The Cleveland Browns couldn't keep the ball rolling in Week 5. Unfortunately, inclement weather, injuries, and unforced errors ended their three-game winning streak with a sloppy 17-12 loss to the New York Jets.
The Baltimore Ravens, on the other hand, overcame a late-game deficit to take down the Atlanta Falcons in prime time. Any win without Lamar Jackson deserves a ton of credit.
That's why it's not much of a surprise to see that oddsmakers don't love the Browns' chances in Week 6. They opened as 3.5-point home underdogs — and that's with Jackson's status still up in the air.
Maybe the oddsmakers forgot who the Browns' new head coach is.
Todd Monken knows the Baltimore Ravens like the back of his hand
For three years, Todd Monken was there to watch Jackson and the offense practice. He helped Jackson become a more accurate pocket passer and was the architect of their elite running game, but he wasn't alone.
Monken poached four former Ravens assistant coaches to join him in Cleveland. Offensive coordinator Travis Switzer, offensive line coach George Warhop, pass game coordinator Danny Breyer, and offensive quality control coach Ian Kolste were also in Baltimore for years.
Monken knows Tyler Huntley pretty well, so that edge will still hold if Jackson can't suit up and Jesse Minter has to roll with his backup. Huntley is also a familiar face to several Browns defenders, as he was a backup in Cleveland in 2024.
“Very confident player," Monken said of Huntley. "He has a belief in himself to make plays, and he’s really a gamer. I know it sounds really overused, but the moment never gets too big for him. He loves to play football, and he gets in the game and he’s able to make plays with his arms and his legs, and he gets rid of the ball and knows where to get the ball out when under duress. And he works awfully hard. He’s very diligent in preparing as the backup. So, when his time is called, he’s able to play at a high level.”
Minter and his staff will shake things up and won't do things the same way John Harbaugh did, but player tendencies are usually similar regardless of who's coaching them.
The Browns had a stinker on Sunday. They had a ton of factors working against them, but they may also have overlooked one of the worst teams in football. That's classic when teams have bigger matchups ahead, and this divisional clash looms large.
Cleveland will look to reclaim the top spot in the AFC North with a win at home. That would get the Browns to 2-0 in the division in a race that might as well go down to the wire if all teams continue to play this way.
The Ravens were one of the most hyped teams coming into the season, but they've shot themselves in the foot multiple times already, especially on defense. Divisional games are a toss-up, and with Monken's inside knowledge of the Ravens' personnel, the Browns might have a much better chance than oddsmakers want to admit entering Week 6.
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