With an AFC North title on the line, the Ravens are eager to avenge their Week 8 loss to the Browns when the two division foes meet in Week 18.
The Browns, who are 3-13 on the season, will travel to Baltimore to face the 11-5 Ravens on Saturday, Jan. 4 at 4:30 p.m. If the Ravens win, they will finish atop the AFC North for the second straight season and earn the No. 3 seed in the AFC bracket of the NFL Playoffs. If Baltimore lose to Cleveland and the Steelers beat the Bengals, the Steelers will win the AFC North, and the Ravens will claim the No. 5 seed in the AFC.
"This game right here is for the AFC North, and that's one of our goals," Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr said. "The first goal is to go 1-0 that week, make the playoffs – we did that. The next one is to win the AFC North, so we're pulling out all the stops that we need to do to go get this win on Saturday."
The last time the Ravens and Browns met, QB Jameis Winston and the Browns pulled out a home victory, defeating the Ravens 29-24 in Week 8. The Browns totaled over 400 yards of offense and Winston threw three touchdown passes to hand Baltimore its third loss of the season.
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their game this week against the Baltimore Ravens at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Tight end Jordan Akins (88) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 2, 2025.
Defensive end Sam Kamara (92) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 2, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 2, 2025.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Defensive end James Houston (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 2, 2025.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 2, 2025.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 2, 2025.
Running back John Kelly Jr. (42) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 2, 2025.
Running back John Kelly Jr. (42) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Running back John Kelly Jr. (42) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Running back Aidan Robbins (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Running back Jacob Kibodi (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Safety Chris Edmonds (41) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 2, 2025.
Offensive guard Germain Ifedi (65) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Tight end Cameron Latu (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Tight end Brenden Bates (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 2, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Offensive Line Coach Andy Dickerson during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Team Logistics Assistant Hunter Carson, Offensive Assistant/Quarterbacks Coach Ashton Grant, and Bill Willis Diversity Fellow Nemo Washington during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 2, 2025.
Running back Aidan Robbins (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Safety Trey Dean (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 2, 2025.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Running back Jacob Kibodi (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Running back Aidan Robbins (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
`Running back Jacob Kibodi (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Running back Aidan Robbins (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Director of Equipment Operations Kory Gillissie and Equipment Intern Sophia Birlson during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 2, 2025.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Running back Aidan Robbins (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Cornerback Chigozie Anusiem (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Running back John Kelly Jr. (42) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Running back Aidan Robbins (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Assistant Wide Receivers Coach Callie Brownson during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
LB Roquan Smith said that the Ravens' previous bout against the Browns was on the forefront of the players' minds going into Week 18.
"We didn't play the way we wanted to play during that game, but I feel like we have a totally different team than we were then," Smith said. "So, it's about showing exactly who we are, keep building on our momentum, and we have to keep taking it to them. We have to defend our turf by any means, but we know it's not going to be an easy one."
Instead of facing Winston, Baltimore could face either QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson or QB Bailey Zappe – or both. Winston, who continues to progress through a shoulder injury, is expected to be the team’s emergency third quarterback. Stefanski said he has yet to determine whether Thompson-Robinson or Zappe will get the start in Week 18, and that there was a chance both quarterbacks could see playing time.
The Ravens last faced Thompson-Robinson in the then-rookie's first start of his NFL career in Week 4 of the 2023 season. Thompson-Robinson threw for 121 yards, three interceptions and was sacked four times. Zappe, who spent two seasons with the Patriots before the Browns signed him off the Chiefs' practice squad in Week 8 of the 2024 season, has never faced the Ravens.
Head coach John Harbaugh said the team was preparing to see any of the three quarterbacks the Browns might play in Week 18.
"Well, we'll have to build some tape on the guy that we don't have tape on right now – Zappe," Harbaugh said. "We'll go back and pull some tape from New England and different places, but we won't probably go back to Western Kentucky on him. But Winston we know, (Thompson-Robinson) we know, and then (Zappe) we'll have to prepare for. But whichever way it goes, we're playing the Browns, the Browns are playing the Ravens, and we'll be ready to go."
No matter who the Browns start at quarterback, the Ravens are expecting another tough matchup in their second game against Cleveland this season. Despite being eliminated from playoff contention, the Browns have continued to express their desire to finish the 2024 season with a win over their division rivals.
As they fight for a home playoff game and the division title, Baltimore knows Cleveland will give its best shot to play spoiler in the final game of the 2024 season.
"These guys are fighting for their livelihoods. They have jobs. They have families they have to take care of," Smith said. "So, we know it's not going to be anything light, but we're preparing for whatever."
