The AFC North isn’t just a division; it’s a crime scene. Whenever you see Baltimore and Cleveland on the schedule, you don’t expect a track meet. You expect bruises. You expect mud, even if they’re playing on turf. It’s physical, it’s nasty, and honestly? It’s exactly why we love football.
But beyond the big hits and the trash talk, the real story is always in the numbers. The Baltimore Ravens vs Cleveland Browns match player stats reveal a lot about how these two rivals operate. It’s never just about who scored more points; it’s about who survived the trenches. Let’s dig into the data and see what actually happened in their recent showdowns.
The Quarterback Rollercoaster
First things first—the QBs. This matchup has been wild lately because you never quite know which version of the offense you’re going to get.
If we look at Lamar Jackson, the stats usually tell a story of “do-it-all” dominance, but Cleveland has a weird way of frustrating him. In their split series recently, Lamar’s numbers have been a mixed bag.
Take the game where Cleveland pulled off that massive comeback. Lamar’s stat line was efficient but not explosive in the air:
- Passing: Roughly 13 for 23, around 223 yards.
- Interceptions: 2.
That second stat is the killer. Cleveland’s defense, led by Myles Garrett (we’ll get to him in a second), forces mistakes. Lamar still hurts them with his legs—he usually logs about 40 to 60 rushing yards in these games—but the Browns have figured out how to make him uncomfortable in the pocket.
On the other side, Deshaun Watson (or whoever is under center for Cleveland, given the injury carousel) usually has a weird stat line against Baltimore. In that same comeback win, Watson started absolutely terrible. Like, “is this guy okay?” terrible. But by the fourth quarter? He was 20 of 34 for over 200 yards and a touchdown. It wasn’t pretty, but the stats show resilience. He took hit after hit and kept throwing.
The Trenches: Where Games Are Actually Won
You can’t talk about Baltimore Ravens vs Cleveland Browns match player stats without looking at the rushing attack. This is where the identity of both teams lives.
For Baltimore, it’s usually committee work. Whether it’s Keaton Mitchell (before the injury), Gus Edwards, or Justice Hill, they just pound the rock. In their dominant win earlier in the season, the Ravens rushed for huge yardage.
- Gus Edwards: 3 TDs in one game. That’s a fantasy owner’s dream.
- Total Team Rushing: Often eclipses 150 yards.
But Cleveland? They have a monster named Nick Chubb (when healthy) or Jerome Ford stepping up. Ford has been a surprising stat-sheet stuffer against Baltimore. In the loss, he ripped off a massive run, finishing with over 100 yards on the ground. When Cleveland runs the ball well, they control the clock. The stats show a direct correlation: if the Browns rush for over 120 yards, the game is usually a nail-biter.
If you’re a stats nerd like me, you probably spend too much time on ESPN’s Box Score pages, just marveling at how different these two teams look on paper versus on the field.
The Defense: Garrett vs. The World
Okay, let’s talk about the freak of nature that is Myles Garrett.
When you look at the defensive stats, Garrett is usually the outlier. In almost every game against Baltimore, he wrecks the game plan.
- Sacks: Usually 1.5 or 2 per game against the Ravens.
- Pressures: Too many to count.
The Ravens’ offensive line is good, but Garrett is better. His disruption doesn’t always show up as a sack; sometimes it shows up in Lamar’s completion percentage dropping because he has to throw the ball away.
On the Baltimore side, look at Kyle Hamilton. This kid is revolutionizing the safety position. In their matchups, check his tackle numbers—he’s often leading the team with 8 or 9 tackles, plus a deflection or two. He plays near the line of scrimmage, almost like a linebacker. The stats show he is essentially everywhere at once.
The Receiving Corps: Efficiency Over Volume
Neither of these teams is throwing the ball 50 times a game like the Chiefs or Bills. So, the receiver stats look a bit different.
For the Ravens, Zay Flowers has become the go-to guy. His stats against Cleveland often reflect quick screens and short bursts. He might catch 5 balls for 73 yards and a score. It’s efficient. Mark Andrews (the ultimate safety blanket) usually feasts on the Browns’ linebackers, grabbing 5-6 catches consistently.
For Cleveland, Amari Cooper is the X-factor. The stats show that when Cooper gets targets, the Browns move the chains. In the comeback win, Cooper had huge catches on third down. He finished with nearly 100 yards. It’s not just the total yards; it’s when he got them. A 12-yard catch on 3rd-and-10 is worth its weight in gold.
For a deeper dive into how these specific matchups affect fantasy rankings and player values, sites like FantasyPros do a great job of breaking down the target shares.
The “Hidden” Stats: Turnovers and Time of Possession
Here is the secret sauce. If you want to know who won without looking at the score, check the turnover differential.
In the Ravens’ losses to Cleveland, they turn the ball over. It’s that simple. A pick-six here, a fumble there. In the game Baltimore lost 33-31, the stats show a collapse in ball security. Cleveland didn’t necessarily outgain them by a mile, but they capitalized on mistakes.
Also, look at Time of Possession. The Ravens usually like to hold the ball for 32+ minutes. When Cleveland flips that script and keeps Lamar on the sideline, Baltimore gets cold. In the fourth quarter of their last meeting, Cleveland held the ball forever, wearing down that stout Ravens defense.
FAQs
What was the biggest stat from the Browns’ comeback win?
The rushing yards. Despite falling behind early, Cleveland stuck to the run game and finished with 178 yards on the ground. That wore Baltimore down.
How many times was Lamar Jackson sacked?
In their toughest matchup, Lamar was sacked 3 or 4 times. Myles Garrett and Za’Darius Smith were living in the backfield.
Did Odell Beckham Jr. have a big game against his old team?
He had a moment! OBJ caught a slant and took it to the house for a 40-yard touchdown against Cleveland. His overall stats weren’t massive (around 2 catches), but the TD was sweet revenge.
Who led the Ravens in tackles?
Roquan Smith. It’s almost always Roquan Smith. He consistently posts double-digit tackles (10+) in these AFC North brawls.
The Verdict
So, when you analyze the Baltimore Ravens vs Cleveland Browns match player stats, you see two teams that are mirror images of each other. They both want to run the ball, play suffocating defense, and beat you up physically.
The stats tell us that this rivalry is decided by inches. A missed tackle by a safety, a tipped pass by a defensive end, or a clutch run on 3rd down. It’s ugly, it’s gritty, and the numbers prove that in the AFC North, nothing comes easy.
