Well, I said last week “I don’t care what you say, they’re not losing to Case Keenum” and they didn’t, really. They lost to J.J. Watt. Houston trusted Keenum so much they let Arian Foster throw the ball in the end zone. That says it all. Anyway, I’ll go back to the well one more time with this: They’re not losing to the Browns.
If the Ravens – even with their offensive line banged up – can’t hold off the Browns in the final regular season game with their life on the line and the Browns having nothing at all to play for, then John Harbaugh’s team doesn’t deserve to go to the post-season.
This one won’t be close. Cleveland has little left in their tank, and no quarterback, while the Ravens have a very reasonable chance of making the post-season with a win and San Diego loss. Ravens win 30-10. ~ Drew Forrester
Ravens win. Flacco rebounds. Running game does not. Go Chase Daniel. ~ Chris Stoner
In what (unfortunately) turns out to be their last game of the season, the Ravens overcome another slow start (punctuated by a lot of surly boo-birds) and pour it on in the second half. Flacco throws for 4 TDs as the Ravens win 37-17. Unfortunately, the Chiefs offer little resistance against SD, leaving the Ravens to lament a 10-6 season that includes no playoffs and what “could have been” after letting go of controlling their own destiny. ~ Brian McFarland
Fascinating situation, because this is a game both the Ravens (injury concerns and a possible pending game Saturday) and the Browns (backup QB, season over) may well want to shorten with running. However, the Ravens need a long game to keep the Chiefs incented as long as possible.
· The Ravens muscle up and win the finale against a team in turmoil that is looking forward to vacation.
· Pernell McPhee and Timmy Jernigan combine for 4+ QHs as they take advantage of the Brown’s backup center and rookie QB.
· The Browns try to test Rashaan Melvin with Josh Gordon. With effective use of press coverage, he will surrender no more than 55 yards to Gordon personally.
· Rivers spoils the party with a road win at KC as the Chiefs are not encouraged sufficiently by scoreboard watching the Baltimore game. ~ Ken McKusick
The Ravens offense, with their depleted line, once again struggle to get anything going on the ground and that puts Joe Flacco in too many third and long situations. Cleveland will hold the Ravens to a third down conversion rate of less than one-third but fortunately for the home team the anemic Browns offense is in the Christmas spirit when it comes to field
position leading to 5 Justin Tucker field goals.
The Browns will get an early score on a Connor Shaw to Josh Gordon long distance connection to take the lead but the Ravens shut Kyle Shanahan and his gadget plays the rest of the way. The Ravens defense adds another score on their way to a 22-10 win.
Keeping the score relatively close provides a little incentive for the one-dimensional Chiefs who will battle to the end but fall to the surging Chargers 20-16. They will finish the season without a wide receiver scoring a TD. Meanwhile the Ravens and their (10-6) record will be sitting at home during the postseason for the second consecutive year. ~ Tony Lombardi
Ravens give home fans one more thing as they shutout the Browns and KC gives them a late Christmas gift. ~ Ken Zalis
The Ravens, quite possibly playing in their last game of the year, put on a show for their fans. Joe Flacco eclipses the 4,000 passing yards mark in a season for the first time in his career as he puts 400 yards and 3 TD’s on Joe Haden and the Browns defense. Terrance West scores, making Baltimore and Northwestern H.S. proud, but it’s not enough.
The score isn’t indicative of the beating the Browns will take. Baltimore wins, 24-14, and is hoping with all they have that Kansas City beats San Diego. ~ Mike Fast
Ravens come out fast for the first time in a number of weeks, but the Browns (behind rookie Connor Shaw) keep pace offensively and keep it close until halftime. But the D rattles the rookie in the second half and the Ravens pull away for a 30-17 win.
