The Ravens are sitting on a razor’s edge. On one side? A well-rested team primed for a deep playoff run. On the other? Potential chaos, a dropped seed, and a January trip no one wants to take. It all comes down to this: Should Baltimore rest their starters in Week 18 against the Browns, or risk it all to secure the AFC North title and a favorable playoff position?
Let’s dig into the madness.
Why the Ravens Should Rest Their Starters
First, let’s talk about the walking wounded. Lamar Jackson? Banged up. Zay Flowers? Could use a breather. Even the offensive line has been duct-taped together like an old bike you refuse to toss. Giving these guys a week off might not just save their legs but their entire season.
The Browns, bless their hearts, are 3-13 and just about ready to call it a year. They’re limping into this game with all the energy of a Monday morning after a Vegas weekend. Let’s face it: Baltimore’s backups, led by Josh Johnson and Keaton Mitchell, could probably handle Cleveland’s vacation-mode roster. Why risk key players when the Browns are practically begging for an early draft pick?
Plus, the Ravens could use the extra recovery time. A well-rested roster heading into the playoffs is like showing up to a job interview after a full night’s sleep instead of binging Netflix. That edge could be the difference between a one-and-done scenario or a magical postseason run.
Why They Shouldn’t Rest Them
Here’s the thing, though: the AFC North is still in play. If Baltimore loses and Pittsburgh wins against Cincinnati, the Steelers snatch the division crown and send the Ravens tumbling to the fifth seed. That means no home game in the first round, just a potentially tricky road trip to face the Texans. Sure, Houston isn’t exactly Kansas City, but it’s not ideal either.
Let’s not forget Myles Garrett. That guy doesn’t care if Cleveland’s season is in the gutter. He wants to play spoiler, and he’s already talking big. The last time these teams met, Garrett led the Browns to a shocking 29-24 victory. Could history repeat itself? If the Ravens rest their starters, Garrett might have a field day—literally.
Hosting the Chargers in Baltimore as the No. 3 seed is a much better scenario than heading to Houston as a wild card. M&T Bank Stadium can be a fortress, especially in January. A home playoff game could set the tone for a deep run. That’s not something you gamble with lightly.
The Browns Factor: Spoiler Alert
Let’s talk about the Browns for a second. Yes, their record screams “dumpster fire,” but they’d love nothing more than to throw a wrench in Baltimore’s playoff plans. Cleveland isn’t just playing for pride—they’re playing for chaos. A win here helps them climb the draft order while giving their fans something, anything, to cling to after a miserable season.
And here’s the kicker: strange things happen in divisional games. If Baltimore rests their starters, they might just open the door for Cleveland to pull off a meaningless, yet devastating, upset. Is it worth the risk?
What’s the Right Call?
It’s a classic catch-22. Rest your starters, and you’re betting on your backups to fend off a Browns team that has nothing to lose. Play your starters, and you risk injuries that could derail your entire postseason.
The truth is, there’s no perfect answer. But here’s a wild thought: Maybe Baltimore plays their starters for the first half, builds a lead, and then hands the reins to the backups. It’s a middle-ground approach that minimizes risk without outright conceding the game. Will it work? Who knows? This is football. Logic often takes a backseat to chaos.
No matter what decision the Ravens make, Week 18 is going to be a nail-biter. Rest or risk? Play it safe or go for glory? By the time the final whistle blows, we’ll know if Baltimore has solidified their spot in the AFC playoffs—or if they’ve fumbled the division away.
And hey, if all else fails, at least we’ll have something to argue about until Wild Card Weekend.
P.S. If they rest Lamar and lose, someone better hide John Harbaugh’s Twitter mentions. Just saying.
P.P.S. I drew a doodle of a Raven balancing on a football, but it looks more like a crow. Whatever, you get the point. 🏈
