Browns Players Respond to Double-Digit Underdog Status for Ravens Matchup
Baltimore, MD - Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward and wide receiver Jerry Jeudy have publicly expressed their dissatisfaction with the team being 11.5-point underdogs heading into Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens.The Ravens are also celebrating the 30th anniversary of the franchise’s relocation from Cleveland.
The significant point spread, set by sportsbooks, reflects a perceived imbalance in team strength. However, ward and Jeudy view the line as a lack of respect and are using it as motivation. “It is definitely disrespect, but we just have to go in there and take care of business regardless of what people may think and who they’ve got winning or losing the game,” Ward stated Wednesday. Jeudy echoed this sentiment, saying, “That’s disrespectful. But at the end of the day, if they think Baltimore could beat us like that, we’re going have to prove another thing. We’ve got to do our job and do our best to win the game.”
The Browns narrowly lost their season opener to the Cincinnati Bengals by one point, while the Ravens suffered a similar one-point defeat against the Buffalo Bills after relinquishing a 15-point lead. Historically, the Ravens have also shown vulnerability following high-profile games; last year, they lost to the Las Vegas Raiders at home after a close Week 1 rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Sportsbooks often establish point spreads to encourage balanced betting action. Whether the Browns can translate this perceived slight into on-field success remains to be seen, but the players are determined to challenge expectations.
