The scenario is simple for the Baltimore Ravens. Win in Week 17 and an improbable comeback to the season will be complete with the AFC North title and return to the postseason. But knocking off the Cleveland Browns isn’t as easy as it’s been in years past. The emergence of Baker Mayfield along with a midseason coaching change has the Browns looking for their first winning season since 2007 and they already have a win over the Ravens from earlier in the year. If Baltimore is to claim the division crown, they will have to earn it.
Watch thisWeek 17 regular season matchup live on Sunday, December 30, 2018, at 4:25 p.m. ET at M&T Bank Stadium.
Opening NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Cleveland Browns +6
Baltimore Ravens -6
Over/Under 41
There is a reason why the NFL schedules all division matchups on the final weekend of the season, and the AFC North is a prime example. In order to win the title a team must beat its rivals, and that’s what the Ravens are facing on Sunday. It’s pretty simple, actually. Beat the Browns and the Ravens are division champs and get the playoff game that comes with it. That’s easier said than done, however, especially against a team that has rallied over the second half of the year.
The Browns got their first pick right this season, changing the fortunes of the club with the selection of Baker Mayfield. It took a few games for him to get the starting gig, but once inserted he hasn’t looked back. And neither has the team. One thing about Mayfield is that he’s a competitor and he won’t allow his team to get disgruntled or down when things don’t go their way.
And things have certainly been going Cleveland’s way over the last two months. The resurgence started with the canning of Hue Jackson after a loss to Pittsburgh left the Browns at 2-5-1. Gregg Williams took over and things changed quickly. There was a defeat to the Chiefs in the first game with the new regime, but the Browns have gone 5-1 SU and 4-2 ATS since then. Another sign of change occurred last week when the Browns played as a 10-point favorite. It was the first time laying double-digits since the 2007 season.
The key for the Browns upset hopes is Mayfield, who has been everything and more. He’s the type of dual threat that can give Baltimore’s vaunted defense fits and he needs to be played on the live betting lines. Mayfield threw for 284 yards and three touchdowns in a win over the Bengals last week, but he’s facing a much different defense this week. Accurate QB’s like Drew Brees, Cam Newton, Ben Roethlisberger and Patrick Mahomes shined in wins over the Ravens, and Mayfield has been one of the most accurate in Browns history so far this season.
The No. 1 overall pick has completed 64.6 percent of his passes, the second-best single-season mark in franchise history and he’s thrown all but three of the team’s passes since Week 4. Overall, Mayfield is 287 of 444 for 3,349 yards and 24 touchdowns. He’s also been confident in the pocket with an offensive line that’s given outstanding protection. Of course Mayfield’s scrambling ability has plenty to do with it, but he’s been sacked just three times in the last six games.
The Ravens have had success as well winning five of their last six games to move into first place with Lamar Jackson being the catalyst. Jackson won’t throw the football much with the Ravens instead relying on a run game that’s been devastating since he took over. They’ve run the ball nearly 64 percent of the time with Jackson and Gus Edwards doing most of the damage. Edwards had 92 yards and Jackson 39 with the Ravens totaling 159 yards in last week’s win over the Chargers. That number alone would lead the league and it was Baltimore’s fewest since Jackson took over. In their previous five games the Ravens went over 200 yards on four occasions with 194 yards in the other tilt. The Ravens will run the football and you should play them to do that on the live betting lines at BookMaker.eu.
Browns at Ravens Live Betting
This game could easily turn out like the first meeting when the Browns won 12-9 in overtime. Both defenses are strong, though the Ravens’ borders on great. We have seen Baltimore stumble on occasion and it’s usually when an opposing QB takes control of the game. Mayfield can do that and he just doesn’t want to lose. The pressure is on Baltimore and I think Jackson will feel it and commit a few turnovers, leading to the Browns covering their point total on the live betting lines at BookMaker.eu.
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