Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay FlowersGreg Fiume/Getty Images
Baltimore Ravens Winning AFC North Title Proves Costly
The Baltimore Ravens still had business to take care of in Week 18 against the Cleveland Browns. They did so with a 35-10 victory, which handed the squad its sixth AFC North title since John Harbaugh became head coach, including back-to-back crowns.
Unfortunately, the one thing that all playoff-bound teams want most is to be healthy going into the win-or-go home tournament. The Ravens didn’t escape their final regular-season contest unscathed.
Pro Bowl wide receiver Zay Flowers caught one pass during the contest then suffered a knee injury at the end of the run. He didn’t return to the game. Flowers is the Ravens’ No. 1 target. He led the squad in receptions and receiving yardage, posting his first 1,000-yard campaign.
Without Flowers in the lineup, Rashod Bateman stepped up, with a team-leading five receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown.
Clearly, Baltimore has numerous weapons it can utilize with running back Derrick Henry, tight end Mark Andrews, Bateman and the game’s greatest dual-threat quarterback ever, Lamar Jackson.
However, Baltimore’s postseason performance has been lackluster, to say the least. Flowers is an integral part of the Ravens offense as someone who can consistently win matchups in the passing game and gives Jackson someone other than Andrews to target in big moments.
A division title and playoff seeding were important but so is Flowers undetermined status.
Cleveland Browns Secure Yet Another Top 3 NFL Draft Selection
With Saturday’s loss, the Browns can’t finish any lower than the third overall pick for the 2025 NFL draft.
While the team has been better during the Kevin Stefanski era, its current standing isn’t anything unusual. In fact, Cleveland selected among the top three picks eight different times since the organization returned to the NFL in 1999. For comparison, the Browns have made the postseason three times during that same stretch.
As poorly as this season went in Cleveland, a silver lining may exist.
The Browns are legitimately within striking distance for one of the ’25 class’ top two quarterback prospects. Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders are projected to become top-five picks, if not the No. 1 and 2 overall selections.
Cleveland can possibly move up a spot or two depending on Sunday’s outcomes dealing with the Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots. Whatever occurs, a quarterback needs to be the primary target.
Deshaun Watson’s acquisition and subsequent contract signing has been an unmitigated disaster. The Browns may not be able to get out of his deal for another year or two, but a cost-controlled rookie deal added to the quarterback room can instill newfound hope for a franchise that desperately needs stability at the game’s most important position.
Even if Cleveland ends up with that third overall selection, an aggressive approach to the draft—trade up?—can land the organization exactly what it desires.
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