Personnel
Staff
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
| Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
|
| 1999 Cleveland Browns season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Al Lerner |
| General manager | Dwight Clark |
| Head coach | Chris Palmer |
| Defensive coordinator | Bob Slowik |
| Home field | Cleveland Browns Stadium |
| Local radio | WTAM · WMJI |
| Results | |
| Record | 2–14 |
| Division place | 6th AFC Central |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
The 1999 Cleveland Browns season was the Browns 51st season overall and 47th in the NFL. It marked the return of professional football to the city of Cleveland, Ohio for the first time since the 1995 season, when the franchise was temporarily deactivated following the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy, which ultimately established the Baltimore Ravens. While technically an expansion team, the team officially and legally are considered a continuation of the previous franchise, as the history and colors of the team remained in Cleveland. The franchise was still alive as a legal entity between 1996 and 1998 and its assets kept in a trust managed by the NFL until Al Lerner became the owner in 1998. That season the Browns were given full expansion team treatment via an expansion draft and receiving the number one overall draft pick of the 1999 NFL Draft.
The Browns' offense and defense both finished in the bottom of the league. The Browns scored 217 points and gained 3,762 yards of total offense, both last in the NFL. The Browns allowed 437 points and gave up 6,046 yards, ranking 29th and 31st, respectively. [1]
During the course of the 1995 season, then-Browns owner Art Modell announced his decision to move the Browns to Baltimore. Modell's new team would begin playing in the 1996 season. It would be the first time since 1935 that Cleveland would be left without an existing football team and the first time since 1943 without a team playing, when the Cleveland Rams suspended operation for one year, so the other teams could have enough players during World War II.
However, many Browns fans and Cleveland city officials were determined to keep the team in Cleveland, and orchestrated a grassroots movement to keep the team in Cleveland. The NFL responded by working with city officials, and the two parties came to a unique agreement which would provide the city with a brand-new, state-of-the-art stadium and would promise the return of professional football to Cleveland by the beginning of the 1999 season. Modell also agreed to relinquish the Browns' name, colors and team history to the new owner of the Browns. Modell's new team would begin playing in the 1996 season as the Baltimore Ravens.
While the Browns' new stadium was being built on the site of the old Cleveland Stadium, the foundation of the front office was being set in place. Al Lerner won a bidding war for the new team for $750 million. Lerner hired former San Francisco 49ers front office staffers Carmen Policy and Dwight Clark as the Browns' president and vice president.
Football finally returned to Cleveland on September 12 when the Browns opened the season against the Pittsburgh Steelers at home; Cleveland native Drew Carey was present and gave a rousing pre-game speech. However, the fans were sorely disappointed as the Browns were defeated by the Steelers 43–0. The team would go on to lose their first seven games, but finally in week 8 of their inaugural season the "New Browns" got their first ever win over the New Orleans Saints. From the Browns' 42-yard line Tim Couch squared up and threw a Hail Mary pass that was tipped in the endzone by Saints defenders but then caught by the Browns' Kevin Johnson. The dramatic game-winning touchdown play happened in the last two seconds of the game, causing the final score to be 21–16. Two weeks later, the Browns defeated the Steelers in Pittsburgh, 16–15, for their second and final win of the year.
The Browns finished the season 2–14 and sixth in the AFC Central. It was, at the time, the worst record that the Browns had ever compiled at the end of a season. Since then, the Browns finished with worse records in 2016 and 2017. The Browns did not win a home game throughout the season.
Below are players selected from other teams in the Cleveland Expansion Draft, in order of selection. [2]
^ Made roster.
