Two injury-ravaged teams that are tied for the lead in the AFC North with 2-1 records will battle to retain at least a share of first in the division when the Baltimore Ravens travel to Cleveland to meet the Browns on Sunday afternoon in Week 4 of the 2023 NFL season.
The Browns have made headlines good and bad in recent weeks -- the good being their outstanding defensive play that has them yielding a ridiculously low 163.7 yards a game and allowing just one offensive TD.
Ravens vs. Browns betting odds, props, picks
The bad, of course, was losing standout RB Nick Chubb to a knee injury in their Week 2 loss at Pittsburgh, 26-22, in which the Steelers were boosted by interception and fumble returns for touchdowns. Not to mention All-Pro tackle Jack Conklin is on IR (knee).
In Baltimore, the Ravens were set up well last week to remain undefeated and take charge in the division when they played at home against rebuilding Indianapolis. The Colts not only were without star RB Jonathan Taylor (PUP list, ankle) but going with backup QB Gardner Minshew.
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Indy, though, prevailed 22-19 in overtime. Baltimore, as a 7.5-point favorite, thus became the heaviest home choice to lose a game this season. And it didn't help that they were without key performers at running back (J.K. Dobbins, IR, Achilles) and former All-Pro OLT Ronnie Stanley (knee), among others.
Ravens vs. Browns: Point Spread, Moneyline, Total & Division Futures
The Browns are listed as a favorite of 2.5 points with the over/under total of 40.5 to 41. In May, when odds for this game were first posted at the Westgate SuperBook, it was a pick-em with an O/U of 47.
On the moneyline, the Browns are at -135; the Ravens at +126.
On the NFL division futures boards, the Ravens are favorites to win the AFC North at +195, with the Browns right behind at +250.
And from the "for what it's worth" department: The Browns are one of four teams heading into their Week 5 bye. Last season, teams in the week before their midseason break went 20-8 ATS when facing teams that didn't have a bye the next week.
Included was the Browns' 32-13 victory over eventual division champ Cincinnati, Cleveland's most lopsided win of the season. It was also by far the Bengals' worst loss.
And dating to 2019, the Ravens have won six of their past seven meetings with Cleveland, Their sole loss occurred in Week 15 last year with backup QB Tyler Huntley playing for injured Lamar Jackson. The Browns won, 13-3. That was a game Dobbins rushed for 125 yards, his most productive game of the season.
Ravens vs. Browns Key Injuries
Starting with Cleveland, it already was mentioned the team was without its two-time All-Pro ORT (Conklin) and its second-team 2022 All-Pro RB (Chubb), but it also has issues elsewhere along the line and in the backfield.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson, who had his best outing in nine career starts with Cleveland last week (27-for-33, 289 yards, 2 TDs) in a 27-3 victory over Tennessee, has a sore right (passing) shoulder and was limited in drills Thursday. Analysts have debated this week whether it's a serious injury.
And at running back, Chubb's replacement in the starting lineup, Jerome Ford (shoulder), also was limited in Wednesday's drills but was full-go Thursday. And recently re-signed RB Kareem Hunt, the 2017 NFL rushing champ with Kansas City, had rib and groin issues incurred last week. He was limited on Thursday.
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Along the line, OG Joel Bitonio, another two-time All-Pro lineman, has ankle woes. But that shouldn't keep him out of the lineup.
For Baltimore, the offensive line and receiving corps have been banged up.
Stanley and starting center Tyler Linderbaum (knee) were inactive for the past two weeks. They remain questionable, but both were participating in drills at midweek.
At wide receiver, the speedy Rashod Bateman has a hamstring issue that resulted in a one-catch performance for 6 yards vs. Indy. He didn't practice Thursday. And fellow WR Odell Beckham Jr. (ankle) will miss his third straight game.
Defensively, four starters were on the injury list at midweek.
First at LB: Odafe Oweh missed the past two games with an ankle issue and didn't practice Thursday. David Ojabo also has ankle woes and wasn't part of Thursday's drills.
In the secondary, safety Kyle Hamilton (questionable), one of the most versatile performers in the league, has been slowed by a back injury and was limited at midweek.
He leads the team in sacks with three, besides playing a key role in the secondary for the league's eighth-ranked pass defense.
Then there's CB Marlon Humphrey. He's also questionable (foot) and hasn't played this season.
Ravens vs. Browns Props
Here are some other interesting ways to bet on Sunday's game:
Alternate Point Totals (FanDuel)
Over 28.5: -680
Under 28.5: +422
Over 33.5: -274
Under 33.5: +202
Over 38.5: -134
Under 38.5: +104
Over 43.5: +145
Under 43.5: -187
Over 48.5: +238
Under 48.5: -368
Over 53.5: +454
Under 53.5: -760
Find these lines at FanDuel Sportsbook
Passing Yards (FanDuel)
Browns' Deshaun Watson Over 226.5: -114
Ravens' Lamar Jackson Over 188.5: -114
Browns' Deshaun Watson Under 226.5: -114
Ravens' Lamar Jackson Under 188.5: -114
First to Score Touchdown (FanDuel)
Browns RB Jerome Ford: +650
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson: +7000
Ravens RB Gus Edwards: +750
Ravens RB Justice Hill: +750
Ravens TE Mark Andrews: +750
Browns WR Amari Cooper: +1000
Browns QB Deshaun Watson: +1500
Browns Defense: +2900
Ravens defense: +4600
No TD Scored: +13000
Ravens vs. Browns Analysis & Picks
The Browns are the favorite here because of a defense that is having a magical season.
For instance, when was a team last held three straight foes to fewer than 10 first downs? That's not a rhetorical question. When did that last happen? The last time any club had even two straight occurred in 2017.
And there's this: It's been 81 seasons since a team yielded fewer yards per game over the course of a season than what Cleveland has allowed on average its first three games. That was the 1942 Chicago Bears at 154.8.
But that alone doesn't add up to a victory this week.
Baltimore has a decent chance to get its two anchors back on the offensive line (Stanley and Linderbaum) and for the first time this year, Cleveland will have to deal with a mobile quarterback in Jackson. He had his 15th career 100-yard-plus rushing game last week. It looks like Baltimore is scripting more designed runs for their QB.
Cleveland's offense, meanwhile, kept its running identity as planned last week without Chubb, but gained only 78 yards on 31 carries. That norm of 2.4 per rush was its worst its past 25 games.
And how sore is Watson's shoulder? The guess here is he won't be much help in the running game if needed.
Prediction: Ravens with points and under.
How to Watch Ravens vs. Browns
Date: Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023
Kickoff: 11 a.m. EDT
Location: Cleveland Browns Stadium — Cleveland, OH
Where to Watch: CBS
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