The Cleveland Browns have had a fine season and look to finish with a winning record for the first time in more than a decade. However, Sunday’s matchup means everything to the Baltimore Ravens as they are AFC North champs with a win and sitting out the playoffs with a loss. MyBookie Sportsbook oddsmakers expect the former.
How to Bet Browns at Ravens NFL Week 17 Lines & Game Info
- When: Sunday, 4:25 PM ET
- Where: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore
- TV: CBS
- Radio: SiriusXM/NFL
- NFL Week 17 Lines: Baltimore Ravens -5.5 (Total 41)
- Mostly Cloudy: 4°C/39°F
- Humidity: 56%
- Precipitation: 7%
- Cloud Cover: 62%
- Wind: 4 mph SE
- Stadium Type: Open
First Meeting
The Browns upset the Ravens 12-9 in OT in Week 5 back when Hue Jackson was still Cleveland’s coach. Greg Joseph hit the winning field goal from 37 yards out with 2 seconds left in OT after Baker Mayfield made a clutch third-down throw to help drive the Browns into position. It was vindication for Joseph, who also missed a 55-yarder at the end of regulation and a PAT.
Mayfield threw for 342 yards and a score. Joe Flacco (no longer the Baltimore QB) threw a costly interception in the first half for Baltimore, and the Browns blocked one of Justin Tucker’s field goal tries. Tucker tied it with a 32-yard field goal with 52 seconds left in regulation.
Why Bet on Cleveland?
In last week’s 26-18 win over Cincinnati, rookie QB Baker Mayfield completed 27 of 37 pass attempts (73.0 percent) for 284 yards with three touchdowns and zero interceptions for a 121.9 passer rating. Mayfield, who has 24 touchdown passes in 2018, surpassed Andrew Luck (23 touchdown passes in 2012) for the second-most touchdown passes by a rookie quarterback selected No. 1 overall in the common draft era. Only Peyton Manning (26 in 1998) had more passing touchdowns as a rookie quarterback selected No. 1 overall in the common draft era.
Mayfield has completed 64.6 percent of his passes. That ranks as the second highest completion percentage in a season in Browns history. Only Hall of Famer Otto Graham had a higher percentage: 64.7 percent in 1953. Mayfield is one-tenth of a percent behind breaking a team record that has been held for 65 years.
Mayfield tossed touchdowns to David Njoku, Darren Fells and Rashard Higgins building the lead as the Browns beat the Bengals for the second time in the same season for the first time since 2002. Nick Chubb rushed 19 times for 112 yards while catching 2-of-3 passes for three yards.
Browns star rookie cornerback Denzel Ward was diagnosed with a concussion after the Week 16 game versus the Bengals. Ward left the game on the second to last drive of the game when he failed to get low on a tackle attempt on C.J. Uzomah and wore the brunt of the helmet-to-helmet collision. Ward missed the prior two games of the year due to a concussion that he suffered in Week 13 against the Texans. Ward figures to sit this out will end his rookie campaign with four interceptions, two fumble recoveries and 11 passes defended.
Why Bet on Baltimore?
Quite simply, the Ravens can win the AFC North with a win or a Pittsburgh loss at home to Cincinnati, but the Steelers aren’t losing that game. If the Steelers somehow do so, then Baltimore is division champion regardless.
Baltimore pulled off a 22-10 upset at the Chargers last Saturday night to improve to 5-1 since inserting rookie QB Lamar Jackson into the lineup. Jackson completed 12-of-22 passes for a career-high 204 yards and one touchdown, adding 13 carries for 39 yards. The Ravens continued their newfound offensive approach with Jackson under center, rushing 35 times on a keep-away 31:25 time of possession.
Gus Edwards ran 14 times for 92 yards in the win. The rookie averaged 6.6 yards per carry on the evening, taking his very first carry out of the gates up the middle for a 43-yard sprint. Rookie tight end Mark Andrews hauled in both of his targets for a team-high 83 yards and one score. Andrews (30 catches, 498 yards, three touchdowns) has been consistent, showing no sign of wearing down in his first NFL season. John Harbaugh’s decision to play multiple rookies this season has paid off. The 2018 rookie class will be remembered as one of the franchise’s most productive.
Ravens linebacker Patrick Onwuasor was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 16. A bit player usually, Onwuasor had a breakout game in with a pair of sacks and a forced fumble while leading the team in tackles.
Browns at Ravens NFL Week 17 Betting Trends
- Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings
- Under is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings in Baltimore
- Favorite is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings
- Road team is 12-5-1 ATS in their last 18 meetings
- Cleveland is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
- Cleveland is 7-17-1 SU in its last 25 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Cleveland’s last 6 games
- Baltimore is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
- Baltimore is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Baltimore’s last 13 games
Expert NFL Betting Prediction for Browns at Ravens
Under John Harbaugh, the Ravens are 9-1 against the Browns at home. Make it 10-1 with a cover.
