Ravens vs Browns, Week 17 Gameday Thread

After a long journey, we've reached the final week of the regular season. This has been a crazy season for the AFC North, filled with big turnarounds, both positive and negative for each team. The Bengals started the season 4-1 then proceeded to lose 8 of their next 10 games. The Steelers started 1-2-1 and then won 6 straight games, looking like a lock for the division at 6-2-1 only to lose 4 of their next 5 games and now sit on the outside of the division race, needing not only a win but a Ravens loss as well. The Browns were 2-5-1 and then proceeded to win 5 of their next 7 behind the arm of the phenomenal rookie, Baker Mayfield. A win today will give the Browns their first winning season since Derek Anderson led them to a 10-6 record. And then there's the Ravens. After starting the season a strong 4-2 behind the arm of QB Joe Flacco, the Ravens went on a 3 game losing streak to enter their bye week at 4-5 with seemingly no hopes of a playoff run. Starting QB Joe Flacco got injured and raw rookie prospect Lamar Jackson had to start in his place. The Ravens then processed to win 5 of their next 6 games, including a huge upset win over the red hot LA Chargers, with their only loss being an OT loss to the top team in the AFC. A win today guarantees the Ravens their first post season appearance first division title since 2014.

The Ravens will face the Browns and both have a huge desire to win today. Baltimore has been knocked out of the playoffs the previous two seasons by the Steelers and Bengals, so it could be the Browns turn. They've also ended 8-8 then 9-7, so this should be the year they go 10-6. The team and fans have rallied behind the legs of Lamar Jackson, who has slowly been getting better as a passer each week. The defense is #1 in both points per game and yards per game, but are also top 3 or top 5 in pretty much every important category. This game will feature strength vs strength on one side of the ball (Clevelands passing game vs the Ravens secondary), but also strength vs weakness on the other side (Baltimore's rushing attack vs the Browns run defense), and that's where Baltimore will have to dominate in order to pull of the win today.

This game has a lot riding on it for the Browns, who as stated are chasing their first winning season since 2007, but it means a little more for the Ravens. The Ravens are not only chasing their first division title and playoff appearance since 2014, they are also in the running for the #4, #3, and #2 seed in the AFC playoffs. A win today guarantees them #4, but if the Texans or Patriots lose their game, Baltimore gets #3. If both teams somehow loses the Ravens will have gone from a 4-5 record to the #2 seed in the AFC. Like I said, this season has been crazy.

Regardless of how this season ends, the future looks promising for the Ravens and Browns, and today's Jackson vs Mayfield battle should be the first of many to come.

LET'S GO, RAVENS!!!!

 

Well, a Ravens win seems like it will only get them the 4th seed as the Texans and Patriots are both up big right now

 

I keep coming back to the thought that we need to DOMINATE this game. Not just win and get in but absolutely crush the Browns to get things rolling for the playoffs.

We have the defense. I believe in the offense enough to put up at least 24 points a game. Can that get us all the way to the SB?

I think it can.

 

The power of positive thinking is alive and well on this board. It reminds me of the Steeler's board after all those wins our super Steelers stacked for us so long ago. The Browns board may have you beat, though. I've rarely seen such positivity.

 

Good luck guys.

 

Cleveland running the rock on this first drive.... Tighten it up D line

 

That's how you start, defense

 

Jimmy Smith with the pick!

 

Anyone have a good link?

 

Check pm

 

Jackson has no chemistry with John Brown. I'd like to see more of Chris Moore at this point

 

Starting off with a FG, i loved the throw to Andrews though when the Browns pulled their safeties in close. If Lamar can keep that up, the Browns will be forced to unstack that front 8.

 

And then beat super deep on 3rd and long smh

 

Wow. Just wow.

 

That was pathetic

 

What in the actual fuck was that?

2k

 

If that was us throwing to stone hands Perriman, he would have dropped it. smh

 

Jefferson gets all the blame on that one. Zone defense so I cant imagine why he watched Perriman run right by him

 

They figured, fk him he will drop it and they would be stupid to throw it to him..... shame on us lol

 

Damn Lamar has speed