The Baltimore Ravens need to win. They also need some help from Kansas City as well in order to make the playoffs.
The Ravens are currently seventh in the AFC standings behind the San Diego Chargers for the final wild card spot with one game remaining. A win in the season finale against the Cleveland Browns and a Chargers loss to Kansas City will send the Ravens to the playoffs. Will fortune swing Baltimore’s way? Read on as we breakdown this pivotal AFC matchup.
For more on the tight AFC playoff race, check out our preview for the Chargers vs. Chiefs game.
Uncertainty is brewing in Cleveland. With uninspiring quarterback play, the Browns suffered their fourth straight loss when they fell 17-13 to Carolina on Sunday.
[sc:NFL240banner ]After an entire training camp and almost an entire season to prepare, Johnny Manziel has looked unspectacular in his first two career starts going 13 for 26 for 112 yards and two interceptions. To top it all off, Manziel also suffered a hamstring injury late into the first half against Carolina.
Deposed starter Brian Hoyer went 7 for 13 for 134 yards with a touchdown and an interception in relief. Hoyer now has one touchdown against eight interceptions in his last four games (three as a starter).
Nevertheless, either quarterback may have a decent game against Baltimore in Week 17. The Ravens are 28th in the league in passing defense (255.3 yards allowed per game). Of the two, Hoyer has already faced Baltimore, throwing for 290 yards and a touchdown in Week 3.
On the ground, the Browns managed 85 yards against the Ravens on the strength of rookie Isaiah Crowell’s 55 yards and a score on 11 carries. However, Crowell has averaged 2.9 yards per carry in his last four games.
The Browns’ secondary remains a strong point even without cornerback Tashaun Gipson and his team-leading six interceptions. Cornerbacks Buster Skrine (18 passes defended) and Joe Haden (17 passes defended) may be able to hamper the Ravens’ receiving game. They’ll be competent matchups against Baltimore’s duo of receivers, Torrey Smith and Steve Smith.
The Browns have not won a season-finale since 2009.
Betting on the Baltimore Ravens
Joe Flacco had one of the worst games of his career in a 25-13 loss at Houston on Sunday. He completed 21-of-50 passes for 195 yards with two touchdowns and interceptions. Flacco struggled the most in the first half, going 3-for-18 for 27 yards and two interceptions.
Flacco will need to put the bad game behind when the Ravens welcome the Browns in Week 17. The Ravens quarterback may be able to have a better outing this time around targeting wide receiver Steve Smith. The two connected on five passes for 101 yards at Cleveland in Week 3.
Still, the Ravens need to be concerned about lead running back Justin Forsett heading into this game. Forsett was held to a season-low 19 yards on 10 carries Sunday. It was the second straight game he has been held under three yards per carry. If Forsett continues to slump, the Ravens may turn to backup Bernard Pierce who’s had only 10 carries in the past three games. Pierce has 85 yards during three-week span.
Surprisingly, Baltimore’s vaunted pass rush was nowhere to be seen in Week 16. The Ravens didn’t record a sack despite Houston starting a fourth-string quarterback. However, the Ravens’ blitz is due for a bounce back game against Cleveland. The Browns have slumped in pass protection, allowing six sacks over the past two weeks.
Spearheading the Ravens’ blitz will be linebacker Elvis Dumervil. He has 4.5 sacks over the past three games, and should be able to get to either of the Browns quarterbacks, the green Manziel or the slumping Hoyer.
The Ravens are 4-1 ATS after a loss this season.
Writer’s Prediction
The Ravens win but fall short of covering the spread. Create a betting account now and cash in on the final week of the 2014 NFL regular season.
