**BALTIMORE –** The Baltimore Ravens faced a challenging path to clinch the division title this season, starting with an 0-2 record and a schedule filled with formidable playoff-caliber teams. Despite trailing two games with just four matches left, they pulled together to secure their position.
Lamar Jackson, the team’s star quarterback, is now concentrating on the upcoming postseason, emphasizing, “I’m focused on the wild-card game, I’m not going to lie to you. I’m cool with what’s going on today. I’m cool, don’t get me wrong, but my mind’s on something else.” His determination was evident in the Ravens’ decisive 35-10 victory against the Cleveland Browns, which marked their second consecutive AFC North title.
With a record of 12-5, the Ravens are poised to make a run for the Super Bowl for the first time with Jackson under center. They are set to begin playoffs at home, where they will face either the Los Angeles Chargers or the Pittsburgh Steelers. After starting the season behind the Steelers by two games, Baltimore rallied to win their final four games.
In contrast, the Browns wrapped up their dismal season with six straight losses, concluding with a record of 3-14. Quarterbacks Bailey Zappe and Dorian Thompson-Robinson both saw time on the field during the game, but neither could effectively drive the offense. A significant highlight for the Ravens was a 26-yard interception return for a touchdown by rookie Nate Wiggins, setting the tone for the match.
A prominent concern for the Ravens is the status of Pro Bowl receiver Zay Flowers, who left the game in the second quarter with a right knee injury. Jackson, however, continued his stellar performance, throwing touchdowns to Mark Andrews and Rashod Bateman. For the season, Jackson amassed impressive statistics of 4,172 passing yards, 41 touchdown passes, and only four interceptions. These numbers place him in a unique category, becoming the first quarterback to finish a season with 4,000 passing yards, 40 or more touchdowns, and fewer than five interceptions.
Additionally, Jackson also accumulated 915 rushing yards, making him the first player to surpass 4,000 yards through the air while rushing for at least 800 yards. His passer rating stood at an impressive 119.6, which, while remarkable, was just shy of breaking the single-season record of 122.5 held by Aaron Rodgers.
In the game, Zappe threw for 170 yards and two interceptions, achieving a late fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Jordan Akins, narrowing the score to 21-10. The Ravens swiftly responded with a 70-yard drive that ended with veteran running back Derrick Henry’s two-yard touchdown run. Henry, who celebrated his 31st birthday on Saturday, added a 43-yard touchdown run, concluding his season with a franchise-record 1,921 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns.
Cleveland’s defense maintained a significant streak, having now gone 28 consecutive games without allowing a quarterback to exceed 300 yards passing, although Jackson finished with 217 yards on 16 completions out of 32 attempts. Head coach Kevin Stefanski of the Browns acknowledged the difficulties they faced, stating, “If they’re keeping score, we’re going to compete to the end.”
On the defensive side, Myles Garrett of the Browns entered the game tied for the NFL lead with 14 sacks but could not bring Jackson down. Garrett did manage one tackle for loss, while Trey Hendrickson of Cincinnati moved ahead of him during their game against Pittsburgh.
In an unexpected play, Ravens defensive lineman Michael Pierce, who weighs in at an impressive 355 pounds, recorded his first career interception late in the game. Although he had the opportunity to run, he opted for a graceful slide, which drew laughter and praise from head coach John Harbaugh, who humorously remarked, “The most amazing play in NFL history right there.”
Despite finishing their regular season against the last-place Browns, coach Harbaugh expressed confidence in his team’s readiness for the playoffs, noting they have faced all but possibly one of the AFC playoff teams. “Same level of competition that we’ve been playing against,” he stated.
In terms of injuries, Cleveland faced several setbacks, as defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. was carted off with a knee injury during the third quarter, while cornerbacks Mike Ford Jr. and Martin Emerson Jr. sustained injuries to their forearm and ankle, respectively.
Looking ahead, the Ravens could potentially face a significant playoff matchup involving a coaching duel between Harbaugh and his brother, Jim Harbaugh, who leads the Chargers. Conversely, the Browns will turn their attention to the upcoming draft as they navigate a difficult quarterback situation that has left them with many uncertainties.
