Baltimore relentlessly harassed two Cleveland quarterbacks, Joe Flacco ramped up his production with a pair of touchdown passes and the Ravens breezed past the Browns 24-10 on Sunday.

Building on their season-opening shutout at Cincinnati, the Ravens picked off four passes and forced a fumble – giving them 10 takeaways in two games.

Most of the defense’s damage came against Browns rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer, who left with a migraine headache in the second quarter after four ineffective series: a three-and-out, a lost fumble, an interception and a punt.

The former Notre Dame star was replaced by second-year pro Kevin Hogan, but returned in the third quarter with Baltimore up 21-10. On his second series back, Kizer moved the Browns to the Baltimore 7 before being picked off in the end zone by Lardarius Webb.

Brandon Carr’s interception with 6:09 remaining all but sealed the victory.

Coming off a solid performance in his debut against Pittsburgh, Kizer went 15 for 31 for 182 yards with three interceptions and a lost fumble.

Hogan completed five of 11 passes for 118 yards and a score.

Both were outdone by Flacco, playing his second game since returning from a sore back that kept him sidelined the entire preseason. After going 9 for 17 in a keep-it-simple outing against the Bengals, Flacco went 25 for 34 for 217 yards in the encore.

As he matures, Kizer ultimately will come to understand the problem of holding the ball too long in the pocket – a mistake that put the Browns in an early hole. On Cleveland’s second series, Kizer was looking for a receiver when sacked by Terrell Suggs. The rookie fumbled, Baltimore recovered, and minutes later Terrance West scored on a 4-yard run.

Kizer’s next turnover wasn’t entirely his fault: With the Browns at the Baltimore 26, his pass glanced off the hands of running back Duke Johnson into the arms of safely Eric Weddle.

Baltimore went up 14-0 in the second quarter when Flacco completed two straight passes totaling 43 yards to tight end Benjamin Watson before Javorius Allen caught a 9-yard TD throw.

Hogan entered and promptly took the Browns on an 83-yard drive that ended with his first career touchdown pass, to David Njoku.

But Flacco countered with a 2-yard TD pass to Jeremy Maclin on the final play of the half, and that was enough to hand Cleveland its 14th consecutive road defeat.

INJURIES

Browns: WR Corey Coleman’s afternoon ended after he hurt his hand on a fourth-quarter play.

Ravens: G Marshal Yanda twisted his left ankle in the third quarter and did not return. … DT Brandon Williams hurt his foot in the third quarter and did not return. … Maclin missed time in the first quarter with a right shoulder stinger.

UP NEXT

Browns: have another road game, this one against the Indianapolis Colts, who have won seven of the last eight games in the series.

Ravens: head abroad for their first game in London, a matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Ravens lost the first eight games in the series and have since won nine of 12.

—

For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

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Baltimore Ravens vs New England Patriots
When: 8:30 PM ET, Monday, December 12, 2016
Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN.
LINE: Patriots -7. O/U: 45
PREDICTION: Patriots 23, Ravens 20

Oddsmakers currently have the Patriots listed as 7-point favorites versus the Ravens, while the game’s total is sitting at 45.

ABOUT THE RAVENS (7-5): Baltimore improved to 4-1 in its last five games following its most impressive victory of the season, a 38-6 demolition of Miami last week that snapped the Dolphins’ six-game winning streak. Muddling through a season of mediocrity to that point, quarterback Joe Flacco established season highs with 381 yards passing and four touchdowns while setting a franchise record with 36 completions. Tight end Dennis Pitta had nine catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns, part of a unit that features veteran Steve Smith, speedster Mike Wallace and promising Breshad Perriman at wide receiver. The Ravens have the league’s top-ranked defense (296.1 yards per game) and rank No. 1 against the run (73.8 yards).

Baltimore Stats:
Team record: 7-5 SU,6-6 ATS
Baltimore is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Baltimore is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Baltimore’s last 5 games

ABOUT THE PATRIOTS (10-2): New England has won three in a row, although the combined record of those opponents entering Week 13 is 8-28. Brady has 19 touchdown passes versus only one interception since returning from his four-game suspension, but he is without his No. 1 receiving target in tight end Rob Gronkowski and has 12 scoring passes versus 11 picks in 10 career games (playoffs included) versus Baltimore. Rookie Malcolm Mitchell continues to emerge as a bigger threat in the passing game with a season-high eight receptions in last week’s 26-10 win over Los Angeles while LeGarrette Blount is 43 yards shy of his second 1,000-yard season. The Patriots’ defense is tied with Baltimore with 17.3 points allowed — second in the NFL.

