The AFC North gets the Sunday-afternoon spotlight in Cleveland, where the Browns will try to stop a Ravens team that has found its footing at just the right time.
Cleveland comes in off a 17-12 road loss to the Jets, a result that snapped the Browns’ three-game winning streak. Baltimore, meanwhile, has stacked up three straight wins after opening the season with a 24-17 loss to the Saints in its home opener. There’s also a chance the Ravens get Lamar Jackson back for this one.
That possibility has already shown up in the betting market. Baltimore opened at -3.5 and has moved to -5.5, while the total has climbed from 40.5 to 42.5.
The Ravens have also owned this matchup lately, winning three in a row against the Browns. That stretch includes a 41-17 win in Baltimore and a 23-16 victory in Cleveland last season.
SI Betting’s Iain MacMillan sees value on Baltimore if Jackson returns, and still likes the Ravens even if Tyler Huntley has to handle the offense again.
"There's a chance that Lamar Jackson will return for the Ravens this week, and if he does, we're going to have a great number on Baltimore at -4.5. If he doesn't return, I'm not too concerned, as Tyler Huntley proved on Monday night that he's more than a capable backup.
Not enough people have realized how good the Ravens have played this season, ranking second in offensive success rate and eighth in opponent success rate. They are one of just four teams that rank in the top 10 in both metrics, alongside the 49ers, Rams, and Bears.
I feel good backing them at -4.5 to win and cover against a Browns team."
That assessment lines up with the general read on this game. The Browns’ run has ended, and the Ravens appear to be building momentum. Jackson’s status could matter for the number, but even with him likely back, laying -5.5 does not look like too heavy a price - with -6 about as far as the line should stretch.
In Other News...
Browns Suddenly Have A Ravens Week Question Fans Desperately Wanted
Friday brought a welcome shift at Browns practice, with several injured players getting back on the field after limited or no work earlier in the week. Defensive tackle Mason Graham, running back Quinshon Judkins, linebacker Carson Schwesinger and edge defender Derek Barnett all participated, giving Cleveland a healthier look as it moves through a key stretch of preparation for Baltimore.
Grahams return is especially notable after he missed 15 days with a sprained MCL and ankle, and the Browns are still sorting through where their running back group stands heading into Ravens week. With practice availability trending in a better direction, the main question now is which of these returning pieces can actually be counted on when the matchup gets here. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Suddenly Have A Backfield Problem Before Ravens Showdown
Quinshon Judkins missed practice drills for a second straight day, and that alone has put the Browns in an awkward spot heading into a critical game against the Ravens. With a matchup this important, Cleveland had little margin for error already, and the running back situation only looks thinner as the week goes on. Dylan Sampson was on the field in a limited capacity while working back from a knee injury, but the overall picture is still unsettled.
The concern extends beyond one position group, too, because the Browns are dealing with injuries elsewhere as they try to get ready for Baltimore. When a team is bracing for a big divisional test and one of its top backfield options is trending the wrong way, every practice rep matters. Cleveland still has time to sort it out, but right now the backfield is the kind of problem that can change how the rest of the week feels. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Offseason Bets Are Already Exposing One Costly Problem
The Browns went into the offseason trying to cover a lot of ground with very little cap room, and the early returns on those bets have been mixed. Some of the moves have already helped stabilize spots that needed attention, with Denzel Boston adding value at receiver, Elgton Jenkins settling in at center, and Quincy Williams giving the defense a useful lift.
Zion Johnson and Tytus Howard, though, have not given Cleveland the same kind of payoff, and that gap matters because the Browns did not have much margin for error in the first place. When a team is shopping carefully and trying to patch multiple holes at once, a couple of underwhelming additions can quickly turn from inconvenient to costly, especially if the early optimism around the roster starts to fade. [Read more 🡒]