Week 6
Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns
October 18, 2026
Huntington Bank Field
AFC North Rivalry
Ravens–Browns
A rivalry born from betrayal
An emotionally charged AFC North rivalry rooted in Art Modell's 1995 decision to move the Browns to Baltimore. Cleveland fans view the matchup as personal, while Baltimore has dominated the head-to-head series for most of its history.
The Rivalry
The rivalry's origin is unique in the NFL: owner Art Modell relocated the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore in 1996, creating the Ravens, while a legal compromise kept the Browns name, colors and records in Cleveland for a reactivated team that began play in 1999. That history left lasting resentment among Browns supporters, deepened when the Ravens won Super Bowl XXXV. The teams first met in 1999, and Baltimore steadily seized control. After hiring John Harbaugh and drafting Joe Flacco in 2008, the Ravens reeled off eleven consecutive wins over Cleveland through 2013. The Baker Mayfield-Lamar Jackson years brought brief balance, including a 47-42 Baltimore shootout in 2020 and a 2023 Cleveland comeback from a fourth-quarter deficit. Still, Baltimore holds a commanding all-time edge.
What's at Stake
Every meeting is a divisional game with seeding and tiebreaker consequences in the AFC North. For Cleveland, the rivalry carries the added weight of history: beating Baltimore is symbolic payback for the franchise that was taken away. The cities are only about a four-hour drive apart, putting traveling fans within easy reach. Baltimore's long dominance makes each Cleveland victory feel outsized to its fan base.
Famous Moments
- 2000 — Baltimore routed Cleveland 44-7, its largest margin of victory in the series.
- 2003 — Ravens running back Jamal Lewis rushed for 295 yards against Cleveland, then an NFL single-game record.
- 2015 — Cleveland won 33-30 in overtime on Gary Barnidge's controversial "Butt Catch" touchdown.
- 2020 — The Ravens edged the Browns 47-42 in the highest-scoring game in the rivalry's history.
- 2023 — Cleveland overcame a 31-17 fourth-quarter deficit to win 33-31 in Baltimore.
The Ravens–Browns Games in 2026
The Two Teams
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
M&T Bank Stadium · Baltimore
A defense-defined franchise since 1996, the Ravens have won two Super Bowls.
AFC North
Cleveland Browns
Huntington Bank Field · Cleveland
Founded in 1946, the Browns won eight pre-Super Bowl championships and keep one of the NFL’s most loyal fanbases, the Dawg Pound.
Plan the Trip
A Browns-Ravens trip pairs two passionate football cities. Cleveland hosts on the Lake Erie shoreline at its lakefront stadium, steps from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, while Baltimore plays at M&T Bank Stadium in a walkable downtown district beside the Inner Harbor and Camden Yards. The roughly four-hour drive between the cities makes a road-trip game realistic, and the relocation backstory gives this divisional matchup a bucket-list intensity.
Frequently Asked Questions: Ravens–Browns
The two teams first met in 1999. An emotionally charged AFC North rivalry rooted in Art Modell's 1995 decision to move the Browns to Baltimore. Cleveland fans view the matchup as personal, while Baltimore has dominated the head-to-head series for most of its history.
Every meeting is a divisional game with seeding and tiebreaker consequences in the AFC North. For Cleveland, the rivalry carries the added weight of history: beating Baltimore is symbolic payback for the franchise that was taken away. The cities are only about a four-hour drive apart, putting traveling fans within easy reach. Baltimore's long dominance makes each Cleveland victory feel outsized to its fan base.
Yes — they meet 2 times in the 2026 NFL season. The game pages, each with a fan-travel guide, are linked on this page.
Baltimore Ravens host at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore; Cleveland Browns play at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland.