New England Stats:
Team record: 10-2 SU,9-3 ATS
Current Streak: won 3 straight games.
New England is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games
New England is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of New England’s last 10 games

EXTRA POINTS
1. The Patriots can secure a first-round bye with a win and losses by both Miami and Pittsburgh.
2. Ravens K Justin Tucker has converted all 28 field goal attempts, including eight of at least 50 yards.
3. With Danny Amendola (ankle) out, the Patriots signed fellow WR/PR Griff Whalen.

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Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens
When: 11/27/2016 1:00 PM
Where: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS.
LINE: Ravens -4.5.
O/U: 40.5
PREDICTION: Ravens 23, Bengals 20

Oddsmakers currently have the Ravens listed as 4-point favorites versus the Bengals, while the game’s total is sitting at 40½.

The Cincinnati Bengals will be without two of their top playmakers on Sunday against the AFC North-leading Baltimore Ravens, who are looking to snap a five-game losing streak in this divisional series.

Receiver A.J. Green (hamstring) and running back running back Giovani Bernard (knee) were injured in last Sunday’s 16-12 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Despite those injuries, Ravens coach John Harbaugh expects another hard-fought game against a rival he has not beaten since Nov. 10, 2013.

“We respect the Bengals, obviously,” Harbaugh said. “We have not beat them for a while. It is a big game for us. It is a big challenge for us. They have always been tough for us as long as I have been here. I’m sure (they were tough) before that as well. It is a rivalry game, a division game.”

Baltimore (5-5) has struggled to contain Green throughout his career. In eight games against the Ravens, Green has caught 41 passes for 726 yards with six touchdowns. Cincinnati has won five of those eight contests.

The Ravens have a revamped defense that is second in the NFL, allowing 295.1 yards per game.

Baltimore could get another boost with the return of linebacker Elvis Dumervil, who has not played since Oct. 9 against the Redskins because of a foot injury.

While the Ravens are looking to tighten their grip on first place in the division, Cincinnati (3-6-1) is simply trying to salvage its season. After managing a 27-27 tie against the Washington Redskins in London on Oct. 30, the Bengals lost their next two games by a combined five points.

“We haven’t won close games”, Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis said. “We’ve had opportunities in the fourth quarter of football games. We’ve had leads. We’ve had opportunities, and we haven’t closed the games out.”

With Green out of the lineup. Baltimore can turn its focus to shutting down Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert, who missed the first six games of the season with an ankle injury. Rookie wide receiver Tyler Boyd also will likely get more targets.

The onus will be on Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton to get them the ball while facing an aggressive Ravens’ defense that has 23 sacks and 11 interceptions through 10 games.

“I feel like it is your typical Baltimore defense,” Dalton said. “They are big up front, they do a really good job against the run, and they get you in third-and-long situations, so they are good on third down. That is the style, and that is the way I know Baltimore has been for a long time.”

The Ravens and Bengals have a similar offense. Both teams are able to move the ball, but struggle finding the end zone. Baltimore and Cincinnati are each averaging 19.9 points per game, tied for 25th in the league.

The Bengals, however, are just 1-4 on the road this season.

“We have a lot of football ahead, and we have a big football game for us come Sunday in Baltimore,” Lewis said.

One of the keys for Baltimore will be establishing an effective running game to wear down the Bengals. Terrance West and rookie Kenneth Dixon have gotten better as the season progressed. However, penalties and late-game deficits has limited their opportunities.

Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, who has also played better over the past three weeks, will also look to take some shots downfield to prevent Cincinnati from crowding the box.

“We are trying to get everybody involved as much as we can,” Flacco said. “When you are short on numbers, you obviously can’t do as much as you would like to. I do not know if that has had a direct impact on it, but it may have affected it a little bit.”

Harbaugh is 7-9 all-time against the Bengals. The Ravens have not won an AFC North title since 2012. Cincinnati has won two of the past three division crowns. The importance of this game is not lost on Harbaugh or his players.

