By defeating the Cleveland Browns on Saturday, the Ravens can capture their second straight AFC North title.
That gives the Ravens (11-5) plenty to play for in Week 18, despite being huge favorites over the injury-depleted Browns (3-13).
With the regular season coming to an end, and an exciting postseason on the horizon, here are my thoughts on the Ravens, all in 50 words or less:
- The Ravens' defense is so much better than it was in Week 8 when they lost in Cleveland, 29-24. With a chance to clinch the AFC North, the Ravens will come after Browns quarterback Bailey Zappe with everything they've got. That's a tough assignment for Zappe.
- Marlon Humphrey challenged the defense publicly after Baltimore surrendered 34 points to the Cincinnati Bengals. Since that Week 10 game, Baltimore's defense has been the NFL's stingiest. Humphrey's fourth Pro Bowl nod was well-deserved, for both his play and leadership.
- Kyle Van Noy wasn't among the Ravens' nine Pro Bowlers, despite leading the team with a career-high 11.5 sacks. It stinks for Van Noy that he's never made the Pro Bowl. But when he feels snubbed, he takes it out on opponents. Watch out for Van Noy in the playoffs.
- Baltimore is the only team with two Pro Bowlers in the secondary – Humphrey and Kyle Hamilton. The Ravens lead the NFL in total offense, and now their defense is cooking. That could be a championship recipe.
- Hamilton's ability to excel wherever he's deployed is an elite chess piece that most defenses don't have. Since Hamilton moved primarily to free safety, the defense has played lights out. Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr is right to believe that Hamilton could be a future Defensive Player of the Year.
- Switching to offense, Keaton Mitchell may see his most extensive action of the year on Saturday with Justice Hill (concussion/illness) out. If the Ravens can build a comfortable lead, using Mitchell more would give them a chance to keep Derrick Henry primed for the playoffs.
- Henry has already gone past 300 carries (305) for the fourth time in his career but enters January looking fresh as a daisy. He has 309 yards rushing over the last two games, and Henry's 5.8 yards per carry is a career best. Henry is just different.
- Browns defensive end Myles Garrett enters Saturday's game tied with Trey Hendrickson of the Bengals for the league lead in sacks (14). The Ravens' offensive line will do everything in its power to keep Garrett from winning the sack title at Lamar Jackson's expense.
- Garrett already knows how tough Jackson is to sack. Garrett thinks Jackson's decision to come into the season leaner has made him even more of a nightmare to defend. Plenty of defensive players would agree.
- This is Jackson's seventh NFL season, but it's only his second with Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken. The Ravens reached the AFC Championship in Year 1 with Monken. If they go farther in Year 2, it shouldn't surprise anyone.
