Michael Keefe
Ravens - 42
Browns - 4
I must begin with an apology. Even at the time, I knew what I did last week was wrong. It felt dirty. It felt foolish. It felt ignorant. To act like the Browns were going to go to the Meadowlands and take down a Jets team that had one win on the season, and that had also just fire-sold their defense was idiotic. I knew better.
And I'll be better.
I fully expect the rest of this season to look like the end of 2024. The Browns will, once again, be a team that looks like they've given up. They'll look like a team with very little fight, and this week, they'll look like a team that has no business on the field against their opponent. The Ravens will have their way with the Browns, and another week of “we’ve gotta be better” will ensue.
Jack Duffin
Browns - 20
Ravens - 17
I will start by saying I really hope the Browns lose this game. Yes, losing sucks, but getting a top pick and finally fixing the quarterback position is more important than some token wins to make people feel good at the end of a lost season.
Why do I think they might win? As I write this, Lamar has missed practice. He’s a bit banged up, and playing a Browns defensive line that hits hard makes it tough on any quarterback. He could start the game and be out by the second quarter.
The Browns defense has dominated at all levels. Their pass rush is getting home. Their linebackers are cleaning up. Their secondary is covering the field.
It’s just then a question of does the offense show up? There were flashes on Sunday. They seemed more alive, Jeudy produced, and Gabriel did well. There is a long way to go, and I think we might continue to see progress.
Hoping for a strong display and another tight loss, but this could be a perfect letdown spot for the Ravens.
Roundtable Browns-Ravens
Lamar is playing. That's not good. (Photo: Getty)
Sam Penix
Browns - 10
Ravens - 28
Now that Lamar Jackson is back, the Ravens have won two in a row and are back to being the team we all know and love. The Browns' offense showed some signs of life against the Jets despite the loss, but I don't expect this game to end close, even if the team puts up a fight for some or most of it.
Fred Greetham
Browns 17
Ravens 23
At 2-7, the Browns are at the point of the season with not much to play for, and yet still have eight games to go. The Ravens clearly dug themselves a hole at 1-5, but have found their footing and have won three in a row, and are focused on taking advantage of the AFC North having a down season. The Ravens have a couple of injuries, but assuming Lamar Jackson plays, it is hard to see a world where the Ravens’ defense doesn’t give rookie Dillon Gabriel fits and the Browns’ offense struggles to put points on the board.
Joe Cantz
Browns 13
Ravens 24
It’s another rough Sunday as the offense continues to struggle to move the ball against a Ravens defense that has stepped up since struggling mightily to start the year. They’re attempting the near impossible task of coming back from a 1-5 record, and the Browns aren’t in a position to stop that run. This game will likely follow a familiar script-the defense will hold its own for as long as it can, but mistakes on special teams and a general lack of offense will be the Browns’ demise.
Pete Smith
Browns 13
Ravens 16
Under Kevin Stefanski, the Cleveland Browns have a strong record at home, especially in divisional matchups. It would also be about right for the Browns to dump a game to the Jets, only to then come back and win an unexpected game at home. The defense should be effective, and the revamped secondary could prove to be effective against the Ravens’ weapons. Still, the Ravens have Lamar Jackson, and that will likely prove to be just enough, eking out a close win.
Barry McBride
Ravens Forfeit
The Browns are usually good at home these days, so I would suspect a close loss. Still, I had a vision that the Ratbirds don’t show up. Whether that’s because a badly-maintained CEI electrical pole falls on their bus, or they’re all eaten by ravenous Wolverines during a pre-game lunch at Edgewater Park. I have no idea, but that is the only scenario where I see a Browns win. I’m going to go with it because I want to be upbeat in difficult times.