| 1999 Cleveland Browns draft | |||||
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Tim Couch | QB | Kentucky | |
| 2 | 32 | Kevin Johnson | WR | Syracuse | |
| 2 | 45 | Rahim Abdullah | LB | Clemson | Extra selection |
| 3 | 62 | Daylon McCutcheon | CB | USC | |
| 3 | 76 | Marquis Smith | S | California | |
| 4 | 124 | Wali Rainer | LB | Virginia | from San Francisco |
| 5 | 148 | Darrin Chiaverini | WR | Colorado | Extra selection |
| 6 | 174 | Marcus Spriggs | DT | Troy | from Chicago |
| 6 | 187 | Kendall Ogle | LB | Maryland | from Seattle |
| 6 | 191 | James Dearth | LS | Tarleton State | from New England via Seattle |
| 7 | 207 | Madre Hill | RB | Arkansas | |
| Made roster | |||||
| Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Cook | QB | William & Mary |
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
| Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
|
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 12 | Pittsburgh Steelers | L 0–43 | 0–1 | Cleveland Browns Stadium | Recap |
| 2 | September 19 | at Tennessee Titans | L 9–26 | 0–2 | Adelphia Coliseum | Recap |
| 3 | September 26 | at Baltimore Ravens | L 10–17 | 0–3 | PSINet Stadium | Recap |
| 4 | October 3 | New England Patriots | L 7–19 | 0–4 | Cleveland Browns Stadium | Recap |
| 5 | October 10 | Cincinnati Bengals | L 17–18 | 0–5 | Cleveland Browns Stadium | Recap |
| 6 | October 17 | at Jacksonville Jaguars | L 7–24 | 0–6 | Alltel Stadium | Recap |
| 7 | October 24 | at St. Louis Rams | L 3–34 | 0–7 | Trans World Dome | Recap |
| 8 | October 31 | at New Orleans Saints | W 21–16 | 1–7 | Louisiana Superdome | Recap |
| 9 | November 7 | Baltimore Ravens | L 9–41 | 1–8 | Cleveland Browns Stadium | Recap |
| 10 | November 14 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | W 16–15 | 2–8 | Three Rivers Stadium | Recap |
| 11 | November 21 | Carolina Panthers | L 17–31 | 2–9 | Cleveland Browns Stadium | Recap |
| 12 | November 28 | Tennessee Titans | L 21–33 | 2–10 | Cleveland Browns Stadium | Recap |
| 13 | December 5 | at San Diego Chargers | L 10–23 | 2–11 | Qualcomm Stadium | Recap |
| 14 | December 12 | at Cincinnati Bengals | L 28–44 | 2–12 | Cinergy Field | Recap |
| 15 | December 19 | Jacksonville Jaguars | L 14–24 | 2–13 | Cleveland Browns Stadium | Recap |
| 16 | December 26 | Indianapolis Colts | L 28–29 | 2–14 | Cleveland Browns Stadium | Recap |
| 17 | Bye | |||||
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steelers | 7 | 13 | 6 | 17 | 43 |
| Browns | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
After being deactivated for three seasons, the Cleveland Browns returned to the NFL, playing their first game since December 24, 1995 and first home game since December 17, 1995. The game was featured on ESPN Sunday Night Football and a pre-game speech was given by comedian Drew Carey, a Cleveland native. The celebration would be short-lived as the Steelers would shutout the Browns 43–0. The Browns would finish the game with only 40 yards of total offense and committed four turnovers and had a time of possession of just 12:11.
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Browns | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 9 |
| Titans | 2 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 26 |
at Adelphia Coliseum, Nashville, Tennessee
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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Kicker Phil Dawson made a 41-yard field goal in the second quarter, scoring the Browns' first points of the season. Cleveland would score its first touchdown of the season in the third quarter, with a 39-yard pass from Tim Couch to Kevin Johnson. Despite this, the Titans thrashed the Browns 26–9.
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Browns | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| Ravens | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
at PSINet Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
This was the first meeting between the reactivated Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens, the latter of which previously played in Cleveland as the Browns from 1946 to 1995 before a controversial relocation. As a compromise by the NFL, the Browns were officially deactivated in 1996 while the team in Baltimore was considered an expansion team. The game would be a defensive battle with poor offensive performance, as both teams committed three turnovers. The Browns, down by seven with 2:34 to go, had the ball and were looking to tie the game, but Tim Couch threw an interception to Chris McAlister. The Ravens would run out the clock to win the game.
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patriots | 0 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 19 |
| Browns | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bengals | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 18 |
| Browns | 0 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Browns | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Jaguars | 3 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 24 |
at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Browns | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Rams | 14 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 34 |
at Trans World Dome, St. Louis, Missouri
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Browns | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Saints | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 16 |
at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
The 0–7 Browns headed to New Orleans to take on the 1–6 Saints. The Saints would score first, with quarterback Billy Joe Hobert throwing a five yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Keith Poole. The Browns would respond midway through the second quarter with fullback Marc Edwards on a 27-yard catch-and-run from Tim Couch to tie the game at 7–7. New Orleans kicker Doug Brien made a 49-yard field goal in the waning seconds of the first half to put the Saints up 10–7. Cleveland would take its first lead of the game with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Couch to wide receiver Kevin Johnson in the third quarter. Brien would make two more field goals, giving the Saints a 16–14 lead with just 0:21 left in the game. Cleveland started the final drive at its own 25-yard line, needing to score a touchdown in under 15 seconds to win the game. On the first play, Couch's pass to wide receiver Darrin Chiaverini fell incomplete, being broken up by Willie Clay. The next play, Couch completed a 19-yard pass to Leslie Shepherd to the Cleveland 44-yard line. Head coach Chris Palmer would immediately call a timeout with just 0:02 left. Down to the Browns' last chance for a win, Couch would heave up a 56-yard Hail Mary that was caught by Johnson in the end zone for the game-winning touchdown. With the last-second win, the Browns got their first victory since being reactivated and was the franchise's first win since December 17, 1995.
The Browns had 243 yards of total offense and maintained possession of the ball for only 19:10; the Saints had 351 total yards and possessed the ball for 40:50. However, Cleveland only turned the ball over once while New Orleans had five turnovers.
