Browns Back to Being a Top 10 Super Bowl Contender After Beating Ravens in Baltimore
- The Cleveland Browns improved to 2-2 with an impressive 40-25 rout of the Baltimore Ravens
- Oddsmakers moved the Browns back into their top 10 Super Bowl contenders at odds of +2200
- The average Super Bowl odds on Cleveland entering Week 4 were +3933
The Super Bowl odds of the Cleveland Browns aren’t back to where they were. But for the first time in a while, they’re trending in that direction.
On Sunday, the Browns looked very much like the team everyone projected them to be. Going on the road and drubbing their NFC North rivals the Baltimore Ravens 40-25, Cleveland racked up 530 yards of total offense.
Oddsmakers moved Cleveland back in among the top 10 contenders for Super Bowl 54. The Browns are now listed at odds of +2200.
Super Bowl 54 Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| New England Patriots | +350 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | +500 |
| Dallas Cowboys | +1200 |
| Los Angeles Rams | +1200 |
| New Orleans Saints | +1200 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | +1200 |
| Green Bay Packers | +1600 |
| Chicago Bears | +1600 |
| Cleveland Browns | +2200 |
| San Francisco 49ers | +2500 |
*Odds taken on 09/30/19.
Across the major sportsbooks, Cleveland’s average Super Bowl odds were at +3933 prior to the Browns belting the Ravens. As recently as August 7th, Cleveland’s average Super Bowl odds were as low as +1200.
Cleveland Rocks
This was the Browns offense everyone schemed about during the offseason.
It was quarterback Baker Mayfield firing for 342 yards. There was running Nick Chubb scything through the Ravens NFL #2 rushing defense for 165 yards and a career-high three touchdowns, including an 88-yard TD run. Finally, it was wideout Jarvis Landry catching eight passes for 167 yards.
To.
The.
House.@NickChubb21, everybody. pic.twitter.com/RCeJGdSsaX— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 29, 2019
Through the first three games, Cleveland ranked 23rd in the NFL in red zone offense. Sunday, the Browns scored four TDs on five red zone possessions.
The Browns had 10 plays from scrimmage go for a minimum of 16 yards. Mayfield and Landry hooked up on a 65-yard pass play. He also connected with Ricky Seals-Jones for another 59 catch and run.
Look momma…. there go that man!!!! pic.twitter.com/uG5D6FY8Ng
— Baker Mayfield (@bakermayfield) September 29, 2019
Chubb owns an NFL-leading three TD runs of 60 yards or longer since the start of last season. That’s the most in the league. He’s also the first player to post 150 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns in a single game against the Ravens.
There’s No D in Baltimore
It was the second straight week that the Ravens had surrendered over 500 yards of offense to an opponent. They’ve allowed 1,032 yards in successive losses to the Chiefs and Browns. But up until this game, Baltimore had been a defense that bent but didn’t break.
The Ravens had only surrendered 20 points per game. Sunday, they coughed up 30 points in the second half.
Lawrence picks off Lamar Jackson, back-to-back possessions ending with an INT for the Ravens #browns pic.twitter.com/nhnEHA2iNz
— Sports Gifs & Videos (@Supreme_gifs) September 29, 2019
Cleveland’s defense twice picked off Ravens’ QB Lamar Jackson, ending his streak of 248 straight pass attempts without an interception. Jackson also fumbled twice, losing one of them.
In successive weeks, the Browns have held Le’Veon Bell of the Jets, Todd Gurley of the Rams and Mark Ingram of the Ravens to less than 100 yards rushing.
It’s a Browns New World
It’s the first time the Browns have been in first place four games into the season since 2013. Cleveland hadn’t opened a season 2-0 on the road since 1994.
The Browns had been 1-10 all-time against John Harbaugh-coached Ravens teams prior to Sunday.
.@D_Hilliard26 for 6️⃣!#CLEvsBAL pic.twitter.com/1bOL8HjHoK
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 29, 2019
It doesn’t get any easier for the Browns, who head to San Francisco next Monday to face a 49ers team tied for top spot in the NFC West and coming into the game rested off their bye week.
They also may have lost Landry, who suffered a concussion during Sunday’s win.
OKAY, @God_Son80!
Landry stays up for the 65-yard catch!#CLEvsBAL pic.twitter.com/NR5Mf7VaNd
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 29, 2019
One of Pittsburgh or Cincinnati will win Monday night to pull within a game of the Browns.
The AFC North is congested but it’s Cleveland that’s out front of the traffic jam.
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
