After a shocking loss in Week 1 of the NFL season, the Baltimore Ravens are heading into Week 2 with fire in their eyes. They will be playing angry this upcoming week, and the team standing in their path on Sunday is the Cleveland Browns. There is a lot more on the table than the Ravens looking to get back on track, though.
Baltimore will be celebrating their 30th anniversary this Sunday. Since their inaugural season in 1996, they have established themselves as a model franchise. With two Super Bowl wins and countless winning seasons, not many teams do it like the Ravens. However, Browns fans are none too happy about the timing of the celebration.
Former NFL owner Art Modell infamously relocated the Browns to Baltimore in 1995, bringing football back to the city 12 years after the Colts departed. While the Browns got their team back, fans are still clearly upset about how everything went down. Now, they are calling out the Ravens for planning the anniversary festivities the week of their matchup.
Cleveland’s 92.3 The Fan radio show took offense to Baltimore’s scheduling, and they did not hold back in their rants.
“You took the team, and you’re the better organization over 30 years. You don’t need a victory lap,” Nick Wilson said. “I don’t expect people of Baltimore to have class. I’ve been to Baltimore. But for the organization, who anyone will say, ‘Oh, but they just run the classiest ship in town,’ not after this they don’t. This is not a coincidence. This is low rent…The fact they are doing it in Week 2. It’s on purpose. It has no reason to do this. You could have done this any other time.”
Browns' radio meltdown over Ravens' opener is saddest proof Cleveland can't move on
It is understandable to be upset here. However, it is not Baltimore’s fault.
If you are commemorating a season, you celebrate it in your home opener; Wilson’s co-host, Jonathan Peterlin, mentioned it. For obvious reasons, they could not do it in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills, and it would be silly to do it later in the season. Do not target the organization; target the NFL for scheduling it that way.
The Ravens really do not need bulletin board material against a division rival. They are already coming into the matchup angry, and a divisional matchup is set to be heated. The disrespect toward the city, though, could have just added more fuel to the fire.
Regardless, it could be one of the more important games in Week 2 with so much at stake. Baltimore will be looking to make at a statement win, and after that rant, Ravens' fans would love nothing more than to see Lamar Jackson and company blowout their division rival. It is also Joe Flacco's return to Baltimore, which should be fun to watch.