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Same old Browns versus Ravens? Not according to oddsmakers

By Elliot Kennel

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 13: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns looks to pass against the Baltimore Ravens during the second half at M&T Bank Stadium on September 13, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 13: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns looks to pass against the Baltimore Ravens during the second half at M&T Bank Stadium on September 13, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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Cleveland Browns vs. Ravens
Cleveland Browns vs. Ravens. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /

How Baltimore’s offense has changed

First of all, Yanda retired. Then, just days after having his contract extended, Stanley went on Injured Reserve with a knee injury. The Ravens have also had problems with minor injuries that have kept different players in and out of the lineup, though for the most part, they have answers. Like the Browns, they are deep.

When Stanley went down, Orlando Brown, Jr. was able to reclaim his starting job. Patrick Mekari has looked like a capable center in place of Skura, who has moved over to tackle. The Ravens are still more than capable on the offensive line, but they are no longer the mutants of 2019. They’re averaging 5.2 yards per carry, down a little from 5.5 yards per carry a year ago. Lamar Jackson is averaging 5.8 yards per carry, which sounds fantastic, and it is, but he was at 6.9 yards per carry last season.

This season Mark Ingram is at a slower pace, with 487 yards rushing. Some of the slack has been picked up by rookie J.K. Dobbins from Ohio State, with 451 yards. Plus they still have Gus Edwards and Justice Hill. They are still awesome, but they probably will not gain 3,000 yards this season, like they did last season.

They still have Mark Andrews, but traded Hayden Hurst to Atlanta because the Browns signed Austin Hooper away.

Lamar Jackson’s numbers are somewhat less impressive, and this should not come as a surprise, given that the offensive line is not quite as super-powered as it was last season. That doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with Jackson, and in fact he has probably improved as a quarterback from last season, but the rest of his team has not. This is mainly due to injuries and personnel changes rather than any sort of drop-off in performance by any particular player.

Willie Snead and Dez Bryant may or may not be available to play against the Browns due to Covid-19. Rookie Devin Duvernay joins holdovers Miles Boykin and Marquise Brown. They will be short-handed if Snead and Bryant are not available.

For that reason, the Las Vegas over-under is relatively low at 46.5 points, meaning that they are looking for some short of 23-24 game or something of that order. That means that they do not expect the Ravens offense to be able to pile up points as they did in the opening game, but they do believe in the Baltimore defense to remain tough.  Let’s talk about them next.

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