Man, does it sting to be a Browns fan or Ravens fan right now after Lamar Jackson’s heroics fell flat ultimately due to the defense. One week after watching Cleveland essentially gift-wrap a victory for Cincinnati, the oddsmakers have zero faith in this team bouncing back against Baltimore. The Browns opened as whopping 11.5-point road underdogs for their Week 2 clash with the Ravens, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, with the over/under set at 45.5 points.
Let me be blunt here: those are the kind of numbers you see when Vegas thinks one team is dramatically better than the other. But anyone who watched last Sunday’s gut-wrenching 17-16 loss to the Bengals knows the Browns deserved so much better.
The Painful Reality of Week 1
This wasn’t your typical Browns meltdown. Cleveland controlled that game from wire to wire, outgaining Cincinnati in total yards and dominating time of possession like a team that had its act together. Joe Flacco looked sharp, completing passes with precision and showing the veteran poise that made him a Super Bowl champion.
The two interceptions on his stat line? Complete garbage. Those were drops by receivers that turned into gifts for Cincinnati‘s secondary. When your quarterback is doing everything right and the supporting cast lets him down, that’s when you know football can be the cruelest sport on earth.
Then there’s rookie kicker Andre Szmyt, who picked the absolute worst time to have his first NFL growing pains. Missing kicks that could’ve sealed the deal? In Cleveland, that’s not just a missed opportunity; it’s a family tradition at this point.
The Browns’ defense deserves massive credit, too. Holding the Bengals scoreless in the second half isn’t luck: it’s execution. This unit looked legit, creating pressure and making plays when it mattered most.
Baltimore’s Own Demons
Here’s where things get interesting, though. The Ravens aren’t exactly riding high after their own Week 1 disaster. Baltimore blew a 40-25 fourth-quarter lead to Buffalo in what can only be described as an epic collapse. When you’re up by 15 points with one quarter to play and still lose, that’s the kind of game that haunts a locker room.
Derrick Henry‘s fumble late in the game? Brutal. Missing a two-point conversion that could’ve tied it? Even worse. Then watching Buffalo march down for the game-winner while your defense falls apart? That’s the stuff of nightmares for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
The Ravens gave up 41 points to Josh Allen and company, which should have Browns fans feeling at least a little optimistic about what Flacco and this offense can accomplish.
Why This Spread Feels Wrong
I get why Vegas has the Ravens favored, obviously: they’re the better team on paper, they’re at home, and they have Lamar Jackson under center. But 11.5 points? That feels disrespectful to a Browns team that just proved it can hang with anybody when healthy and focused.
This isn’t the same Cleveland squad that’s rolled over and died in big spots over the years. This team has fight, it has talent, and most importantly, it has nothing to lose walking into M&T Bank Stadium.
Ravens fans are probably still processing that Buffalo loss, wondering how their team managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. That kind of mental hangover doesn’t just disappear because you’re playing at home.
The Flacco Factor
There’s something poetic about Joe Flacco returning to Baltimore as Cleveland’s starting quarterback. This is the same guy who delivered the Ravens their only Super Bowl championship, the same quarterback who had some of the most clutch playoff performances in recent memory.
Now he’s wearing brown and orange, looking to stick it to his former team with a group of players who are hungry to prove last week was a fluke. Flacco knows that stadium, he knows the Ravens’ defensive tendencies, and he’s got just enough left in the tank to make this game uncomfortable for Baltimore.
What Cleveland Must Do
The formula isn’t complicated: the Browns need to play with the same intensity they showed in the second half against Cincinnati. Keep pounding the football on the ground, let Flacco manage the game without forcing throws into coverage, and trust that defense to create short fields.
Most importantly, they need to finish drives. Getting into the red zone means nothing if you’re settling for field goals against a Ravens offense that can score in bunches. This is where having veteran leadership at quarterback matters most: Flacco’s been in these big moments before.
The Bottom Line for Lamar Jackson
Eleven and a half points is a lot of respect to give any team in the NFL, especially one coming off a brutal home loss. The Browns showed last week they’re capable of playing with anybody when they execute their game plan.
Now they get to prove it wasn’t a mirage.
Will Cleveland win outright? That’s asking a lot on the road against a desperate Ravens team. But covering this spread? Absolutely within reach for a Browns squad that’s got nothing to lose and everything to prove.
Sometimes the best time to bet on a team is when everyone else is ready to write them off. But the expectations for Baltimore are sky-high, as Ravens fans expect nothing less than a blowout against a division rival.
