Intriguing Game– NFL, Week 12
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens
Browns: Who are they? Are they the group that dominated back in week nine? After releasing Odell Beckham Jr, they put together their best performance of the year in a 25-point win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Or are they the team we saw against the New England Patriots in week ten? They were punched in the mouth and only scored seven points. I have just as hard of a time figuring them out as much as you do, so believe me when I say I understand. Even this past Sunday, they allowed the Detroit Lions to remain in the game. It should’ve never been that way. Let me discuss Baker Mayfield for a second if I can. He’s not what he was expected to be coming into the league. Look at the other quarterbacks he was drafted with and what they’ve accomplished so far since coming into the league. Josh Allen had the Buffalo Bills a game away from the Super Bowl last season and got his contract extension in the Summer and Lamar Jackson has won an MVP. The one issue I have with the Browns is the inconsistency they have on one side of the ball. It’s been the defense that’s been winning games for Cleveland. There’ve been moments when the Browns offense just doesn’t show up. In fact, they’ve failed to score 17 or more points in six of their eight games. For a team that was considered to a be a “contender”, they don’t show up when it’s time to prove just that. You have to show up for those big games and they’re similar to a light switch. One minute, they’re on and next, they’re off. On Sunday night, they have a divisional showdown with Baltimore.
Ravens: If we’re being real, they should have more than the three losses on their record. They struggled against the Chiefs way back in week two, needed the kick of Justin Tucker’s life to survive the Lions in Detroit, struggled against the Indianapolis Colts and just squeaked by the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears. The only time they’ve looked complete this year was that win against the Los Angeles Chargers and that’s when people were labeling them as the best team in the AFC. Here’s my thing when it comes to the Baltimore Ravens. They have the formula to succeed around this time of the year, December and of course, January. In order to advance far into the playoffs, you need to be able to run the football and despite their running back group being decimated with injuries, others have stepped it up. I trust their defense for the most part. Everything in the front seven is what I mean though. I don’t trust their secondary at all. As good as Marlon Humphrey is, I’ve noticed he needs another guy around him to help cover on the other side at all times. The presence of Marcus Peters has been significantly obvious because he’s that guy that can line up and defend your number one receiver. Go back and watch some highlights of the Ravens this year, a majority of teams have attacked their secondary left and right. They’ve given up far too many plays for my liking. This is what is going to hold them back. They return home on Sunday night.
Browns X-Factor: Rashard Higgins– He’s the number two receiver behind Jarvis Landry. Rashard is that inside presence that can go over the middle and make the tough catches in traffic. I like seeing him go up the field on a deep route because he has the confidence to go up and get the football. It doesn’t matter who is defending him, he’ll climb up and get what’s his.
Ravens X-Factor: Patrick Queen– I followed him closely at LSU in his college days. He’s made a nice leap into the NFL. Patrick is the leading tackler on the team. Every time you see a ball-carrier out in space, he’s always near the football. He will get his way to the ball. Whether it’s on a blitz up the middle or stopping the run, his motor is always on. Baltimore has a thing for selecting linebackers. Some guy named Ray who’s the greatest middle linebacker ever wore the purple and black his entire career.
Final Thoughts: This is an important game for both teams. The Browns are on the outside looking in of the playoff picture and the Ravens are back in first place in the AFC North. Lamar is expected to be back for this one. I view this matchup and one thing stands out: This is a tough matchup for the Ravens offense because Cleveland has that stingy defense that’s been keeping them in games as I said up top. However, there have been some weeks when the Browns’ defense hasn’t shown up (the games against Arizona and New England). The Ravens front seven must get that continuous amount of pressure on Baker to help that secondary out. It will be tough for the Browns to get Nick Chubb going as the Ravens are one of the best at stopping the run. This will be a hard-hitting game.
Prediction: Ravens 27, Browns 20