“We want to start fast, but mainly, we just want to play good football – complementary football, winning football, in all three phases and playing together,” Ravens safety Eric Weddle said. “If we can do that, we’ll have a good shot.”

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Baltimore at San Francisco
When: 4:25 PM ET, Sunday, October 18, 2015
Where: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California
TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Ravens -3. O/U: 43.5
PREDICTION: Ravens 27, 49ers 23
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Oddsmakers currently have the Ravens listed as 3-point favorites versus the 49ers, while the game’s total is sitting at 43½.

San Francisco also expects its tight end to return as Vernon Davis is likely to play after missing two games with a knee injury. He could provide a boost to a team that ranks last in scoring (15 points per game) and 29th in total offense (307.2 yards). The defense has struggled just as much of late, allowing averages of 446.5 yards and 34.3 points during the club’s skid.

San Francisco lost its last outing, a 30-27 result against the Giants on October 11. The 49ers covered in that game as a +7.5-point underdog, while the 57 combined points took the game OVER the total.

Team record: 1-4 SU,2-3 ATS
Current Streak: lost 4 straight games.
San Francisco is 2-9 ATS in its last 11 games
San Francisco is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of San Francisco’s last 12 games

Baltimore’s defense was bitten hard by the injury bug last week as Lardarius Webb suffered a torn ACL that landed him on injured reserve. Fellow cornerback Will Davis (thigh) and linebacker Elvis Dumervil (groin) also went down and are questionable to face San Francisco. The offense could get back two weapons, however, as receiver Steve Smith (back) and tight end Crockett Gillmore (calf) participated in practice on Wednesday.

The Ravens were a 33-30 loser in their most recent outing at home against the Browns. They failed to cover the -6-point spread as favorites, while the total score (63) made winners of OVER bettors.

Team record: 1-4 SU,0-4-1 ATS
Baltimore is 0-4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Baltimore is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Baltimore’s last 6 games

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Baltimore at Oakland
When: 4:05 PM ET, Sunday, September 20, 2015
Where: O.co Coliseum, Oakland, California
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS.
LINE: Ravens -6. O/U: 43.5
PREDICTION: Ravens 24, Raiders 20
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Oddsmakers currently have the Ravens listed as 6-point favorites versus the Raiders, while the game’s total is sitting at 43½.

In addition to Carr, Oakland lost three defensive starters to injuries in the opener. Safety Charles Woodson separated his shoulder in the final minute of the contest and is questionable for Sunday as he participated in Wednesday’s early-practice drills without equipment. Cornerback D.J. Hayden and defensive tackle Justin Ellis went down with ankle injuries, although the former practiced on Wednesday.

The Raiders were a 33-13 loser in their most recent outing at home against the Bengals. They failed to cover the +3-point spread as underdogs, while the total score (46) made winners of OVER bettors.

Team record: 0-1 SU,0-1 ATS
Oakland is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Oakland is 3-20 SU in its last 23 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Oakland’s last 7 games
Oakland is 4-9 ATS in its last 13 games at home

Without Suggs, more will be expected from fellow linebacker Elvis Dumervil, who recorded a franchise-record 17 sacks last season. To attempt to fill the hole created by the injury to the six-time Pro Bowler, Baltimore signed Jason Babin on Wednesday. The veteran linebacker spent last season with the New York Jets, registering two sacks in 16 games. Baltimore’s offense was woeful against Denver, gaining a league-low 173 yards while failing to produce a touchdown.

Baltimore lost its last outing, a 19-13 result against the Broncos on September 13. The Ravens failed to cover in that game as a +4.5-point underdog, while the 32 combined points took the game UNDER the total.

Team record: 0-1 SU,0-1 ATS
Baltimore is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Baltimore’s last 7 games
Baltimore is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Baltimore is 9-2 ATS in its last 11 games when playing Oakland

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Baltimore at Denver
When: 4:25 PM ET, Sunday, September 13, 2015
Where: Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado
TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS.
LINE: BRONCOS -4.5. O/U: 49
PREDICTION: Broncos 27, Ravens 17
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Oddsmakers currently have the Broncos listed as 4-point favorites versus the Ravens, while the game’s total is sitting at 52.

