The Baltimore Ravens have an early-season divisional game against the Cleveland Browns in Week 2. The Ravens are looking to get an early edge on their AFC North competition, but they are also trying to bounce back and earn their first win of the season. They had a classic late-game meltdown against the Buffalo Bills last Sunday, putting their defense in question moving forward.
Cleveland does not have the greatest offense, though, so this matchup should offer the perfect chance for the defense to find a rhythm. They only managed 16 points against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1, struggling against what is expected to be one of the worst defenses in the NFL in 2025. On the other side, the Ravens were expected to have a top-tier defense, and they could prove that is still the case in their home opener.
Lou Scataglia on NFL Spin Zone expects them to bounce back and showcase dominance on the defensive side of the football. In a recent article highlighting one bold prediction for each Week 2 showdown, he predicted Baltimore to shut out the Browns in a statement win. Scataglia wrote:
“Shutouts are rare in the NFL, but the Baltimore Ravens are due for a game like this after their ridiculous second-half collapse against the Buffalo Bills. AFC North divisional games are usually played quite close, but the Ravens aren't going to have any of that nonsense, as they'll shutout the Browns in a statement win to get back on track.”
Ravens predicted to silence Browns fans, make defensive statement in home opener
A shutout victory would be huge for the morale of the Ravens. It would especially benefit their defense after they watched what should have been a blowout win over a Super Bowl contender slip away. The embarrassing performance is clearly weighing on them heading into the week, and they are looking to use it as motivation.
On Wednesday, those who met with the media understood what needs to be changed. Key contributors like Marlon Humphrey, Kyle Van Noy, and Odafe Oweh are ready to improve in the areas they failed in last Sunday. Whether it was the inability to contain the quarterback or leaky pass coverage throughout the night, the unit seems ready to tighten up against Cleveland.
The Browns have players like Jerry Jeudy and David Njoku who pose legitimate threats, but their offense as a whole is lackluster. In Week 1, Joe Flacco was 31/45 with 290 passing yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions, and their leading rusher was rookie Dylan Sampson, who posted just 29 yards on 12 carries. With a subpar offense, there is no reason the Ravens should not look elite on both sides of the football in their Week 2 contest.