The Baltimore Ravens are on the road this week for a Week 16 meeting with the Cleveland Browns. The purple and black will be looking for some revenge as the Browns were the last team the Ravens lost to this season.
It was without a doubt the worst showing of the season for Baltimore. They entered the game as a seven-point favorite, but the Browns came into M&T Bank Stadium and looked like a team that could be a playoff hopeful. Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb and Jarvis Landry all had terrific games, while the Ravens turned the ball over three times. With a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs the week prior, the Browns and Ravens each had a 2-2 record and it looked like the fight was on to decide the winner of the AFC North.
Fast forward 12 weeks later and the Ravens have not lost since. They have the MVP frontrunner, the NFL’s top rushing attack and sending a league-high 12 players to the Pro Bowl.
The Browns? They did not live up to the preseason hype and they’ll be home watching the playoffs. Just do not expect them to lay down in this one
The Ravens enter this meeting at FirstEnergy Stadium as a 10-point favorite and are 8-6 ATS this year after walloping the New York Jets last week. Should we back Baltimore again? Continue on for the best bets of Week 16.
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Browns +10
The Ravens have been nearly unstoppable since the start of this 12-game winning streak. They had the benefit of a mini bye with their last game being on Thursday. Cleveland is coming off a loss to the Arizona Cardinals. So why the Browns this week?
There has been a ton of talk coming out of Cleveland this week and most of it is not good. Landry and Freddie Kitchens got into it on the sidelines last week. Browns players are now asking their opponents to sign them in the offseason. Kareem Hunt was blunt when he said, “everybody didn’t leave their 110 percent out there.” Kitchens made headlines with his, “I don’t care about my future” quote. No one knows if Odell Beckham wants to be with them next season. Things look to be unraveling for a team many felt could compete for a Super Bowl.
The drama surrounding the team is drawing headlines, but the reality is the Browns have won four of their last six games and four in a row at home. A lot has changed since their last meeting, but Cleveland will rally the troops to give Baltimore all they can handle. They will not make the playoffs, but they would absolutely love to beat the Ravens twice this year. They won’t, but keep this game close and cover the spread. Kitchens’ job security could be in question otherwise.
Over 49.5 points
The Ravens have lit up the scoreboard for much of the season and the numbers are even gaudier when on the road. Not only do they lead the NFL in points per game, but points on the road by a long shot. They have averaged 37.3 points per game away from home. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are shockingly in second, averaging 31.4 points on the road. Baltimore is essentially a touchdown ahead of the rest of the league.
Cleveland is not the offensive juggernaut that they were expected to be entering the campaign. They are scoring 21.2 points per game, which is in the bottom half of the league. However, it’s hard to forget that the Browns put up 40 against the Ravens defense earlier in the year. There is no denying that Baltimore’s defense is significantly more improved than the last time these two squads met, but the Browns still have all that talent as well.
Given what these teams are averaging, it seems to be a lock to hit at least 50 combined points.
Over 9.5 first-quarter points
The key to the Ravens’ success has been their ability to jump out to quick leads on their opening drive. Baltimore has scored on their first possession in 10 games, eight of which resulted in touchdowns. This puts opposing teams in a hole right out the gate.
We all know about Cleveland’s slow start, but as noted in the previous slide, they have been a better team lately. They have put points on the board on their first series in four of their last six games. Three of the drives ended in touchdowns.
10 or more first-quarter points have been scored in nine Ravens games this season. The Browns have had five first quarters go over 10 points. It’s hard to imagine these two teams not being able to combine for 10 considering their ability to score early, making this a pretty safe bet.
