Updated AFC North Odds After Week 4: Ravens Favored, Browns Given +140 Odds

• The Cleveland Browns beat the Baltimore Ravens 40-25 in Week 4
• The Browns are now in the top spot in the AFC North by virtue of a tiebreaker
• The Ravens have the easier schedule of the two teams in the coming weeks

It’s been a bizarre season for the AFC North and we’re only four weeks in. After the Cleveland Browns won in Baltimore on Sunday, we now have a two-way tie for first and a two-way tie for last in the division as we enter Monday Night Football.

Which team is the best bet to eventually win this division in light of the updated odds after Week 4?

Odds to Win AFC North

*Odd and records as of 09/30/19.

Browns Top Ravens In Baltimore

The Browns entered Week 4 on a downer as they were heavily criticized in the media for being overrated. The Ravens were about a touchdown favorite in the game and were expected to roll. Reality proved to be quite different as the Browns cruised to a 40-25 win, moving up to first place in the division in the process.

It was a statement win for the Browns, who really hadn’t played to their potential in the early part of the season. Baker Mayfield had underachieved, the offensive line had struggled, and the running game had been unreliable.

They put it all together and handled the Ravens without ever trailing in the game.

What’s Wrong With The Ravens?

The first glimpse we got of the Ravens this season was a 59-10 stomping of the Miami Dolphins. However, we’ve come to find out that the Dolphins are really, really bad. The question is how good is Baltimore?

The Ravens edged out Arizona in Week 2, but Arizona is also a winless team. They then went to Kansas City in Week 3 and lost a game that was not nearly as close as the 33-28 score-line suggests.

In Week 4, they were smoked at home by the Browns.

Of course, a lot of fingers will be pointed at Lamar Jackson – who’s completed less than 60% of his passes the last two weeks – but the Ravens defense has completely collapsed. We had expected a decline after losing C.J. Mosley, Terrell Suggs, Za’darius Smith, and Eric Weddle in the offseason, and that’s come to fruition.

Strong games against Miami and Arizona were followed by abysmal performances against KC and Cleveland. The unit surrendered over 500 yards of offense in each game. Beyond that, Jackson has definitely struggled in the last two games and that needs to be addressed. Maybe he isn’t as adept of a pocket passer as the Dolphins made him look.

Jackson is really struggling with downfield passes. After completing 58% of his passes of 10 yards or more in the first two weeks, he’s at 30% over the last two weeks. He was just 11-of-24 with 119 yards through three quarters in the loss to Kansas City. On Sunday, he was 24-of-34 for 247 yards, three touchdowns and two picks.

What’s The Best Bet?

I think both of these teams are about in the range of 9-7 or 10-6, so this will be a tight race. The Ravens have issues on defense and with Jackson’s passing while the Browns offensive line is still a big question mark.

I will say that the Browns schedule looks tougher in the coming weeks; they’re in San Francisco (3-0) next week, then they host the Seahawks (3-1), visit the Patriots (4-0) and Broncos (0-4), then host the Bills (3-1). That’s a really tough stretch.

As for the Ravens, they’re at Pittsburgh (0-3), they host the Bengals (0-3), visit the Seahawks, host the Patriots, then visit the Bengals and host the Texans (2-2). I see them picking up about four wins there, while the Browns probably come in under that number.

I think the Browns end up winning the division but I would wait to bet them as their NFL Divisional odds should get worse before they get better. This division is likely to be decided by the Week 16 matchup between these two teams.