by Chuck Sommers
Thursday, Nov 25, 2021
Game time: 8:20 p.m. ET
Venue: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD
Where to watch: NBC
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Ravens -4
BetMGM: Ravens -3.5
Caesars: Ravens -3.5
Season record
Browns: 6-5 (Last place, AFC North)
Ravens: 7-3 (1st place, AFC North)
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Browns - Ravens preview and analysis
Last week
Browns: won 13-10 vs. Lions
Ravens: won 16-13 at Bears
If the Baltimore Ravens haven't sent a giant fruit basket to the Chicago Bears for the inability to play offense, they might want to get on that.
It's a miracle that the Ravens won last week and have maintained that grip on first place in the AFC North.
Now comes the money-making week. The Ravens and Cleveland Browns will play twice in three weeks in a set of games that could alter the course of the division as we know it. The first matchup is this week in Sunday Night Football in Baltimore.
The Ravens are coming off a 16-13 win in Chicago that saw a young man by the name of Tyler Huntley somehow not move Matt Nagy out of a job. Huntley, who is probably a wonderful lad, threw for 219 yards and ran for 40 against the Bears and led a game-winning drive to push Baltimore to 7-3.
Yes, if you haven't been following, the Ravens won last week without Lamar Jackson (non-COVID illness). Jackson, the former MVP, says he think he'll be ready to go Sunday.
“I want to get out there and just go. I don’t want to limit myself or have coach limit me or anything like that,” Jackson said. “I want to grind with my guys, because I haven’t in a whole week.”
The last time the Browns and Ravens played, it turned into one of the greatest Monday Night Football games we've ever seen. The Ravens led 34-20 heading into the fourth quarter, before the Browns scored three touchdowns to tie it 42-42 with 1:04 left.
Yes, this is the same game where Jackson took the Browns to the Super Bowl.
The Ravens went on to win thanks to a 55-yard field goal from Justin Tucker.
“Like anything else, you get experience with something, you get more comfortable in that type of a situation,” coach John Harbaugh said Monday. “I think our guys are content in every circumstance right now, in every football circumstance, and determined to try to find a way to win.”
The Browns are going through their own wave of frustration, but it has nothing to do with a backup quarterback. Cleveland won 13-10 against the Detroit Lions in what was another questionable performance by this team that should be much better than the 6-5 record it's posted.
Baker Mayfield threw for just 176 yards and one touchdown along with two interceptions, but was bailed out by the dominant ground game from Nick Chubb (22 carries, 130 yards).
The Browns have reached 'weird' status. They'll win by 25 against a red-hot Cincinnati Bengals team, then lose 45-7 the next week at the New England Patriots. There's no reason why Browns fans could be frustrated. So much so that Mayfield did not take questions after Sunday's game.
“I was frustrated, among other things,” Mayfield said Monday on a Zoom call. “I mean I’ve never dodged any questions or hid — so just frustrated, removed those emotions and all of that from it and decided it was best to wait.”
The Browns are 2-5 ATS in their last seven, but more importantly, offense has not existed. Cleveland has scored 17 points or fewer in six of eight and there has been no answer despite no massive change in offensive personnel.
Prediction
Cleveland could have some help on the way offensively with running back Kareem Hunt (calf) and right tackle Jack Conklin (elbow) returning to practice with the chance to play. If they play, the Browns are a little more rounded out on offense to combat with Baltimore. This year's Browns aren't equipped to go full offense crazy in this one, and Jackson could be itching to get back against a questionable defense. Ravens by 14
Betting trends
Browns are 8-7 ATS in last 15 as a road dog.
Browns are 3-4 ATS in last seven after allowing 14 points or fewer the last game.
Ravens are 0-6 ATS this season as a favorite between 3.5 and 9.5.
Players to watch
Browns: Myles Garrett is looking for his fifth game in a row with a tackle for loss; he has a sack in six of the last seven.
Ravens: Wide receiver Marquise Brown is looking for his fourth game in a row of at least five receptions.
Statistical leaders
Browns:
Passing: Baker Mayfield -- 2,166 yards, 10 TD, 6 INT
Rushing: Nick Chubb -- 851 yards, 6 TD
Receiving: David Njoku -- 372 yards, 2 TD
Defense: Myles Garrett -- 13 sacks
Ravens:
Passing: Lamar Jackson -- 2,447 yards, 14 TD, 8 INT
Rushing: Lamar Jackson -- 639 yards, 2 TD
Receiving: Marquise Brown -- 719 yards, 6 TD
Defense: Anthony Averett -- 2 INT
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
