The Baltimore Ravens beat the Browns. Here are three big things to think about.
1. The Ravens got their biggest obstacle out of the way:
The Baltimore Ravens got the toughest game on their remaining schedule out of the way. That’s a huge deal for a team that basically has to win out to make the playoffs without a ton of help.
The Browns are a good enough team that they can beat almost anybody on any given week. Give some respect to the Browns for their impressive season. If Lamar Jackson doesn’t come back into the game on that fourth down, they probably have 10 wins right now. This was the best Ravens win of the season in a lot of ways.
In Baltimore, it feels like a moment that could ignite a run. It feels like Lamar Jackson is back to being the MVP he was a year ago and the run game is on an absolute roll. The Ravens have found what made them dangerous last season. Let’s be honest that was the most fun the Ravens have had since the Ravens throttled teams in 2019.
Look at the remaining schedule for the Ravens. They play the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. The Jaguars are almost as bad as a team can be, though the New York Jets have the worst team mantle. After the Ravens play the Jaguars they play the New York Giants. That game isn’t necessarily easy (ask the Seattle Seahawks) but it should be a win. Joe Burrow free Cincinnati Bengals. That better be a win. How could it not be? Right?
Rolling through the Dallas Cowboys, Browns, Jaguars, Giants and Bengals would give the Ravens five straight wins to end the regular season. 11-5 would feel very good for the purple and black considering the adversity the season has brought onto their doorstep.
It’s been a tough year. 11-5 may not even get the playoff spot the Ravens want badly. Missing the playoffs at 10-6 would feel like the Ravens left an opportunity on the table. 11-5 would feel like the team gave themselves a shot. As far as I’m concerned 11-5 isn’t a goal for John Harbaugh. It’s a job requirement.