Ravens lock up AFC North, No. 3 seed with win over Browns

BALTIMORE — On a record-setting day for quarterback Lamar Jackson, the Baltimore Ravens repeated as AFC North champions on Saturday.

In beating the last-place Cleveland Browns, 35-10, the Ravens captured the AFC’s No. 3 seed and can play host to both the Los Angeles Chargers or Pittsburgh Steelers in subsequent weekend’s wild-card spherical of the playoffs. The Chargers would be the No. 6 seed in the event that they lose to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. The Steelers would be the No. 6 seed in the event that they lose to the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday and the Chargers beat the Raiders.

Jackson capped a historic season together with his efficiency Saturday — going 16 of 32 passing for 217 yards and two touchdowns, and he rushed 9 occasions for 63 yards. He grew to become the primary participant ever to file over 4,000 yards passing and 900 yards dashing in a single season. With 41 landing passes and 4 interceptions, Jackson additionally grew to become the primary participant to throw 40 landing passes and fewer than 5 interceptions in a season.

Baltimore got here into the sport favored by 20 factors, in response to ESPN BET, which was the most important level unfold within the NFL since 2021.

On a day of celebration, there was trigger for concern. On per week the place he was named to his first Pro Bowl, Zay Flowers — the Ravens’ No. 1 large receiver — injured his right knee early within the second quarter and didn’t return.

Here are the keys from the sport:

Most shocking efficiency: Derrick Henry. It appeared like Henry was going to be non-factor after he was restricted to eight yards on six carries within the first half. But he bounced again to realize 130 yards and two touchdowns within the second half. His 1,921 yards dashing this season surpassed Tiki Barber (1,860 in 2005) for many yards dashing by a participant 30 or older and marked the eleventh most ever.

Promising development: The Ravens have recorded two pick-sixes of their final three video games. Rookie first-round decide Nate Wiggins scored Baltimore’s first landing Saturday, when he returned his first profession interception 26 yards for the rating. This got here two weeks after Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey sealed a win over the Steelers with a pick-six. This is the primary time since 2019 that Baltimore has recorded a number of pick-sixes in a season. Wiggins can be the primary Ravens rookie to return an interception for a landing in 18 years.

Biggest gap within the recreation plan: The Ravens’ aggressiveness on fourth down. Instead of settling for discipline objectives, Baltimore got here up brief on two fourth downs inside Browns’ territory, which continued a bizarre development. The Ravens are 0-for-4 on fourth down in opposition to the Browns this season, however they’re 8-for-10 on fourth down in opposition to the remainder of the league. Jackson threw two incompletions on fourth down in opposition to Cleveland on Saturday.

Eye-popping stat: Jackson’s 7-yard landing cross to a wide-open Rashod Bateman within the third quarter was a well-recognized search for the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player. This was Jackson’s league-leading thirteenth landing cross to a large open receiver (5 or extra yards of goal separation), in response to NFL Next Gen Stats. Jackson completed with 41 landing passes this season, that are 5 greater than he is ever had in a single season. — Jamison Hensley

The Browns beginning Bailey Zappe at quarterback was a becoming finish to a disappointing season that noticed 4 completely different quarterbacks begin amid fixed struggles on offense.

Zappe grew to become the fortieth quarterback to start out for the reason that franchise returned to Cleveland in 1999, essentially the most within the NFL. Saturday’s season finale wasn’t in regards to the recreation for the Browns as a lot as what awaits within the offseason. A yr after overcoming a myriad accidents and returning to the playoffs, Cleveland should handle a roster that regressed, with no place extra paramount to resolve than at quarterback.

Deshaun Watson posted the bottom complete QBR within the NFL earlier than tearing his proper Achilles tendon in Week 7, the second straight yr his season ended due to harm. The Browns might look to a free agent class which may embody Kirk Cousins if he is launched by the Atlanta Falcons or flip to the draft.

Troubling development: Zappe’s first quarter pick-six was the twenty second interception a Browns quarterback had thrown this season, and his second one put them at 23 — essentially the most within the NFL. It’s performed a giant half in Cleveland having the worst turnover margin (-22) within the league this season.

QB breakdown: Zappe made his first begin of the season and whereas he threw the aforementioned interception, he did lead the Browns to a landing drive within the fourth quarter and confirmed extra consolation within the pocket than Dorian Thompson-Robinson did in his two begins. Zappe completed 16 of 31 passing for 170 yards, one landing and two interceptions. Cleveland will possible be looking out for a quarterback to compete with Watson for the beginning spot subsequent summer time, however Zappe, who’s a restricted free agent, might stick with the staff to develop as a 3rd quarterback or presumably a backup.

Silver lining: With the loss, the Browns are assured to have a top-three decide within the draft, which could possibly be prime place to resolve their quarterback quandary within the offseason. Cleveland might soar to the No. 1 decide with wins by the New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans on Sunday. — Daniel Oyefusi