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The opening game featuring the Baltimore Ravens and the Cleveland Browns will preview the trend for the AFC North division in the upcoming season. A tightly-contested match is expected to transpire on September 13 as both squads are aiming to prove a point in their first encounter of the season.
The Ravens are coming off a disappointing exit in the 2019 NFL Playoffs as they lost 28-12 against the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Semi-Final matchup. The Browns aren't any better either as they finished their campaign with a subpar 6-10 record and missed the playoffs for the 17th straight season.
The two squads may have different story-lines heading into the season but both are certainly aiming to have a better campaign in 2020. Here are 4 bold predictions when the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns go head to head on September 13:
4. Ravens' defensive line will be disruptive
A tough Ravens' defensive line got even better during the offseason. 2018 Pro Bowl nose tackle Brandon Williams will continue to be the centerpiece of the group. Newly-acquired Pro Bowl defensive end Calais Campbell and Super Bowl champion Derek Wolfe will both look to provide an instant impact to the team.
2019 Pro Bowl linebacker Matt Judon, Super Bowl champion linebacker Pernell McPhee, along with rookie Patrick Queen are also in the mix for the Ravens. They will aim to exploit the Browns' offensive line that still lacks depth and experience, and limit quarterback Baker Mayfield's effectiveness under center.
3. Browns RBs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt will ball out
Everyone thought that having a prolific rusher in Nick Chubb on the Browns' roster was already enough but Cleveland's front office says otherwise. They were far from satisfied and paired him with a reliable contributor in ball-carrier Kareem Hunt.
With the contracts of running backs Dalvin Cook and Alvin Kamara, the two-year, $13 million contract signed by Hunt last season turned out to be a steal for the Browns. He is still relatively young at the age of 25 and can still find his old form back with the Kansas City Chiefs where he eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards in his rookie season.
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With the Ohio native now at the helm, the Browns' backfield has gotten even more dangerous. The Chubb-Hunt tandem will ultimately give opposing defensive lines a ton of problems in the upcoming season.
2. Ravens QB Lamar Jackson doesn't skip a beat
Aside from willing his team to victory, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson will aim to prove to the rest of the league that his MVP campaign last season was no fluke. In just his sophomore year, Jackson tallied career-best numbers in all areas on the stat sheet, highlighted by his 3,127 passing yards. He also led the league in scored touchdowns with 36, and rushing average with 6.9. Jackson made history as he set the NFL record for quarterbacks with 1,206 rushing yards.
He aims to meet the heightened expectations set on his team by coming up with even better performances in 2020. Expect him to put on a show in his team's first game of the upcoming season.
1. The game will be a nail-biting encounter
A sloppy game will be expected from these two teams after having a shortened preseason preparation. More time was needed to form cohesion and chemistry especially for loaded squads like the Ravens and the Browns.
However, the winner of the Browns-Ravens matchup will most likely escape with a thin victory over their counterpart. At the end of the day, the team who can execute their game plan better will give themselves the best chance to snag their first win of the season.
