The Cleveland Browns are 6-5 on the year and are coming off a lackluster victory over the winless Detroit Lions and going into the most important stretch of their season. With two games against the AFC North-leading Baltimore Ravens, with their bye week sandwiched in between, the story of the Browns 2021 NFL season will likely be written in the next three weeks.
The Ravens were once again victorious in Week 11 despite missing their dynamic quarterback, Lamar Jackson, due to illness. It has been reported that Jackson does not have COVID-19 again but the nature of the illness is unknown at this time.
Perhaps because of the unknown nature of Jackson’s illness and his status for Week 12, the Ravens only open the week as a 3.5 point favorite over the Browns, according to Tipico.
As the home team, Baltimore would generally get three points automatically so the 3.5 point spread would indicate the home team is only very slightly better than the visiting team.
The Ravens have been far from perfect in 2021 and been decimated by injuries but have been able to overcome time and time again. Fully healthy, it is likely that the line would move significantly. That still could happen if Jackson is deemed healthy and ready to go for the game soon.
The 46.5 over/under line is closer to the top of Week 12’s lines than it is the bottom with a surprisingly high number of lines in the low 40’s for the week.