Lamar Jackson’s absence turned the Ravens into road underdogs against the Falcons in Week 5, but Baltimore’s impressive performance in Atlanta has boosted oddsmakers’ confidence heading into their Week 6 visit to Cleveland.
The Ravens are 4.5-point favorites over the Browns for next Sunday’s game (via FanDuel Sportsbook), which will be their first matchup against former offensive coordinator Todd Monken. He has Cleveland off to a surprising 3-2 start in his first five games as a head coach, though
their -19 point differential and leaguewide ranks undermine their long-term chances of competing for a playoff spots.
This line could move once the Ravens’ first injury report is released on Wednesday, which will provide the first concrete update on Jackson since last week. Head coach Jesse Minter said on Monday said that his star quarterback is “definitely doing better,” but offered no clarity on his status for this week’s practices or Sunday’s game in Cleveland.
The primetime win in Atlanta could impact the Ravens’ calculus this week. Tyler Huntley played lights-out for the last two drives of the game, but he and his pass-catchers – namely, Mark Andrews – could have put up more points if not for several unforced errors. Another week of preparation with the first-team offense could help him mount another strong showing in Cleveland, giving Jackson more time to get back to 100% for the Bengals, Bills, and Jaguars in the next three weeks.
These AFC North matchups tend to be tight, but the Ravens profile as the better team, with or without Jackson. Trey Hendrickson could return from finger surgery to play in Cleveland, too.
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