The Ravens (4-4) host the Browns (0-9) on "Thursday Night Football" in a rematch of Week 2. The Ravens won that game 25-20, and there's little reason to think the Browns have much of a chance now, eight weeks -- and seven losses -- later.
But as you might have heard, stranger things can happen. Huge underdogs can overcome overwhelming odds and conventional wisdom, and by the dawn's early light, everyone's mind has been sufficiently blown. So, yes, we're telling you there's a chance.
The Browns have won three times in their last 25 games, dating back to the start of the 2015 season. One of those wins came against Thursday's opponent, the Ravens.
For some perspective on just how bad things have been going, even by Cleveland professional football standards, that was 56 weeks ago. Meanwhile, the organization, which dumped the coaching staff and front office at the beginning of the year, and released Johnny Manziel a few months later, is currently 0-9. And while "Any Given Sunday" (or in this case, Thursday) holds, even for the Browns, one win won't magically fix all that has gone wrong.
Put another way: It's another lost season in Cleveland, the latest sad chapter in a long line of them dating back to the team's return to the NFL in 1999. Specifically, the Browns have had exactly two winning seasons in that time and a lone playoff appearance -- in 2002 against the Steelers in which they squandered a huge lead to lose an eminently winnable wild-card game.
Cleveland has also employed nine coaches since '99, and six since 2010. All arrived as young up-and-comers, innovators, or both. All left demoralized and disheartened. Hue Jackson, known for his ability to get the most out of his quarterbacks, is the latest to have a tenuous hold on the position. He's two months into his first season and it's fair to say almost nothing has gone according to plan.
Meanwhile, the Ravens started the season with three straight wins (against three suspect opponents, the Bills, Browns and Jaguars), and then dropped four straight (against the Raiders, Redskins, Giants and Jets) before the Steelers, as they have been wont to do in recent years, came to Baltimore bearing gifts. This time, in the form of a penalty-laden, mistake-filled, gift-wrapped win to move the Ravens to 4-4 and in a tie for the AFC North lead.
But how good is this Ravens team, really?
Or perhaps, the better question to ask is this: How good does this Ravens team need to be?
The AFC North, which has been on of the NFL's best divisions in recent years, is suddenly just average. The Browns are the Browns, but the Bengals, who have been to the playoffs five straight seasons, are 3-4-1 and have yet to find themselves on either offense or defense. But there only a half-game behind those paragons of mediocrity, the Ravens and Steelers, who are both 4-4 after 3-0 and 4-1 starts, respectively.
And with the schedule getting tougher for all three teams, this is a game the Ravens can't afford to lose. The Steelers host the 7-1 Cowboys while the Bengals have to face the 5-3 Giants on Monday night.
How to watch
- What: Cleveland Browns vs. Baltimore Ravens
- When: Thursday, Nov. 10, 8:25 p.m. ET
- Where: M&T Bank Stadium
- TV: NFL Network
- Play-by-play: Al Michaels
- Color analyst: Cris Collinsworth
- Sideline reporter: Heather Cox
- Streaming: Verizon NFL Mobile app
- Sunday Ticket: DirecTV
- Online: NFL Game Pass (available to watch online after midnight)
- Latest odds: The Ravens are currently 10.0-point favorites according to Bovada
- SportsLine: Ravens are minus 8.0
It's Color Rush Thursday, everybody!
Behold:
Presenting your 2016 #ColorRush rush uniforms! #DawgPound#asl17#nsl17pic.twitter.com/8QxuRHxTsn
— ASL Browns (@Browns_ASL) September 14, 2016
Prochain match dans la nuit de jeudi à vendredi à 2h30 pour le #TNF face aux Browns et avec les maillots "color rush". pic.twitter.com/D8d1J321mA
— Baltimore Ravens (@RavensFrance) November 7, 2016
A couple of things ...
The Browns won't be wearing their all-Browns. Instead, they'll sport their regular all-whites.
Brown-purple hues of NFL Color Rush jerseys vs Bal difficult to distinguish on field & on TV so @Browns will wear all white unis in 2016
— Rob McBurnett (@RobMcBrowns) September 13, 2016
While Ravens' fans are legitimately pumped about the all new all-purples.
@Ravens YEEESSS!! pic.twitter.com/84uiOncXXI
— Mickell Roberson (@Coach_K3) September 13, 2016
It's finally happening guys. I been asking the @Ravens to do purple-on-purple for years. It's here & it's glorious. pic.twitter.com/1IV7VDf6BE
— Phil Gentile (@iHateJJRedick) September 13, 2016
Our Color Rush jersey's are fire! @Ravens 😍 pic.twitter.com/Z7n2qUDjlc
— Bear🐻 (@D_eezus) September 13, 2016
Prisco's pick
The Ravens are in first place in the AFC North because of defense. It should be on full display here against a Browns team that has issues. The Ravens will also get the offense going. This will be ugly.
Prisco's final score: Ravens 29, Browns 13
More 'TNF' on Twitter is in your future
Thursday's game won't be shown live on Twitter but you'll be able to stream five more games this season at tnf.twitter.com.
You'll also be able use your mobile device or tablet with the NFL Network app. Kickoff is at 8:25 p.m. ET.
In addition to live streaming, the NFL-Twitter partnership also includes in-game highlights from "Thursday Night Football" and pre-game Periscope broadcasts from players and teams.
Here's the remaining NFL-Twitter TNF schedule:
- Week 11, Nov. 17: New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers
- Week 13, Dec. 1: Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings
- Week 14, Dec. 8: Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs
- Week 15, Dec. 15: Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks
- Week 16, Dec. 22: New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles
Be sure to CBSSports.com's Pro Football Rundown for all the latest NFL news and commentary.