In a historic regular season finale, the Baltimore Ravens clinched their second straight AFC North title with a commanding 35-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns. Led by another MVP-caliber performance from quarterback Lamar Jackson, the Ravens secured the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs and will host either the Chargers or Steelers in the wild-card round next weekend.
Jackson Makes History in Division-Clinching Win
Lamar Jackson capped off a record-breaking campaign with another stellar outing on Saturday. The electrifying QB completed 16 of 32 passes for 217 yards and 2 touchdowns, while adding 63 yards on the ground. In doing so, Jackson became the first player in NFL history to record over 4,000 passing yards and 900 rushing yards in a single season.
Jackson also etched his name in the record books with an incredible 41:4 touchdown-to-interception ratio, becoming the first quarterback to ever throw 40+ TDs and fewer than 5 picks in a season. His sensational play has the Ravens poised for a deep postseason run.
“He’s just special. The things he can do, no one else can do. As long as we have Lamar, we have a chance against anybody.”
– Ravens HC Jon Harbaugh on Lamar Jackson
Ravens Rout Rival Browns
Baltimore came into the regular season finale as hefty 20-point favorites over the struggling Browns, the largest spread in the NFL since 2021. And the Ravens played like it from the opening kick.
- Rookie CB Nate Wiggins opened the scoring with a 26-yard pick-six, the Ravens’ 2nd in 3 games
- Rashod Bateman hauled in a 7-yard TD from Jackson to make it 14-0 in the 3rd quarter
- Derrick Henry overcame a slow start to rush for 130 yards and 2 TDs in the 2nd half
The Ravens defense held the Browns to just 170 yards of total offense and forced 3 turnovers in another dominant showing. But there was one notable blemish on an otherwise celebratory day in Baltimore…
Injury Scare for Ravens WR Zay Flowers
The Ravens may have secured a crucial victory and home-field advantage in the playoffs, but it came at a cost. Star wide receiver Zay Flowers, fresh off his first career Pro Bowl nod, exited the game in the 2nd quarter with a right knee injury and did not return.
The severity of the injury is not yet known, but losing Flowers for any amount of time would be a major blow to Baltimore’s Super Bowl aspirations. The talented wideout emerged as Lamar Jackson’s go-to target this season, leading the team in receptions, yards, and touchdowns.
“I’m hopeful it’s not anything major, but we’ll get it looked at and go from there. He’s a huge part of this offense. Definitely changes things if we don’t have him out there.”
– Lamar Jackson on Zay Flowers’ injury
Playoff Picture Takes Shape in AFC
With the Ravens locking up the No. 3 seed, the AFC playoff bracket is nearly complete. Only the No. 6 seed remains up for grabs heading into the final Sunday of the regular season.
The Chargers can clinch that final wild-card spot with a win over the Raiders, while a loss would open the door for Mike Tomlin’s Steelers to sneak in with a win over the Bengals. Regardless of the outcome, one thing is certain – the road to the Super Bowl in the AFC will run through Baltimore.
Derrick Henry Makes History in Defeat
It may have come in a losing effort, but Browns running back Derrick Henry made some history of his own on Saturday. The bruising ball-carrier rumbled for 130 yards and 2 touchdowns, bringing his season total to 1,921 rushing yards – the most ever by a player 30 or older.
Henry surpassed Tiki Barber’s previous record of 1,860 yards set back in 2005 and notched the 11th highest single-season rushing total in NFL history. An incredible achievement overshadowed by another disappointing campaign in Cleveland.
| Most Rushing Yards, Age 30+ | Year | Yards |
| Derrick Henry | 2025 | 1,921 |
| Tiki Barber | 2005 | 1,860 |
Offseason of Uncertainty Looms for Browns
As for the Browns, Saturday’s defeat mercifully brought an end to another lost season in Cleveland. One year after a resurgent playoff run, the Browns stumbled to a 3-14 record while cycling through a franchise-record 4 starting quarterbacks.
With former #1 overall pick Deshaun Watson’s future in serious doubt after suffering a torn Achilles, Cleveland faces a potential crossroads at the game’s most important position. Will they look to free agency or the draft for their next signal-caller? Can Kevin Stefanski survive another dismal year at the helm?
“We’re going to evaluate everything. I still believe in the guys in that locker room, but clearly, it wasn’t good enough. It starts with me, and there will be changes.”
– Browns HC Kevin Stefanski on the future
Those are questions that will dominate the offseason discourse in northeast Ohio. For now, Browns fans are left wondering what could have been, while their rivals 60 miles southeast celebrate another division crown and set their sights on a Lombardi Trophy.
