Divisional games after the midway point in the season traditionally do not provide fans with flashy performances. Betting trends on these games point to hitting the under, as over 60 percent of divisional matchups past Week 10 hit their total point total unders.
Sunday night’s matchup of the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens was tagged with an over/under of 47.5 – seemingly high to the eye of most bettors. Vegas sometimes likes to trick people with their lines, setting up an under that seemed almost impossible to avoid.
Well, in this case, those under bettors were rewarded with a sweet, sweet, ugly divisional matchup.
The two teams combined for just 565 total yards of offense, with the Ravens barely squeaking ahead of 300 at 303 yards. The game featured just 25 total drives, six turnovers, and just 11 successful third down attempts on 28 attempts. The game looked much different than the 41-10 score of the day’s previous division matchup between the Bengals and Steelers, but nonetheless, due to immense playoff implications and a close score, might have been one of Week 12’s most important games.
Both defenses were on display for the entirety of the contest, especially in the first half. The first half yielded just nine points on three field goals and set up a back and forth defensive battle for the night.
It did not look that way for the Browns early. Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland offense got the day started with a 57 yard drive that included a 36 yard deep strike to his favorite target Jarvis Landry, setting up potentially the first points of the game. However, Brown’s kicker Chase McLaughlin hooked the 46 yarder wide right, deflating momentum early for Cleveland. After starting off the season nine for nine, the first drive miss marked McLaughlin’s fourth miss in his last eight attempts.
The first points of the game came on the Raven’s second drive, aided by a too-many-men-on-the-field penalty on fourth down by the Browns to extend the drive. Lamar Jackson was then able to pick up a first down with his legs to set up a Justin Tucker 52-yarder. On the following possession, the Ravens recorded a 17 play drive to move up the field with only one play going longer than 10 yards. A Raven’s false-start at
one-yard line prevented the Ravens from cashing in a touchdown, settling instead for a chip shot field goal to push their lead to 6-0.
Then came the sloppiness from both sides.
Following Mayfield’s longest completion of the day, a 41-yard deep ball to tight end Harrison Bryant, – the Browns attempted a direct-snap trick-play to Landry, who was strip-sacked by rookie defensive lineman Odafe Oweh, who also recovered for a huge turnover with the Browns primed for a drive. Jackson followed suit on the second play of his drive, throwing a wobbling pass that bounced up for an interception by Denzel Ward.
That would mark the first of three Lamar Jackson interceptions on back-to-back-to back drives on just seven plays. The second two were equally as bad as the first, with the second being a one-play forced throw over the middle to tight end Mark Andrew intercepted by Grant Delpit, and the third being a throw three feet wide of his target Andrews hawked for a diving catch by Ronnie Harrison. The Browns, however, managed just three points off these turnovers, fumbling once again on a strip-sack by Odafe after the second Jackson pick, squandering two potential go-ahead turnovers.
A second quarter marked by five combined turnovers left the game just a one possession game going into the second half, but the offenses began to get it going early in the third quarter.
The Ravens marched down the field on their opening possession for their first and only touchdown of the contest. Jackson put aside his rough second quarter to record four completions on four attempts for 65 yards, including a 39-yard bomb caught with one hand in spectacular fashion by Andrews for what might end up being the catch of the year. Jackson rewarded him for his efforts, coming back from a sack to Andrews for a 13-yard score to put Baltimore up 13-6.
Mayfield then responded with an 87 yard drive of his own, similarly completing a 30 plus yard pass (once again to Landry) and then hitting his tight end for the touchdown (this time David Njoku). The 13-10 score kept the contest close heading into the fourth quarter, but the Ravens defense dominated until the close of the game.
The Browns continued to play from behind, and their dynamic duo of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt was completely stifled all night long, combining for just 36 yards on 15 carries. Mayfield had solid numbers – 247 yards, a touchdown, and no picks – but the big plays were sparing across his 38 passing attempts and prevented them from getting that go-ahead touchdown.
Lamar Jackson, on the other side, had his worst game of the season to date, throwing four interceptions and recording just 165 yards through the air. However, his defense was able to come up big when he needed it, only allowing three points across those four turnovers. Jackson also recorded 68 yards on the ground, picking up short yards in key situations to extend some of their most important drives.
The win keeps Baltimore as the one-seed in the AFC, although the 8-4 Patriots are right on their heels on the back of the 6 game winning-streak. They will face another division opponent, the Pittsburgh Steelers, in the upcoming week to hold their lead.
The Browns now fall to 6-6, falling into a tie for last place with the Pittsburgh Steelers. They will get an extra week to prepare for their matchup with the Ravens after their bye week, hoping they can potentially climb their way into a wild card spot.
For more NFL coverage, click here.
