The Baltimore Ravens welcome AFC north rival Cleveland Browns to Baltimore on Sunday for the Ravens home opener. The Ravens had a second half collapse last Sunday against the Bills as they fell 41-40, while the Browns also fell in a close game to the Cincinnati Bengals by a final of 17-16. It will be a homecoming for Browns quarterback Joe Flacco, as he returns to take on his former team for the first time since his departure from Baltimore after the 2018 season. Both teams look to get their first win of the season as well as their first AFC north win of the 2025 season.
The Ravens will again be without tight end Isaiah Likely (foot) and fullback Patrick Ricard (calf), both misses last week. Wide receiver Rashod Bateman did not practice on Friday due to a personal reason. But head coach John Harbaugh expects Bateman to play Sunday.
For the Browns defensive tackle Michael Hall (knee) has been ruled out, while tackle Jack Conklin (eye, elbow) is listed as questionable. Rookie running back Quinshon Judkins (personal) is also listed as questionable but is expected to make his NFL debut on Sunday, as he missed most of training camp as he dealt with a legal matter related to a June 12th domestic assault.
Players to Watch:
Nate Wiggins
Second-year cornerback Nate Wiggins is looking to take a leap in 2025 and show why he was deserving of being the team’s first-round pick in 2024. Wiggins has the talent to become the Ravens next lock down corner and become the face of the cornerback room. Last week however was not the start Wiggins or the Ravens secondary wanted. Wiggins was rated as one of the worst Ravens defenders last week totaling just 5 tackles, while allowing Bills quarterback Josh Allen to throw for nearly 400 yards.
Wiggins is key to how this secondary will play moving forward, and its important he shows up on Sunday to limit a Browns offense that will look to push the ball down the field and create big plays to keep themselves in the game.
Jerry Jeudy
Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy is now in his second year in Cleveland and looks to pick up where he left off last season where he had a career high 90 receptions and 1,229 receiving yards. In week one the Browns struggled to run the ball leading to a strong day from Jeudy as he five catches for 66 yards, with his longest reception being 25-yards.
Jeudy had some strong words regarding what he thought about the Ravens secondary ahead of Sundays matchup. When asked what challenges the Ravens secondary presents, Jeudy responded with “no challenges”. In three career meetings against the Ravens Jeudy has 15 receptions for 207 yards. We will see if Jeudy’s comments were right, or if the Ravens secondary steps up to make up for last week.
Prediction
It should be much of the same offensively for the Ravens on Sunday as it was in week one against the Bills. I expect another quick start with the Ravens being able to move the ball both through the air and on the ground. Despite the Browns having a top ranked defense and having held the Bengals high powered offense to just seven yard in the second half last week. The Ravens should still be able to impose their will and take control of the game.
The biggest question is can the Ravens defense pick it up and hold the lead once the Ravens get it. The Browns struggled to run the ball in week one and that should again be the case, meaning Joe Flacco will need to air it out against this Ravens secondary that gave up 400 passing yards last week. I think Flacco and the Browns will move the ball through the air, but not quite at the rate that the Bills did. It still won’t be a perfect week for the Ravens defense and their secondary, but the difference on Sunday will be that the Ravens will have chances to come away with some turnovers. I see the Ravens secondary getting at least two interceptions off of Flacco, including rookie Malaki Starks getting his first career interception. Ravens win and get back to .500 by a final of 35-17.
Line: Baltimore -12.5
Over/Under: 45.5
All-Time Record: Baltimore leads series 37-15
Last Meeting: 1/4/25 Baltimore 35-10
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