Baltimore Ravens vs Cleveland Browns Matchup

In this week 18 NFL regular season preview between Browns and Ravens, see who like to win the game and cover the spread.

The Browns and Ravens will face off on Saturday, January 4th at 4:30 ET at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. This AFC North matchup is being televised on ABC. The Ravens are heavily favored, with money line odds of -1951, while the Browns' odds are +971. The Ravens are -17.5 point favorites, and the over/under line is set at 41.5 points.

Browns vs. Ravens Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NFL
Teams: Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens
Where: Baltimore at M&T Bank Stadium
Date: Saturday, January 4th
Betting Odds BAL -17.5, CLE +971 | BAL -1951 O/U 41.5

Browns Preview:

Heading into week 18, the Browns are on a five-game losing streak, dropping their record to 3-13. This includes a 20-3 home loss to the Dolphins in week 17. Cleveland was a 3-point underdog in that game but couldn’t cover the spread, and they now have an ATS record of 4-12. They’ve also failed to cover in five straight games. Their O/U record stands at 6-10, with the under hitting in four consecutive games.

With the Browns sitting 31st in our power rankings, they have a 0.0% chance of making the playoffs or winning the AFC North. In division play, they are 2-3, and their conference record is 3-8. Cleveland is 2-6 at home and 1-7 on the road this season.

Browns Offense Breakdown

Heading into week 18, the Browns are 32nd in our offensive power rankings, averaging 15.5 points per game, which ranks 29th in the NFL. Despite leading the league in passing attempts, they rank 20th in passing yards per game with 208.2. On the ground, they average 97 rushing yards per game, placing them 28th, on 23.2 attempts per game.

In week 17, Cleveland managed just 3 points, coming in the 2nd quarter, in a 20-3 loss to Miami. Dorian Thompson-Robinson threw for 170 yards on 24/47 passing, with one interception. Jerry Jeudy led the team with 12 catches for 94 yards, while D’Onta Foreman had 49 rushing yards on 13 carries.

Browns Team Defense

In their 20-3 loss to the Dolphins, the Browns' defense allowed Miami to convert on 84.6% of their passes. The Browns' defense did a good job against the run, allowing just 74 yards on 27 attempts. Despite this, they gave up 206 yards through the air and allowed the Dolphins to score one passing touchdown. Cleveland's defense did well on third downs, allowing the Dolphins to convert just 18.2% of their third down attempts. They also managed to sack the quarterback four times.

Ravens Preview:

Heading into week 18, the Ravens sit atop the AFC North with an 11-5 record, including three straight wins. After a week 13 loss to the Eagles, Baltimore bounced back with victories over the Giants, Steelers, and Texans. In week 17, they easily handled Houston, winning 31-2 and covering the 6.5-point spread. This win gives the Ravens a 9-6-1 record against the spread this season, and they’ve covered in three straight games.

Our projections give Baltimore a 94.2% chance of winning the division and a 100% chance of making the playoffs. They rank 2nd in our NFL power rankings, and their O/U record is 12-4 this season. Ravens games have averaged 52.1 points, while the O/U line has been 47.6.

Ravens Offense Breakdown

Heading into week 18, the Ravens are 1st in our offensive power rankings. They lead the NFL in yards per game (424.2) and rank 3rd in points per game, averaging 30.2. Despite being 30th in passing attempts, Baltimore is 6th in passing yards, with Lamar Jackson posting a passer rating of 143 in week 17, throwing for 168 yards and 2 touchdowns. Before that, he had a 115 rating in week 16 and a 154 rating in week 15.

The Ravens have leaned heavily on Derrick Henry, who rushed for 147 yards on 27 carries in week 17. He had 162 yards in week 16 and 67 yards in week 15. Baltimore ranks 2nd in the NFL in rushing attempts and yards per game, averaging 185.6 yards on the ground.

Ravens Team Defense

The Ravens' defense was dominant in their most recent game, coming away with five sacks and allowing just 58 rushing yards on 17 attempts in a 31-2 win over the Texans. Baltimore gave up only 153 passing yards and didn't allow a passing touchdown. They held the Texans to a 26.7% conversion rate on third downs and to an overall 2 points in the game.

Browns vs Ravens Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

Through their last five road contests, the Browns offense has averaged 16 points per game while allowing an average of 29. Cleveland posted an overall record of 0-5 while going 1-4 ATS.
In their last ten games at home, the Ravens have a straight up record of 7-3 while going 7-3 vs the spread. The team's offense averaged 29 points per game in these contests.
Going back to their previous three games as the underdog, Cleveland has an ATS mark of 0-3 while going 0-3 straight up.
In their last five games as the betting favorite, the Ravens have a strong straight up record of 4-1. In addition, their ATS record was 4-1 in these scenarios.