Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, OH
Sunday, December 26, 2010, 1:00 pm EST, TV: CBS
Opening Line: Ravens -3
Current Line: Ravens -3.5
Opening Total: 39.5
Current Total: 39.5
Money Line: Ravens -200 / Browns +170
The Baltimore Ravens (10-4) had a tough time with the Cleveland Browns (5-9) the first time around this season and will need to avoid a letdown on Sunday if they still want to win the AFC North title. The Ravens (-3.5) had trouble containing one Brown in particular in a 24-17 win back in Week 3, but they have still won the last five meetings with Cleveland.
Baltimore could not stop Browns running back Peyton Hillis, who rushed 22 times for 144 yards and caught seven passes for 36 yards in the first meeting. That was the first of five 100-yard games for Hillis and was a breakthrough performance for him considering how good the Ravens have been defensively over the years. He totaled just 59 yards on 14 carries in a 19-17 loss at Cincinnati last week and has put together consecutive 100-yard games only once this season.
One big difference for Cleveland since then though has been the emergence of rookie quarterback Colt McCoy. Veteran Seneca Wallace started the first meeting and was efficient, completing 18 of 24 passes for 141 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. But McCoy gives the team another dimension, leading the Browns to their two biggest wins of the season in Week 7 at New Orleans and in Week 9 against New England. He has thrown for 205 yards or more in four of his six starts with four touchdowns and just one pick in his last three games.
The Ravens are coming off a 30-24 home win against New Orleans last week, as running back Ray Rice enjoyed his best game of the season. Rice rushed a season-high 31 times for 153 yards and one touchdown and added five catches for 80 yards and another score. He had one other 100-yard rushing game this year, coming in Week 5 against Denver when he totaled 133 yards on 27 carries. Rice rushed 15 times for 80 yards in the first meeting with the Browns
The difference maker in the last game against Cleveland was Baltimore wide receiver Anquan Boldin, who made eight catches for 142 yards and scored all three touchdowns. The Browns simply had no answer for Boldin and will have an even tougher time without cornerback Eric Wright, who will miss the last two games with a leg injury.
The Ravens are 4-1 against the spread during their five-game series winning streak against Cleveland, and the OVER is 4-2 in the last six games between the teams. Baltimore can clinch a playoff berth with a win and needs to win out and have Pittsburgh lose next week against the Browns to win the division.
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