PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* TNF THROWDOWN >> 3-0 TNF Run!
(NFL) Cleveland vs. Baltimore,
Total: 45.00 | -102.00 Under
Result: Loss
Total: 45.00 | -102.00 Under
Result: Loss
The set-up: The Ravens opened the season 3-0 but those victories came by a combined total of only 13 points. Four losses in a row followed but the Ravens, off a bye week, kept Big Ben (23 of 45 with 1 TD and one INT) and Le'Veon Bell (14 carries for 32 yards) in check in a 21-14 victory last Sunday. The 4-4 Ravens now sit atop the AFC North due to owning the tiebreaker over the Steelers and Thursday night get to face the NFL's lone remaining winless team in the 0-9 Cleveland Browns. Cleveland has had a revolving door at QB since losing starter Robert Griffin III in the season opener. Josh McCown suffered a broken collarbone against the Ravens in Week 2 and an incredible six different players have taken snaps under center for the Browns through nine games. Joining the two aforementioned players are Cody Kessler, Charlie Whitehurst, Kevin Hogan and Terrelle Pryor
Cleveland: McCown returned to the lineup in a narrow loss to the New York Jets in Week 8 but coach Hue Jackson went back to Cody Kessler this past Sunday and despite his so-so effort in a 35-10 loss to the Cowboys (19 of 27 for 203 yards with 1 TD and 0 INTs), will stick with the rookie out of USC on Thursday. It's hard to put too much of the blame on Kessler when the Browns managed only 45 yards rushing versus Dallas, including four on six carries by Isaiah Crowell, who ran for a season-high 133 yards and a TD in the 25-20 Week 2 los to this Baltimore team. The Browns are averaging only 106.3 YPG on the ground (20th) and come in scoring 18.7 PPG, to rank 29th in the NFL. Defensively, the Browns ranks 31st (of 32 team) in points allowed (30.3 per) and total defense (421.7 YPG).
Baltimore: The Ravens defense came up big in the win over Pittsburgh, holding the Steelers to 277 total yards and 36 on the ground to build a 21-0 lead in the third quarter. However, there remain plenty of concerns over the offense, which produced just one TD (on a 95-yard scoring pass to WR Mike Wallace), while rushing for only 50 yards (1.7 YPC). QB Joe Flacco sure looks nothing like the QB who had 11 TDs without an interception over four games of they 2012 postseason (117.2 QB rating) in leading Baltimore to the Super Bowl title that year. Here in 2016, Flacco has more interceptions (seven) than TD passes (six) and a paltry 76.0 QB rating. However, the Browns defense may be just what the doctor ordered for Flacco to have a breakout game.
The pick: The Ravens have won 15 of the past 17 meetings between the two teams but I will note that the Browns won 33-30 (OT) in Baltimore last year (teams combined for 882 yards). However, the Ravens won 33-27 at Cleveland in the rematch and then as noted earlier, 25-20 in Cleveland here in 2016's Week 2. I have taken note of the high scores the last two weeks in NFL 2016 (Week 8 games averaged 50.5 PPG and Week 9 games averaged 50.1 PPG) plus the high scores in this series last year. The Over is a 10* play.
Cleveland: McCown returned to the lineup in a narrow loss to the New York Jets in Week 8 but coach Hue Jackson went back to Cody Kessler this past Sunday and despite his so-so effort in a 35-10 loss to the Cowboys (19 of 27 for 203 yards with 1 TD and 0 INTs), will stick with the rookie out of USC on Thursday. It's hard to put too much of the blame on Kessler when the Browns managed only 45 yards rushing versus Dallas, including four on six carries by Isaiah Crowell, who ran for a season-high 133 yards and a TD in the 25-20 Week 2 los to this Baltimore team. The Browns are averaging only 106.3 YPG on the ground (20th) and come in scoring 18.7 PPG, to rank 29th in the NFL. Defensively, the Browns ranks 31st (of 32 team) in points allowed (30.3 per) and total defense (421.7 YPG).
Baltimore: The Ravens defense came up big in the win over Pittsburgh, holding the Steelers to 277 total yards and 36 on the ground to build a 21-0 lead in the third quarter. However, there remain plenty of concerns over the offense, which produced just one TD (on a 95-yard scoring pass to WR Mike Wallace), while rushing for only 50 yards (1.7 YPC). QB Joe Flacco sure looks nothing like the QB who had 11 TDs without an interception over four games of they 2012 postseason (117.2 QB rating) in leading Baltimore to the Super Bowl title that year. Here in 2016, Flacco has more interceptions (seven) than TD passes (six) and a paltry 76.0 QB rating. However, the Browns defense may be just what the doctor ordered for Flacco to have a breakout game.
The pick: The Ravens have won 15 of the past 17 meetings between the two teams but I will note that the Browns won 33-30 (OT) in Baltimore last year (teams combined for 882 yards). However, the Ravens won 33-27 at Cleveland in the rematch and then as noted earlier, 25-20 in Cleveland here in 2016's Week 2. I have taken note of the high scores the last two weeks in NFL 2016 (Week 8 games averaged 50.5 PPG and Week 9 games averaged 50.1 PPG) plus the high scores in this series last year. The Over is a 10* play.
