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Cleveland Browns vs. Ravens: Predicting the final game’s outcome

By Randy Gurzi

DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 15: Wide receiver Antonio Callaway #11 of the Cleveland Browns is congratulated after scoring a fourth quarter go-ahead touchdown against the Denver Broncos at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on December 15, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 15: Wide receiver Antonio Callaway #11 of the Cleveland Browns is congratulated after scoring a fourth quarter go-ahead touchdown against the Denver Broncos at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on December 15, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 07: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens throws a pass in the first half against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 7, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 07: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens throws a pass in the first half against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 7, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Writer: Mike Lukas

On paper, the Baltimore Ravens are going to beat the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

The two offenses are ranked similarly (Browns: 14th, Ravens: 12th) but their two defenses are polar opposites (Browns: 29th, Ravens 1st).

Put another way: out of 32 NFL teams, none has a better defense than Baltimore does but only three teams’ defenses are worse than Cleveland’s.

So to win, the Browns’ mid-level offense has to score more points against the Raven’s first-place defense than the Ravens’ mid-level offense does against the Browns’ almost-last-place defense.

It’d be like if two average-sized knights each had to slay a dragon to win the lady, but one knight’s dragon was from Game of Thrones and the other guy’s was Pete’s Dragon.

In other words, when it comes to defense, Baltimore has a Drogon and Cleveland’s got an Elliot.

The problem is Elliot allows opponents to score almost a touchdown more per game than Drogon does, so the two offensive knights face an entirely different battle.

To win this fight, Freddie Kitchens and Baker Mayfield have to slay a mightier beast than Marty Morningweg and Lamar Jackson do.

On paper, that doesn’t look easy.

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Rookie Mayfield has to complete passes against a fourth-ranked passing defense, while the pass defense that rookie Jackson has to complete passes against is only ranked 27th.

Rookie Nick Chubb has to run against a third-ranked rushing defense, while the rush defense that rookie Gus Edwards has to face is only ranked 24th.

The Browns are 2-5 on the road and the Ravens are 5-2 at home.

So why not just pick the Ravens to win and be done with it?

Because this game isn’t going to be a statistical battle, it’s going to be a physical one fueled by pure emotion.

It’s Week 17, Browns fans, and Elliot has grown a beard, borrowed Baker’s headband and his dragon flame’s been tweaked to where it’s starting to burn opponents just enough to help win battles. Five of the last seven battles, to be precise, and there’s not one soul in Cleveland who doubts it’ll happen again in Week 17.

And then sorry, Drogon, no playoffs for you.

The best thing about a win would be that it would allow Pittsburgh’s dragon, let’s call him Puff, to go to the playoffs.

Yes, that’s a good thing.

Because even in the off chance that Puff wins the Super Bowl, his fans will forever have to acknowledge that it was only because the Cleveland Browns made it so.

But if ol’ Puff loses in the playoffs and gets eliminated, his fans will forever know that despite getting merciful help from the Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Puff wasn’t good enough to win the lady.

And that sounds good on paper and in real life.

Prediction: Browns 17, Ravens 13

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