Cleveland @ Baltimore preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 7, 2018 ) Baltimore 9, Cleveland 12

The Baltimore Ravens have put themselves in a great position with a late-season surge and can clinch the AFC North title with a victory when they host the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Baltimore, which has won five of six contests following a three-game slide, also has an outside shot for a first-round bye.

The Ravens, who posted a 22-10 road victory over the playoff-bound Los Angeles Chargers last week, also would claim the division crown should Pittsburgh lose to Cincinnati on Sunday. Baltimore would be wise, however, not to overlook the Browns, who ended a five-game losing streak in the all-time series with a 12-9 home triumph in Week Five. Cleveland has made a remarkable turnaround after going winless last season and 1-31 over its last two campaigns as it enters with a three-game winning streak and victories in five of its last six contests. Rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield continued to impress in last week's 26-18 triumph over the Bengals, completing 27-of-37 passes for 284 yards and three touchdowns without an interception.

TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Ravens -5.5. O/U: 41

ABOUT THE BROWNS (7-7-1): Mayfield, who was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against Cincinnati, has thrown 24 touchdown passes - the second-most by a rookie selected first overall in the common draft era. With three scoring tosses versus the Ravens, the 23-year-old will pass Peyton Manning (26 in 1998) for most in that category and surpass Manning and Russell Wilson for overall rookie record. Running back Nick Chubb is one of three NFL rookies (Saquon Barkley of the New York Giants and Denver's Phillip Lindsay) with at least 1,000 scrimmage yards (1,125) and 10 TDs (10) this season.

ABOUT THE RAVENS (9-6): Rookie Lamar Jackson may have a lock on Baltimore's starting quarterback job as he has led the team to five wins in six starts since taking over for the injured Joe Flacco. The 21-year-old former Heisman Trophy winner leads all NFL signal-callers with 605 rushing yards, including 466 in his starts. Baltimore owns the league's top-ranked overall defense (284.1 yards), is third in rushing defense (85.1) and fourth in passing defense (198.9).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Ravens LB Patrick Onwuasor was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after registering nine tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble against the Chargers.

2. Chubb needs 28 yards to reach 1,000 for the season.

3. Baltimore K Justin Tucker is the first player in NFL history to convert at least 30 field-goal attempts in six consecutive seasons.

PREDICTION: Ravens 27, Browns 13