An argument against Denver playing conservatively rests in both Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, who posted career seasons in 2014. Thomas enjoyed personal bests in receptions (111), targets (184) and yards (1,619) while his 11 touchdowns fell shy of his career-high 14 in 2013. Sanders celebrated quite an uptick in production from his days in Pittsburgh, reeling in 101 catches for 1,404 yards and nine touchdowns while Owen Daniels carries a bond with Kubiak from Baltimore to replace fellow tight end Julius Thomas (Jacksonville).

Denver lost its last outing, a 24-13 result against the Colts on January 11. The Broncos failed to cover in that game as a -9.5-point favorite, while the 37 combined points took the game UNDER the total.

Team record: 12-5 SU,8-9 ATS
Denver is 16-6 SU in its last 22 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Denver’s last 6 games
Denver is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Denver’s last 7 games at home

Joe Flacco (3,986 yards, 27 TDs) saw free-agent wideout Torrey Smith head to San Francisco in the offseason while first-round selection Breshad Perriman already has been ruled out of Sunday’s tilt with a sprained right knee. Flacco still has grizzled veteran Steve Smith (79 receptions, 1,065 yards, six touchdowns), who believes he has more left in the tank as he enters his 15th season. Journeyman running back Justin Forsett found a home in the wake of the Ray Rice saga, rushing for a career-high 1,266 rushing yards and eight touchdowns in 2014.

Last time out for Baltimore, they were a 35-31 loser as they battled the Patriots on the road. The Ravens covered in the match as a +7-point underdog, while 66 combined points moved the game OVER for totals bettors.

Team record: 11-7 SU,10-8 ATS
Baltimore is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Baltimore’s last 6 games
Baltimore is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Baltimore is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games when playing Denver

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Baltimore at New England
When: 4:35 PM ET, Saturday, January 10, 2015
Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
TV: 4:35 p.m. ET, NBC. LINE: Patriots -7. O/U: 47.5
PREDICTION: Patriots 26, Ravens 23
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Oddsmakers currently have the Patriots listed as 7½-point favorites versus the Ravens, while the game’s total is sitting at 49.

New England suffered its only home loss to Buffalo (17-9) in a meaningless regular-season finale and also struggled offensively in a 17-16 victory at the New York Jets on Dec. 21. Brady went over 4,000 yards for the fourth straight season and finished with 33 TDs and nine interceptions for an offense that finished fourth in the league in scoring (29.3) and averaging 39.6 points during a seven-game winning streak. Julian Edelman had 92 receptions and fellow wideout Brandon LaFell was a surprise with 74 catches and seven scores, but hulking tight end Rob Gronkowski is the top weapon after racking up 82 catches for 1,124 yards and 12 scores. The Patriots’ running game and pass rush have been spotty but cornerback Darrelle Revis will be tasked with shutting down one of the Smiths.

In their last action, New England was a 17-9 loser at home against the Bills. They failed to cover the -4.5-point spread as favorites, while the combined score (26) was profitable news for UNDER bettors.

Team record: 12-4 SU,9-7 ATS
New England is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games
New England is 10-2 SU in its last 12 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of New England’s last 6 games
New England is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home

Baltimore had never won a postseason game in Pittsburgh, but Joe Flacco threw a pair of second-half touchdown passes to earn his seventh road playoff victory – the most by a quarterback since the 1970 merger. Flacco had a season-high 27 scoring passes and came up 14 yards shy of his first 4,000-yard campaign, but it’s his postseason numbers that can’t be ignored – 13 touchdown passes and zero interception in his last five playoff games. The Ravens feature a pair of big play wideouts in Steve Smith (79 catches, 1,065 yards) and Torrey Smith (11 TDs) along with a shifty running back in Justin Forsett, who rushed for 1,266 yards and eight touchdowns. Linebackers Elvis Dumervil and Terrell Suggs lead a defense that registered 49 sacks and allowed 15.4 points over the last five games.

Baltimore won its last outing, a 30-17 result against the Steelers on January 3. The Ravens covered in that game as a +3-point underdog, while the 47 combined points took the game PUSH the total.

Team record: 11-6 SU,9-8 ATS
Baltimore is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Baltimore is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Baltimore’s last 5 games
Baltimore is 4-6-2 ATS in its last 12 games when playing New England

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Baltimore at Pittsburgh
When: 8:15 PM ET, Saturday, January 3, 2015
Where: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, NBC.
LINE: Steelers -3. O/U: 46.5
PREDICTION: Ravens 23, Steelers 22
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Oddsmakers currently have the Steelers listed as 4-point favorites versus the Ravens, while the game’s total is sitting at 46½.

