The Ravens locked up the AFC North, No. 3 seed with a win over the Browns

BALTIMORE — Record-setting days for a quarterback Lamar Jacksonthe Baltimore Ravens Repeated as AFC North champions on Saturday.

In beating last place Cleveland Browns35-10, the Ravens take over the AFC’s No. 3 seed and will host either. Los Angeles Chargers or Pittsburgh Steelers In next weekend’s wild card round of the playoffs. The Chargers would be the No. 6 seed if they lose. Las Vegas Raiders The Steelers will be the No. 6 seed on Sunday if they lose. Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday and the Chargers beat the Raiders.

Jackson capped a historic season with his performance Saturday — 16 of 32 passing for 217 yards and two touchdowns, and he rushed nine times for 63 yards. He became the first player to record more than 4,000 yards passing and 900 yards rushing in the same season. With 41 touchdown passes and four interceptions, Jackson also became the first player to throw 40 touchdown passes and fewer than five interceptions in a season.

Baltimore came into the game with 20 points, the largest point spread in the NFL since 2021, according to ESPN BET.

A day of celebration, there was cause for concern. In a week where he was named to his first Pro Bowl, The flowers of Zea — Ravens’ No. 1 wide receiver — His right knee was injured early in the second trimester and did not return.

The keys to the game are:

Most surprising performance: Derek Henry. It looked like Henry was going to be a non-factor after being limited to eight yards on six carries in the first half. But he bounced back in the second half to gain 130 yards and two touchdowns. His 1,921 yards rushing this season tied for more yards than Tiki Barber (1,860 in 2005) by a player 30 or older.

Promising trend: The Ravens have recorded two pick-sixes in their last three games. Rookie first round pick Nate Wiggins Scored Baltimore’s first touchdown Saturday, when he returned his first career interception 26 yards for a score. It came two weeks after the Ravens cornerback Marilyn Humphrey Sealed the win against the Steelers with a pick-six. It’s the first time since 2019 that Baltimore has recorded multiple pick-sixes in a season. Wiggins is also the first Ravens rookie in 18 years to return an interception for a touchdown.

The biggest hole in the game plan: The Ravens’ offense ranked fourth. Instead of settling for field goals, Baltimore came up short on two fourth downs in Browns territory, continuing a strange trend. The Ravens are 0-4-4 on fourth down against the Browns this season, but are 10-8 on fourth down against the rest of the league. Jackson threw two incompletions on fourth down against Cleveland on Saturday.

Eye-popping condition: Jackson’s 7-yard touchdown run on a wide-open pass Rashid Bateman The third quarter was a familiar sight for the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, it was Jackson’s 13th touchdown pass in the league to a wide open receiver (five or more yards of target separation). arrived Jackson finished the season with 41 touchdown passes, five more than he had in a single season. — Jamieson Hensley

The Browns are starting. Belly zippy It was a fitting end to a disappointing season at quarterback that saw four different quarterbacks start amid continued struggles on offense.

Became the 40th quarterback to start since the franchise returned to Cleveland in 1999, the most in the NFL. Saturday’s season finale wasn’t as much about the Browns’ play as expected in the offseason. A year after overcoming multiple injuries and returning to the playoffs, Cleveland must address a roster that has regressed, with no one more important to address than the quarterback.

Deshaun Watson Posted the lowest total QBR in the NFL before tearing his right Achilles tendon in Week 7, ending his season due to injury for the second consecutive year. The Browns could look to a free agent class that could include Kirk Cousins If he is released. Atlanta Falcons Or refer to the draft.

Disturbing trends: Zappe’s first quarterback pick-six was the 22nd interception by a Browns quarterback this season, and his second moved him to 23 – the most in the NFL. He has played a big role in Cleveland this season with the worst turnover margin (-22) in the league.

QB Malfunction: Zappé made his first start of the season and while he threw the aforementioned interception, he led the Browns to a touchdown drive in the fourth quarter and showed more comfort in the pocket. Doreen Thompson-Robinson Did in his two starts. Zappe completed 16 of 31 passes for 170 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Cleveland will likely be looking for a quarterback to compete with Watson for the starting spot next summer, but Zappé, who is a restricted free agent, as a third quarterback or possibly a backup. Can stay with team to develop.

Silver lining: With the loss, the Browns are guaranteed a top-three pick in the draft, which could be prime position to solve their quarterback woes in the offseason. A Cleveland win could jump to the No. 1 pick. New England Patriots And Tennessee Titans On Sunday — Daniel Oifosi