News...
Browns Run Game Trouble Forced A New Backfield Move
The Browns backfield has been in flux, and the latest move shows how quickly depth can become a priority when injuries start stacking up. Cleveland signed running back Audric Estime from the Vikings practice squad to its 53-man roster after Quinshon Judkins was injured, adding another option to a room that has needed reinforcements as the team tries to steady its ground game.
Estime brings prior NFL experience with the Broncos and Saints, which gives Cleveland a veteran presence at a position group that has been asked to absorb a lot lately. For the Browns, the signing is less about splash and more about keeping the rotation functional while they look for cleaner answers in the running game. [Read more 🡒]
Jared Verse Is Creating An Early Browns Trade Debate
The Browns entered this season knowing the Myles Garrett trade would be judged through whatever came back in return, and Jared Verse has been the center of that evaluation from the start. A two-time Pro Bowler and former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Verse has been on the field for every game so far, giving Cleveland the kind of every-down edge presence it wanted to plug into a defense built around disruption.
So far, though, the numbers have left room for debate. Verse has 13 tackles and has held up with moderate run-defense grades, but the sack column is still empty, and that has opened the door for questions about his pass-rushing impact. Behind him, Sam Williams has played fewer snaps yet produced more sacks and tackles, which is exactly the kind of early comparison that can turn a trade return into a talking point the Browns cannot avoid. [Read more 🡒]
Deshaun Watson Suddenly Has Real Pressure On His Browns Job
The Browns loss to the Jets did more than knock Cleveland to 3-2, it turned up the heat on a quarterback situation that had already been under scrutiny. Deshaun Watson spent the afternoon dealing with pressure, poor protection and shaky decision-making, and the result was an eight-sack outing that left the offense sputtering when it needed to steady itself.
Now the schedule only sharpens the conversation, with the Ravens and Titans next on the docket and little margin for more uneven play. Around the roster, the alternatives are already part of the discussion, whether that means leaning on backup Shedeur Sanders or eventually activating Dillon Gabriel if the Browns decide the current setup is no longer sustainable. [Read more 🡒]