Both Teams Put on an Offensive Shootout
In a matchup between last year’s number one offense and last year’s number 22 offense, “shootout” isn’t usually the word that come to mind. Usually, this matchup ends up pretty one-sided on the score sheet and when you match that 22nd-ranked offense up against the 3rd-ranked defense, there’s going to be some problems.
That being said, the Browns have found close to no success on the offensive side of the ball in recent memory. Down the stretch last year, Cleveland scores over 25 points in just one of their last eight games. This is an offense that won’t click overnight but has the pieces in place to be among the best.
I don’t think I have to explain what makes this Baltimore offense so great. His initials are LJ and it’s not Lebron James. It’s Lamar Jackson. The 2019 NFL MVP will return in 2020 and likely tear up the NFL once again. Yes, teams may start to figure him out, but his offense is stacked from top to bottom with talent. If he doesn’t step up, somebody else will.
When you take a look at last year’s matchups, the outcome is different than you’d expect. The Browns actually stole the first game by a margin of 15-points, something that didn’t seem extremely noteworthy at the time, but seems out of reach now. In the second matchup, the Ravens came home with the win, but still feel the pain from their first loss.
It’s hard to pinpoint how they found their success last year, but in Week 4, Baltimore didn’t have an answer for Mayfield, Chubb, and Beckham. Expect this year’s Week 1 fight to be another offensive explosion from both squads who are getting a new look at each other.
