The big question for Baltimore heading into the Ravens at Browns betting matchup as part of the week 15 Saturday slate is QB health. The Ravens appear to be without Lamar Jackson for a second straight week, but his backup Tyler Huntley was injured in last week’s win over the Steelers and just barely cleared concussion protocols in time for the trip to Cleveland.
The Browns suffered a lot of close losses early in the season, but they are still two games back in the win column for the final wild card spot, but that obviously makes each game must-win from here on out. Saturday’s game will be the third for Deshaun Watson since coming off the suspended list, and it’s also his first time playing in front of the hometown crowd.
Baltimore to Lean on Defense Here
Obviously John Harbaugh would love to have Jackson in at QB here, but Huntley has been in this system for three seasons, and had a very solid game against Denver going 27/32 passing. Combined with the 8/12 line before getting injured last week against Pittsburgh and Huntley is completing 79.5% of his passes this season.
Baltimore doesn’t necessarily need great QB play in the Ravens at Browns betting matchup, they only had 94 yards passing in last week’s 16-14 win at Pittsburgh. J.K. Dobbins had his best game of the season with 15 carries for 120 yards and Gus Edwards added 66 yards on the ground.
The Ravens can pick up the win on Saturday by running the football and playing sound defense. Baltimore ranks 12th in the NFL in total defense (330.4) but are especially good vs the run (81.2). Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen could arguably be the best LB duo in the NFL.
Home Debut for Watson
With Baltimore being so solid against the run, Cleveland may have to rely on Watson to win Saturday’s game. He wasn’t very good against Houston (12/22, 131 yards) and had a big chunk of yards last week vs the Bengals after the Browns were already down 20-3 in the 3rd quarter. It’s hard to expect a ton out of Watson as he’s only playing his third game in the last two years.
Jacoby Brissett threw the ball well in the first meeting with Baltimore, completing 22 of 27 passes for 258 yards. Watson could very well need a similar performance to that to keep Cleveland in the game on Saturday, but will he be pressing and trying to do too much in front of the hometown fans for the first time? Watson did throw his first TD as a member of the Browns last week, a 15-yarder to David Njoku.
Free Ravens at Browns Betting Pick
Huntley looks like he’ll be able to give it a go, and he’s been incredibly accurate in his two appearances this season. Baltimore got their run game going behind Dobbins and Edwards last week and this defense has been reinvented with the pairing of Smith and Queen.
There may be an extra energy with Watson making his home debut, but Baltimore will find a way to spoil the day here.
Free Pick: Ravens +2.5
