The Associated Press’s Noah Trister
BALTIMORE The victory over Cleveland that sealed Baltimore’s sdivision was as predictable as it seemed.
Aside from one play in the second quarter that might pose a serious threat to the Ravens’ potent attack.
The team’s best receiver, Zay Flowers, suffered a knee injury and was unable to play on Saturday. After the game, coach John Harbaugh sounded a little upbeat but stated that an MRI would be performed.
Despite losing its opening two games of the regular season, Baltimore ended up finishing 12-5. There won’t be a first-round bye this time, but it’s only one game poorer than the record that earned the Ravens the league’s top ranking in 2023. The third seed in the AFC playoffs will go to Baltimore.
Flowers hence doesn’t have much time to heal. During the regular season, the Pro Bowl wide receiver caught 74 catches for 1,059 yards and four touchdowns.
With four games remaining, Baltimore was two games behind Pittsburgh in the AFC North. The Steelers went 0–4 the remainder of the game, while the Ravens went 4-0.
“Our guys have done a really good job of holding onto that,” Harbaugh said. “It’s a week-to-week league, and you really just have to take it one week at a time, one day at a time, one play at a time.” After four victories, we are the AFC North champions, proving that the 1-0 T-shirt we all wear is real.
What s working
These are the final regular season totals, but you wouldn’t think there would be enough plays, footballs, or yards on the field for both Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry to put up these figures. Jackson: 915 running yards and 4,172 throwing yards. Henry: 1,921 yards on the ground.
In a single season, the Ravens became the first team in NFL history to pass for 4,000 yards and run for 3,000 yards. The regular season is obviously a little lengthier today than it was in the past, but Jackson and Henry appear to have improved one another and elevated the attack.
We’ve won four straight games. “It’s been enjoyable, and I think everyone has been doing a great job of doing their jobs so we can execute on offense,” Henry said. To maintain that momentum in the playoffs, we must continue, remain committed, and hold one another accountable.
What needs help
If Flowers is limited, the group of wide receivers may be scant. While receiver Tylan Wallace played 51 offensive snaps and concluded with one target and no catches, Rashod Bateman and the tight end duo of Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely had a strong game against Cleveland.
Stock up
A late highlight of this game was Michael Pierce’s first career interception, which also demonstrated how healthy he seemed to be following a four-game absence due to injury.
Despite having considerable running room on his interception, Pierce, who weighed 355 pounds, gave himself up with a slide when he was about 80 yards from the end zone.
Big-guy interceptions and fumbles have a long history of becoming memes, so I thought it was time to head home at the risk of being one of those, he added. It was also nice because I had run out of gas.
Stock down
The Browns successfully targeted defensive back Brandon Stephens, and given the impressive defensive plays made by teammates Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins, Stephens may anticipate receiving the same treatment in the playoffs.
Injuries
Flowers is the Ravens’ only serious injury concern after the game because Bateman and safety Kyle Hamilton were both shaken but were able to return to the field.
Key stats
In terms of total yards allowed, Baltimore’s final two regular-season games were its best. In a 31-2 victory over Houston, the Ravens gave up just 211 points, and against the Browns, they let up 230.
Up next
The Chargers-Raiders game on Sunday determined Baltimore’s first-round playoff opponent. Either the Chargers or the Steelers will visit the Ravens.
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