The primary concern for the Steelers is the absence of Bell (1,361 rushing yards), whose injury paves the way for undrafted rookie Josh Harris, third-round pick Dri Archer and/or recently signed Ben Tate to see additional action against the Ravens. “I have confidence in anybody that’s on our (53-man roster). If I didn’t, they wouldn’t be on our 53,” said Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin, whose team could rely even more on their second-ranked passing attack. Roethlisberger tied for the league lead with 4,952 passing yards, while Antonio Brown caught the second-most balls in a season in NFL history (129) and led the league with 1,698 receiving yards. Pittsburgh’s defense will be on the lookout for turnovers, which has been Baltimore’s downfall in its previous playoff matchups with Pittsburgh (11 turnovers in three games).

In their last action, Pittsburgh was a 27-17 winner at home against the Bengals. They covered the -3-point spread as favorites, while the combined score (44) was profitable news for UNDER bettors.

Team record: 11-5 SU,9-7 ATS
Current Streak: won 4 straight games.
Pittsburgh is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Pittsburgh is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Pittsburgh is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Pittsburgh is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home

Baltimore has not scored more than 20 points in a game since Dec. 7, but its defense has allowed an average of 15.7 points during its last three games, including a dominant effort in Week 17 when it held Cleveland to 259 total yards and 3-of-13 third-down conversions. The Ravens defense could be even more dominant Saturday with the return of All-Pro defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, who was suspended for the final four games of the regular season for taking a banned stimulant. “I feel like I owe these guys,” Ngata told reporters this week. “I’m going to do whatever I can do to help the team. I’m definitely just ready to get back out there again.” The Ravens quietly set team records for scoring (409 points) and average yards (365), thanks in large part to Joe Flacco (career-high 3,986 passing yards, 27 TDs, 12 INTs), Justin Forsett (career-high 1,266 rushing yards) and Steve Smith (1,065 receiving yards).

Baltimore was a 20-10 winner in its last match at home against the Browns. They failed to cover the -14-point spread as favorites, while the total score of 30 sent UNDER bettors to the payout window.

Team record: 10-6 SU,8-8 ATS
Baltimore is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
Baltimore is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Baltimore’s last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Baltimore’s last 6 games on the road

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Cleveland at Baltimore
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, December 28, 2014
Where: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS.
LINE: Ravens -9. O/U: 42.5
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Oddsmakers currently have the Ravens listed as 8½-point favorites versus the Browns, while the game’s total is sitting at 42½.

Baltimore’s scoring total has dropped each of the last four weeks and Flacco finished with his lowest quarterback rating since Oct. 2, 2011, with last Sunday’s 41.7 showing. However, he is 12-1 in his career against Cleveland and owns a 106.3 rating while passing for 11 touchdowns against two interceptions in the last six home games. Flacco, who threw three interceptions at Houston last week, also had three picks in the loss at Cincinnati to end last season and spoil Baltimore’s playoff hopes.

Last time out for Baltimore, they were a 25-13 loser as they battled the Texans on the road. The Ravens failed to cover in the match as a -6.5-point favorite, while 38 combined points moved the game UNDER for totals bettors.

Team record: 9-6 SU,8-7 ATS
Baltimore is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Baltimore’s last 6 games
Baltimore is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Baltimore is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home

The NFL doesn’t offer any consolation prizes, but Cleveland can still aim for its first .500 finish since 2007 and hope to deliver a damaging blow to a division rival. “We have one week left,” head coach Mike Pettine said. “We’re going to focus all our energy and effort into that one.” Pettine said Wednesday that he expects “Connor Shaw to go out and execute and do his job if he starts Sunday,” which was made official Friday when the organization promoted Shaw from the active roster.

The Browns were a 17-13 loser in their most recent outing on the road against the Panthers. They covered the +6-point spread as underdogs, while the total score (30) made winners of UNDER bettors.

Team record: 7-8 SU,8-6-1 ATS
Current Streak: lost 4 straight games.
Cleveland is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Cleveland’s last 11 games
Cleveland is 5-20 SU in its last 25 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Cleveland’s last 5 games on the road

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