The AFC North is basically a meat grinder. People talk about the flashy offenses and the quarterback contracts, but when the Browns vs Ravens 2025 matchups actually kicked off, it felt more like a throwback to the 90s—minus the stadium moves. Honestly, if you didn’t watch these games live, the box scores don’t even begin to tell the real story of how messy, physical, and just plain weird this rivalry got in 2025.
Cleveland entered the year in a weird spot. They were coming off a brutal 3-14 campaign in 2024 and were desperate to prove they weren't just the division's punching bag. Meanwhile, Baltimore was riding high, having just repeated as AFC North champions. But as any fan knows, records go out the window when these two meet.
The Week 2 Emotional Rollercoaster
The first time they met in 2025 was Week 2, and the vibes were off the charts. Why? Because Joe Flacco was back in Baltimore. Not for the Ravens, though. He was starting for the Browns. Seeing the guy who won a Super Bowl MVP for Baltimore wearing a Cleveland jersey at M&T Bank Stadium was surreal.
📖 Related: Baltimore Ravens vs San Francisco 49ers: What Most People Get Wrong
The game itself was a defensive slog for three quarters. Baltimore led 10-3 at halftime despite only having four first downs. Four! That’s basically unheard of for a Lamar Jackson-led offense. But the Ravens' defense was terrifying. They harassed Flacco all day.
Everything changed in the fourth quarter.
Baltimore was up by 10 with 15 minutes left. Then, the floodgates just opened. They scored 21 straight points. The backbreaker was a sack-fumble by Tavius Robinson that Roquan Smith scooped up and took 63 yards to the house. Lamar Jackson finished with four touchdown passes, including strikes to Devontez Walker and DeAndre Hopkins. The final score was 41-17, but it felt much closer until that final defensive explosion.
What Happened in the Week 11 Rematch?
By the time the November 16th rematch at Huntington Bank Field rolled around, both teams were heading in opposite directions. The Browns were 2-8 and struggling to find an identity. Kevin Stefanski had pivoted to rookie Dillon Gabriel at quarterback, hoping for a spark. Baltimore was 5-5, clawing their way back into the playoff race after a disastrous 1-5 start to the season.
🔗 Read more: Dallas Cowboys Score Last Night: Why the 17-34 Loss to the Giants Still Stings
The weather in Cleveland was classic November—grey and biting.
Cleveland actually led for a good chunk of this game. Their kicker, Andre Szmyt, was busy, knocking through field goals of 30, 24, and 46 yards. The highlight for the home crowd was a 23-yard interception return for a touchdown by Devin Bush. For a moment, it looked like the Browns might actually pull off the upset and sweep the legs of Baltimore’s season.
But the Ravens have Derrick Henry.
Even though the Browns held "King Henry" to a season-low 23 yards in their first meeting, he wouldn't be denied twice. He punched in a 1-yard score to keep it close. Then, in the fourth quarter, Mark Andrews—who had a quiet season by his standards—reminded everyone why he’s elite. He took a handoff or a short pass (depending on who you ask about the "run" designation) 35 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.
📖 Related: Why the Van Cortlandt Park Running Track is Still the Soul of Bronx Athletics
Baltimore escaped with a 23-16 win.
Cleveland fans were understandably frustrated. They saw Dillon Gabriel show flashes, but the offense just couldn't finish drives in the second half. It was a recurring theme for the Browns vs Ravens 2025 season series: Cleveland stays competitive for 45 minutes, then Baltimore's veteran composure takes over.
Key Stats and Players that Defined the Season
- Lamar Jackson: He didn't have to be a superhero in these games, but he was efficient. He has more passing yards against Cleveland than any other team in the league.
- Myles Garrett: He's a monster. He had five sacks in a single game against the Patriots earlier that year, but Baltimore’s offensive line somehow kept him relatively quiet in the head-to-heads.
- Derrick Henry: By January 2025, he had tied Jim Brown for 6th on the all-time rushing touchdown list. Watching him wear down the Cleveland front seven in the fourth quarter of the November game was a clinic in "closing time" football.
- The Rookie QB Carousel: Cleveland fans even got a glimpse of Shedeur Sanders in the preseason and later in the year, as the team searched for a long-term answer.
The Rivalry Beyond the Field
You can't talk about these games without mentioning the 30th-anniversary celebrations in Baltimore. The Ravens were celebrating three decades since the move, which, as any Browns fan will tell you, is still a sore subject. The tension in the stands during that Week 2 game was thick.
There's also the "Flacco Factor." He's 40 now. He told reporters he has "nothing but love" for Baltimore, but you could see the fire in his eyes trying to beat his old team. It didn't happen for him this time, but it added a layer of drama that most "standard" divisional games just don't have.
Most people get this rivalry wrong by thinking it's purely about the "old Browns" vs the "new Browns." In 2025, it was about a power shift. Baltimore is trying to maintain its status as the AFC North's kingpin while dealing with injuries and a slow start. Cleveland is a team in a massive transition, cycling through quarterbacks and trying to find a way to maximize a generational defense.
If you're looking for actionable ways to analyze these matchups for the future, keep an eye on the turnover margin. In both 2025 games, the team that won the turnover battle won the game by a significant margin. Cleveland’s inability to protect the ball against Baltimore’s secondary (led by Nate Wiggins and Kyle Hamilton) was the single biggest factor in the season sweep.
Actionable Insights for the Next Season:
- Watch the Trench Depth: Baltimore’s ability to rotate defensive linemen kept them fresh for the fourth-quarter surges that buried Cleveland twice.
- Quarterback Stability: Until the Browns settle on a definitive starter—whether it's Gabriel, Sanders, or a veteran—they will struggle to match the late-game execution of a Lamar Jackson-led offense.
- Special Teams Matter: Don't overlook Tyler Loop. His consistency on field goals in the Week 11 game was the difference between a tie and a win during the middle quarters.