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Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns week 1 Ebony Bird round table

By Richard Bradshaw

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 22: Sione Takitaki #44 of the Cleveland Browns attempts to tackle Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens during the game at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. Baltimore defeated Cleveland 31-15. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 22: Sione Takitaki #44 of the Cleveland Browns attempts to tackle Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens during the game at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. Baltimore defeated Cleveland 31-15. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – JANUARY 11: Head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens and quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 embrace prior to the AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Tennessee Titans at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – JANUARY 11: Head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens and quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 embrace prior to the AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Tennessee Titans at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images) /

The 2020 season is finally here! The Ebony Bird team predicts just what is going to go down in week one: Baltimore Ravens vs. the Cleveland Browns.

Richard Bradshaw:

We have Baltimore Ravens football! I can hardly contain my excitement after the long, grueling year that has been 2020.

Baltimore kicks off the 2020 season against AFC North rival Cleveland Browns. Cleveland has some serious hype surrounding them this year, but there are some seats heating up if guys to live up to their potential, namely Baker Mayfield. Mayfield needs to prove that he can lead his team to the post-season and be the franchise quarterback the Browns envisioned him being when it drafted him first overall in 2018. Cleveland has the offensive firepower, so there are no excuses.

Meanwhile, the Ravens have perhaps the most talented roster in all the NFL. Lamar Jackson captains an explosive offense that is complimented by an equally dominant defense. The expectations are also high for Baltimore after a disappointing end to its 2019 season.

On paper, these offenses match up well against one another and we could see a shootout occur. There’s just one problem: the Ravens defense is far superior to the Browns.

light. Related Story. 3 things to watch for as Ravens welcome Browns

Baltimore should have no problems moving the ball at will against Cleveland, who is without stud defenders Mack Wilson and Grant Delpit. The Ravens will tear apart the middle of the defense with its tight ends, while I suspect Marquise Brown is going to stretch the field vertically. With a depleted secondary and subpar linebacking core, the Browns could be in for a long day.

On the flip side, Baltimore’s defense has to be licking its chops at the thought of teeing off against the turnover-prone Mayfield. I suspect that Mayfield won’t be turning the ball over just once against this elite secondary.

All in all, this game doesn’t feel like it’ll be close. If the Browns had any semblance of a defense, things could be different. Unfortunately for them, they don’t and the Ravens offense is high-octane. Look for this game to be a bit of a blowout by the Ravens.

Bold prediction: Marquise Brown goes for 150-yards, catches a 50+ yard touchdown

Final score: 30-13, Ravens

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