Lamar Jackson threw two touchdown passes Saturday and Derrick Henry added two fourth-quarter scoring runs as the Baltimore Ravens clinched the AFC North title with a 35-10 win over the visiting Cleveland Browns.
Baltimore (12-5) will host a first-round playoff game next weekend as the No. 3 seed, while Cleveland (3-14) will start an offseason that could be rife with changes. A playoff team last season, the Browns could earn the No. 1 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft if New England and Tennessee win on Sunday. They will draft no lower than third overall.
Jackson completed 16 of 32 passes for 217 yards while adding 63 yards on nine rushes, finishing the regular season with 41 touchdown passes and just four interceptions. He also went over the 4,000-yard passing mark for the season, finishing at 4,172. Henry compiled 138 yards on 20 carries, giving him 1,921 yards and 16 rushing scores.
Bailey Zappe became Cleveland’s 40th starting quarterback since it re-entered the NFL 25 years ago and completed 16 of 31 passes for 170 yards with a touchdown. He also tossed two interceptions, Nate Wiggins returning the first one 26 yards to open the scoring at the 8:32 mark of the first quarter.
Jackson increased the lead to 14-0 with 11:03 left in the first half, connecting with tight end Mark Andrews on a 12-yard touchdown pass. It came seven plays after Corey Bojorquez shanked a 26-yard punt to the Browns’ 47.
Cleveland answered with its one good drive of the half, reaching the Ravens’ 5 before settling for Dustin Hopkins’ 23-yard field goal with 6:33 remaining.
The Ravens upped their advantage to 21-3 with 10:42 left in the third quarter when Jackson zipped a 7-yard dart over the middle to wide-open Rashod Bateman, finishing a 70-yard drive.
Zappe led the Browns’ only touchdown drive of the day, hitting Jordan Akins for a 16-yard touchdown pass at the 11:33 mark of the fourth quarter.
Henry closed the game out by scoring on Baltimore’s next two possessions. He powered over from the 2 with 6:44 remaining, then tacked on a 43-yard touchdown run with 3:04 on the clock.
–Field Level Media
