The Baltimore Ravens secured their second consecutive AFC North title with a decisive 35-10 victory over a struggling Cleveland Browns team. The win not only clinched the division crown but also guaranteed the Ravens the AFC’s No. 3 seed and a home playoff game. Their playoff opponent remains undecided and hinges on the outcome of the Los Angeles Chargers’ game against the Las Vegas Raiders. If the Chargers win, the Ravens will face the Pittsburgh Steelers for the third time this season. Otherwise, a fourth matchup between head coach John Harbaugh’s Ravens and his brother Jim’s team in Baltimore looms in the wild-card round.
Despite the dominant final score, the Ravens’ offense struggled in the first half, scoring only seven points after starting three of their first four drives in Cleveland territory. Lamar Jackson, rounding off a strong MVP campaign, had an uneven day passing, completing 16 of 32 attempts for 217 yards and two touchdowns. However, he excelled on the ground, rushing for 63 yards on nine carries. Jackson also reached notable milestones, surpassing 4,000 passing yards for the season and recording 915 rushing yards—his highest total since 2020. Tight end Mark Andrews continued his productive connection with Jackson, scoring a touchdown in his sixth consecutive game.
Cleveland, plagued by injuries and inconsistency at quarterback, started Bailey Zappe, their fourth signal-caller of the season. Zappe shared duties with Dorian Thompson-Robinson but could not overcome Baltimore’s stifling defense. Rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins highlighted the Ravens’ defensive dominance with a pick-six, his first career interception. Meanwhile, Derrick Henry, though contained in the first half, erupted in the second half, rushing for 130 of his 138 yards after halftime. His 43-yard touchdown run late in the game sealed the victory for Baltimore.
The Browns managed only one touchdown, a 16-yard pass from Zappe to tight end Jordan Akins in the fourth quarter, cutting the Ravens’ lead to 11 points briefly. Despite Cleveland’s defensive efforts to limit Baltimore’s running game early, they couldn’t sustain the pressure, particularly as the Ravens capitalized on Henry’s explosive plays in the second half. The Ravens’ defense also benefited from the absence of several key Browns players, further tilting the scales in Baltimore’s favor.
The win was not without setbacks for the Ravens. Wide receiver Zay Flowers exited early due to a knee injury after dropping a key third-down pass, and safety Kyle Hamilton was briefly sidelined in the second half before returning to the game. As the Ravens prepare for the playoffs, health and consistency will be key factors as they look to make a deep postseason run following their strong regular-season performance.
