We blinked and the NFL regular season is in its final weekend. We also blinked and are currently witnessing a three-game swing in the AFC North, with Baltimore needing a win on Saturday to lock up its division.Once trailing Pittsburgh by three games, Baltimore is in the driver’s seat to win the division and host a playoff game. “Guys are locked in, and we are all hands on deck pointed toward Saturday night at ‘The Bank,’ and I can’t wait to see how our guys play,” head coach John Harbaugh said. “It’s the last game of the regular season, and we want to play our best game.”The NFL’s flexed schedule sees the entire AFC North playing on Saturday, determining its final standings prior to any other division.* The Ravens will host Cleveland at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, with the Steelers hosting the Bengals at 8 p.m.Only Cleveland (3-13) has been eliminated from playoff contention, but the Browns can try to play spoiler against the team in their former home.With a victory, Baltimore wins the AFC North at 12-5. A loss opens the door for Pittsburgh (11-6), which needs Baltimore to lose – and beat Cincinnati – to win the division. Meanwhile, Cincinnati (8-8) needs a win and losses by both Denver and Miami to secure the seventh and final seed in the AFC Playoff picture.”I think it’s a little bittersweet. It kind of threw our weekly schedule for a turn there (playing Saturday),” safety Kyle Hamilton said. “(But) win the next game, win the division, win the AFC, win the Super Bowl. (We) take it one step at a time. So, we’re on our way to winning the AFC North right now, and that will put us on a good track.”However, one of the Browns’ three wins this season came against Baltimore in a game Cleveland started and capped the scoring. The Browns were also 8.5-point underdogs in Week 8, a familiar spot they find themselves in again in Week 18.The Ravens taking advantage of a depleted Browns team in multiple game facets highlight Week 18’s keys to the game.1) Ravens must attempt to win the game in the first halfThere is no doubt the lopsidedness of this matchup is apparent. If the spread alone – Baltimore favored by 17.5 points – didn’t clue you in, the number of Browns’ starters out should make this game get ugly fast.Like Week 8, Baltimore will face another new Cleveland quarterback: Bailey Zappe. Just months ago, Deshaun Watson ruptured his Achilles, and fans were cheering for a chance at Jameis Winston. In the time between meetings for these two clubs, Winston’s play subsequently got him benched. Additionally, third-string signal-caller Dorian Thompdon-Robinson may get snaps in Week 18, head coach Kevin Stefanski said, but the team will activate Zappe for the first time this season.Cleveland is already without starting running back Nick Chubb (foot, IR) and will start 28-year-old veteran D’Onta Foreman with Jerome Ford (ankle) already ruled out. Foreman is the fourth-string back, and he’ll be paired with the fourth option at quarterback, too.Cleveland has also already ruled out starting tight end David Njoku and will be missing linebacker Jordan Hicks, corner Denzel Ward and will likely be without safety Grant Delpit and defensive end Myles Garrett.All of this is to say, as long as Baltimore comes out of the gates not playing down to its opponent, the team should be able to build a lead that allows them to begin taking starters out at the half.Additionally, the Ravens are one of the heaviest running teams in the league. Although Justice Hill (concussion) is out, Baltimore can see what it continues to have in Keaton Mitchell and rookie Rasheen Ali. Finally, Devontez Walker is the only rookie in the receiving corps, pointing to Baltimore being able to keep a majority of the possession even without its starters.”There’s no question you can’t control wind, rain, snow. You’re going to need to convert in short-yardage situations (when) the games are really close. Third-and-short, fourth downs, when you go for it, and you get it, and when you go for it, and you don’t get it (and) in the red zone scoring touchdowns.”2) Baltimore can’t take pedal off pass defenseWhile the Ravens have been playing defense better as of late, they have allowed the second-most pass yards this season, only better than Jacksonville.In a game where it’s possible players could come in and think it’s an easy matchup, the defense can’t be caught lollygagging when Zappe drops back to pass.Jerry Jeudy remains the Browns’ No. 1 option and he has used the second half of the season to put his name back on the NFL map of reliable receivers. Opposite him, Cleveland has used Elijah Moore multiple times this season as a receiving complement. Furthermore, despite Njoku missing the regular season finale, seven-year veteran Jordan Akins will step in as a starter. He has neared double-digit targets multiple weeks so far this season and also worked with multiple quarterbacks.Baltimore also falls in the bottom third of the league in passing touchdowns allowed (26), seeing only six teams in the league allow more. With the Browns starting a true backup running back and wanting to see what they potentially have in Zappe, Baltimore should expect a good number of pass attempts.3) Baltimore must force Cleveland to also beat itselfThe Browns have mustered nine total points in their previous two games against far less superior defenses than the Ravens. Last week against Miami, Thompson-Robinson averaged seven yards per pass – again proving Cleveland was managing mostly check-downs – and turned the ball over more than scoring it.That has been the case for Thompson-Robinson in the Browns’ last three games, likely leading to his rotation to the bench. Thompson-Robinson also had more weapons at his disposal than Zappe will and still struggled to lead any sort of positivity on the offense. Baltimore’s coverage and ability to take a sizable lead can make Zappe and Cleveland force passes, unsecure ball carrying, missed routes and more. “We have great people around the building who make cut-ups and get us information to be prepared for (multiple) guys (quarterbacks),” Hamilton said. “We’re obviously familiar with (Dorian) Thompson-Robinson. Now, we’re doing some work on (Bailey) Zappe, so our gameplan really won’t change much. How we approach these guys, the system is going to be the same.”*Editor’s note: The AFC North will officially play all 17 games prior to any other division, but the NFC East standings have already been determined numerically.
