Cleveland Browns: Ravens match-up is the future of AFC North title battles

The Cleveland Browns will finish their season against the Ravens without a chance of making the playoffs, but this match-up will be the future of AFC North division title battles.

The Cleveland Browns Week 17 match-up with the Baltimore Ravens will determine who wins the AFC North division title: the Ravens or the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Browns were hoping that this game would mean a lot for their chance to win the AFC North, but those chances were dashed when the Steelers defeated the Patriots in Week 15.

It was a surprise that the Browns were even in the position of potentially winning the division that late into the season after firing their head coach midway through the season.

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But with the revitalized offense led by Freddie Kitchens and Baker Mayfield, it became a possibility. The Browns have won five of their last seven games since firing Hue Jackson as head coach. It has reached a point where people are saying that AFC playoff teams should be happy that they do not have to play the Browns with how well they are playing under interim head coach Gregg Williams.

At the same time, it did not seem like the Ravens would be in this position at the midpoint of the season. The same week that the Browns fired Jackson, the Ravens were 4-4 with an offense that was struggling. Since then, they have also won five of their last seven games, and have made rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson their starter.

The Ravens boast the best defense in the league, allowing only 284.1 yards per game, which has helped them go on their late season run. Comprised with a good mix of veterans and young talent, the Baltimore defense have made it extremely difficult for opposing offenses. In the last two weeks, the Ravens defense has held opponents to 22 total points.

The Ravens have a good set-up for the future, as they have their franchise quarterback and depth in most positions. The same could be said about the talent that the Browns have on their roster.

Although the defense has been inconsistent this season, the Browns defense is loaded with young talent at all three levels. As the group continues to develop together, their performances on the field should continue to improve.

And with Mayfield at quarterback, the defense does not need to be perfect every game. Mayfield has helped transform the Browns offense and has won games despite some sub-par games from the defense.

The Browns and Ravens should have an entertaining game on Sunday. In the words of Williams, the Ravens “are fighting for their lives” and the Browns are “fighting for them to know who the (expletive) we are.” It will be a competitive game from start to finish.

This game could also be the beginning of one of the biggest rivalries in football. With the Steelers and Bengals starting to show their age, both appear to be heading into rebuilds in the next few seasons. That will leave the AFC North up to the Browns and Ravens.

Since both the Browns and Ravens have their quarterbacks for the future and talented defenses, this game could mark the beginning of competitive battles that will determine the AFC North for years to come.

It is no coincidence that both teams have had success under their new quarterbacks. Although they have different styles, both quarterbacks have ways of exploiting defenses. So far, defensive coordinators have not been able to find ways to limit the quarterbacks that will cause them to lose.

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As the Browns struggled to field competitive teams for an extended period of time, they never had a rivalry with another fan base. Battling for division titles will renew the rivalry with the Ravens since Art Modell moved the Browns to Baltimore in 1995. Sunday is just the start, but these match-ups will likely mean much more in the very near future.

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