The last week of the NFL regular season began explosively as the Baltimore Ravens secured the AFC North title with a commanding 35-10 victory against the Cleveland Browns at MT&T Bank Stadium.
Although the victory was certain, Ravens’ Michael Pierce will always remember how the match concluded.
The defensive lineman, weighing in at 355 pounds, dropped into coverage and picked off Browns quarterback Bailey Zappe, much to the excitement of his teammates and the fans in Baltimore.
After the game, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh informed reporters that Pierce received a game ball.
Harbaugh declared, “The craziest, most incredible play in NFL history,” in jest. “That’s how we referred to it, so he received a game ball for that.”
However, like most weeks, Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry were key for the Ravens as the driving force behind their dynamic offense.
The two-time MVP Jackson strengthened his argument for his second straight award, totaling 217 passing yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 63 yards. He surpassed 4,000 passing yards for the season, making him the first quarterback to achieve 4,000 yards with 40 touchdown passes and four or fewer interceptions.
“Really, it’s like saying no more, what more is there to discuss,” Harbaugh remarked when questioned about Jackson’s season. “Guy is a contender.” He is a combatant. He is simply unique. “No one compares to Lamar Jackson.”
Regarding “King Henry,” he achieved what no other player has accomplished in NFL history, rushing for 138 yards and two touchdowns, concluding the regular season with 1,870 yards and 15 touchdowns.
According to the ESPN broadcast, the five-time Pro Bowler is the only athlete to finish three consecutive seasons with 1,500 running yards and 15 touchdowns.
The Browns gained a little asset for the future despite finishing the season with a 3-14 record.
The defeat guarantees Cleveland a top-3 selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, with the possibility of obtaining the first overall pick based on the outcomes of Sunday’s games.
As the Ravens secure the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs, they will look forward to their first round opponent, which might be a clash with Harbaugh’s sibling, Jim, and the Los Angeles Chargers or their divisional rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