BALTIMORE —
We blinked and the NFL regular season is in its final weekend. We also blinked and are currently witnessing a three-game swing in the AFC North, with Baltimore needing a win on Saturday to lock up its division.
Once trailing Pittsburgh by three games, Baltimore is in the driver’s seat to win the division and host a playoff game.
“Guys are locked in, and we are all hands on deck pointed toward Saturday night at ‘The Bank,’ and I can’t wait to see how our guys play,” head coach John Harbaugh said. “It’s the last game of the regular season, and we want to play our best game.”
The NFL’s flexed schedule sees the entire AFC North playing on Saturday, determining its final standings prior to any other division.* The Ravens will host Cleveland at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, with the Steelers hosting the Bengals at 8 p.m.
Only Cleveland (3-13) has been eliminated from playoff contention, but the Browns can try to play spoiler against the team in their former home.
With a victory, Baltimore wins the AFC North at 12-5. A loss opens the door for Pittsburgh (11-6), which needs Baltimore to lose – and beat Cincinnati – to win the division. Meanwhile, Cincinnati (8-8) needs a win and losses by both Denver and Miami to secure the seventh and final seed in the AFC Playoff picture.
“I think it’s a little bittersweet. It kind of threw our weekly schedule for a turn there (playing Saturday),” safety Kyle Hamilton said. “(But) win the next game, win the division, win the AFC, win the Super Bowl. (We) take it one step at a time. So, we’re on our way to winning the AFC North right now, and that will put us on a good track.”
However, one of the Browns’ three wins this season came against Baltimore in a game Cleveland started and capped the scoring. The Browns were also 8.5-point underdogs in Week 8, a familiar spot they find themselves in again in Week 18.
The Ravens taking advantage of a depleted Browns team in multiple game facets highlight Week 18’s keys to the game.
1) Ravens must attempt to win the game in the first half
There is no doubt the lopsidedness of this matchup is apparent. If the spread alone – Baltimore favored by 17.5 points – didn’t clue you in, the number of Browns’ starters out should make this game get ugly fast.
Like Week 8, Baltimore will face another new Cleveland quarterback: Bailey Zappe. Just months ago, Deshaun Watson ruptured his Achilles, and fans were cheering for a chance at Jameis Winston. In the time between meetings for these two clubs, Winston’s play subsequently got him benched.
Additionally, third-string signal-caller Dorian Thompdon-Robinson may get snaps in Week 18, head coach Kevin Stefanski said, but the team will activate Zappe for the first time this season.
Cleveland is already without starting running back Nick Chubb (foot, IR) and will start 28-year-old veteran D’Onta Foreman with Jerome Ford (ankle) already ruled out. Foreman is the fourth-string back, and he’ll be paired with the fourth option at quarterback, too.
Cleveland has also already ruled out starting tight end David Njoku and will be missing linebacker Jordan Hicks, corner Denzel Ward and will likely be without safety Grant Delpit and defensive end Myles Garrett.
All of this is to say, as long as Baltimore comes out of the gates not playing down to its opponent, the team should be able to build a lead that allows them to begin taking starters out at the half.
Additionally, the Ravens are one of the heaviest running teams in the league. Although Justice Hill (concussion) is out, Baltimore can see what it continues to have in Keaton Mitchell and rookie Rasheen Ali. Finally, Devontez Walker is the only rookie in the receiving corps, pointing to Baltimore being able to keep a majority of the possession even without its starters.
“There’s no question you can’t control wind, rain, snow. You’re going to need to convert in short-yardage situations (when) the games are really close. Third-and-short, fourth downs, when you go for it, and you get it, and when you go for it, and you don’t get it (and) in the red zone scoring touchdowns.”
2) Baltimore can’t take pedal off pass defense
While the Ravens have been playing defense better as of late, they have allowed the second-most pass yards this season, only better than Jacksonville.
In a game where it’s possible players could come in and think it’s an easy matchup, the defense can’t be caught lollygagging when Zappe drops back to pass.
Jerry Jeudy remains the Browns’ No. 1 option and he has used the second half of the season to put his name back on the NFL map of reliable receivers. Opposite him, Cleveland has used Elijah Moore multiple times this season as a receiving complement.
Furthermore, despite Njoku missing the regular season finale, seven-year veteran Jordan Akins will step in as a starter. He has neared double-digit targets multiple weeks so far this season and also worked with multiple quarterbacks.
Baltimore also falls in the bottom third of the league in passing touchdowns allowed (26), seeing only six teams in the league allow more. With the Browns starting a true backup running back and wanting to see what they potentially have in Zappe, Baltimore should expect a good number of pass attempts.
3) Baltimore must force Cleveland to also beat itself
The Browns have mustered nine total points in their previous two games against far less superior defenses than the Ravens.
Last week against Miami, Thompson-Robinson averaged seven yards per pass – again proving Cleveland was managing mostly check-downs – and turned the ball over more than scoring it.
That has been the case for Thompson-Robinson in the Browns’ last three games, likely leading to his rotation to the bench. Thompson-Robinson also had more weapons at his disposal than Zappe will and still struggled to lead any sort of positivity on the offense.
Baltimore’s coverage and ability to take a sizable lead can make Zappe and Cleveland force passes, unsecure ball carrying, missed routes and more.
“We have great people around the building who make cut-ups and get us information to be prepared for (multiple) guys (quarterbacks),” Hamilton said. “We’re obviously familiar with (Dorian) Thompson-Robinson. Now, we’re doing some work on (Bailey) Zappe, so our gameplan really won’t change much. How we approach these guys, the system is going to be the same.”
*Editor’s note: The AFC North will officially play all 17 games prior to any other division, but the NFC East standings have already been determined numerically.
Lamar Jackson Baltimore Ravens Nike Game Jersey – Purple
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