However, Alex Smith is out for the Chiefs, so the Chargers defeat Kansas City which eliminates the Ravens from the playoffs, even with a record of 10-6. ~ Joe Polek
In potentially Baltimore’s final game of the year, the Ravens will make a complete 180 from last week and come out on Sunday a new team. They’ll feast on the home crowd and Browns QB situation by forcing three turnovers in a 34-14 win. Joe Flacco will rebound with a 2 TD, 225+ yard performance in an easy victory in which the offense amasses over 350 yards. Steve Smith Sr. gets things back on track with a TD and 75+ yards and Owen Daniels catches a TD pass. Now if the Chiefs can beat the Chargers… ~ Kyle Casey
The only Cleveland Brown who will be excited to play on Sunday is rookie QB Connor Shaw, who may start in place of the injured Brian Hoyer. That excitement will last until his first sack as he’ll be repeatedly sandwiched between Elvis Dumervil and Terrell Suggs. “Doom” will finish the season with 20 sacks.
The rest of the Browns will mail it in as the Ravens gain a 27-10 victory in a game that really won’t be as close as the score. The running game will continue to struggle as Justin Forsett will fail to gain over 100 yards but Joe Flacco will throw for 3 touchdowns as he returns to form.
Bonus: The Ravens season will last one more week as Kansas City rises to the occasion by intercepting Philip Rivers twice and Jamal Charles rushes for over 100 yards in a 21-17 win over the Chargers.~ Fran the Fan Vojik
The Ravens end their up an down 2014 season by defeating the Browns 27-23 to finish with a 10-6 record. Quarterback Joe Flacco bounces back from his worst game this season to throw for 280 yards and 3 touchdowns and no interceptions. On defense, the Ravens will attack Browns rookie quarterback Conner Shaw forcing two turnovers and sacking his 5 times. ~ Brian Bower
The Ravens win by at least 10 points while Flacco throws fro at least 3 TDs, but Baltimore falls short of the playoffs as San Diego scores a last-minute touchdown to give them a 3-point win over the Chiefs shortly after the final whistle of the Ravens game. ~Tyler Lombardi
I see a lot of blowout predictions on here, so I’ll go the other way. Paul Kruger gives the Ravens’ MASH unit offensive line fits and has Joe Flacco having flashbacks to J.J. Watt last week. Joe struggles with his mechanics again and Justin Forsett finds little room to run. Fortunately, the defense and special teams carry the day, with three turnovers forced and at least one long return by Jacoby Jones to set up good field position. The Ravens squeak by as they scoreboard watch, 17-14. ~ Derek Arnold
Alex Smith’s love of collecting sacks has burned the Ravens. Captain Checkdown is so scared to turn the football over and lose the title of “game manager” he would rather suffer a lacerated spleen than throw an interception. This, of course, leaves the Ravens playoff hopes on the shoulders Chase Daniel…yeah, I don’t know who he is either. The football God’s giveth (Conner Shaw starting for the Browns) the football God’s taketh away (Alex Smith injury) from the Ravens.
Sunday’s game is going to feature some Ravens players who are hungry to show their value for the 2015 season. Torrey Smith headed for contract negotiations is going to be hungry and leave the memory of a 100+ yard game with a score.
Huge performances from Timmy Jernigan and Brandon Williams are going to leave Ozzie with a very tough decision to make as far as Haloti Ngata is concerned.
Jernigan and Williams will only be the beginning of the defensive onslaught though. The secondary is going to pump up their stats with a pair of interceptions, one for a score. Suggs and Dumervil force a couple fumbles, one of which will get housed.
Total domination by the Ravens, 31-10 ~ Matt Costantini
The Ravens feel like they’re on their last breath of the season. Not only did last weeks loss hurt their playoff chances, the game was filled with crucial injuries.
Both tackles are out and the Browns defense will make life difficult on a young offensive line. I think the Ravens win, but it’s only fitting this season ends with an ugly, hard fought, grind of a win. In the end it won’t matter either way, Chase Daniel isn’t beating Phillip Rivers, regardless of where the game is played. Ravens in an ugly one 17-14. ~ Ryan Jones