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ravens | 7 | 10 | 7 | 17 | 41 |
| Browns | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
Fresh off their first win since 1995, the Browns hoped to get revenge on the Ravens and get two wins in a row. However, thanks to a flurry of touchdowns and field goals by the Ravens, the Browns lost 41-9 and fell to 1-8.
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Browns | 7 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 16 |
| Steelers | 3 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 15 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
The Browns traveled to Pittsburgh to square off against the Steelers, hoping to get revenge on what happened on opening day. In the first half, the Browns had a 7-3 lead. However, by the second half, their lead disappeared as the Steelers lead 15-13. With almost no time remaining, Phil Dawson made a 39-yard field goal, as the Browns defeated the Steelers 16-15; securing their second win of the season.
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panthers | 3 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
| Browns | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 17 |
at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Titans | 7 | 6 | 13 | 7 | 33 |
| Browns | 0 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Browns | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Chargers | 3 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 23 |
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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The Browns faced the 4–7 Chargers in San Diego. The first quarter started low-key as both teams notched field goals, respectively from Phil Dawson (33 yards) and John Carney (44 yards). However, by the second quarter, San Diego dominated the rest of the game, with touchdowns from Kenny Bynum and Jermaine Fazande, leading the Chargers to victory.
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Browns | 7 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 28 |
| Bengals | 10 | 20 | 14 | 0 | 44 |
at Cinergy Field, Cincinnati, Ohio
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaguars | 0 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 24 |
| Browns | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colts | 0 | 13 | 6 | 10 | 29 |
| Browns | 7 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
at Cleveland Browns Stadium,Cleveland, Ohio
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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On a cold and windy afternoon, the 2–13 Browns hosted the 12–2 Colts, looking to end the season on a high note. The Browns led for most of the game and were up 28–19 at the beginning of the fourth, but were shutout in the final quarter as the Colts scored ten unanswered points to win 29–28.
| AFC Central | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK | |
| (1) Jacksonville Jaguars | 14 | 2 | 0 | .875 | 396 | 217 | W1 |
| (4) Tennessee Titans | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 392 | 324 | W4 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 324 | 277 | L1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 317 | 320 | L1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 283 | 460 | L2 |
| Cleveland Browns | 2 | 14 | 0 | .125 | 217 | 437 | L6 |
The 1981 Baltimore Colts season was the 29th season for the team in the National Football League (NFL). The Colts finished the NFL's 1981 season with a record of 2 wins and 14 losses, finishing in a tie with the New England Patriots for both last place in their division, the AFC East, and the worst record in the league. However, by virtue of beating the Patriots for their only two wins of the season, the Colts finished ahead of New England on a tiebreaker. Those wins came in the first and last weeks of the season, as the Colts lost their other fourteen games consecutively.
The 2004 season was the Houston Texans' third in the National Football League, all of which they had spent under head coach Dom Capers. The team finished 7–9, two games better than the previous season, and came third in the AFC South, the first time they had not finished bottom. The Texans also earned their first victory over the Tennessee Titans, the franchise previously known as the Oilers, who had left Houston after the 1996 season.
The 2001 Cincinnati Bengals season was the franchise’s 34th year in professional football and its 32nd with the National Football League. In the first full season with Dick LeBeau as head coach, the Bengals abandoned their plans for developing quarterback Akili Smith as their starter by acquiring Jon Kitna from the Seattle Seahawks. The Bengals would win their first two games with Kitna behind center, and sat at 4–3 through the first seven games of the season. However, the Bengals would struggle again, losing their next seven games as Kitna struggled with inconsistency, throwing 22 interceptions while throwing only 12 touchdown passes. The Bengals would win their final two games to close the season with a 6–10 record, their eleventh consecutive season without a winning record. Despite the team’s struggles, All-Pro running back Corey Dillon had another stellar year, rushing for 1,315 yards.
The 2009 season was the Baltimore Ravens' 14th in the National Football League (NFL). The franchise entered the season off an 11–5 record in their previous season, a playoff berth, but a loss in the American Football Conference (AFC) Championship game against the eventual Super Bowl XLIII champions, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Ravens recorded nine victories to seven losses, although they were unable to win the AFC North division title. However, due to various playoff clinching scenarios in the AFC, the Ravens were able to clinch a wild card berth against the Oakland Raiders in Week 17. As the sixth seed in the AFC for the second straight year, they defeated the third seeded New England Patriots in Foxboro in the AFC Wild Card playoffs, handing Tom Brady's first ever playoff loss at home and New England's first home playoff loss since 1978. They, however, lost in the AFC Divisional playoffs against the top seeded and eventual AFC Champion Indianapolis Colts; with this loss, the 2009 season came to an end for the Ravens. For head coach John Harbaugh, this was his second year with the franchise, compiling an overall record of 20–12 in the regular season.
The 2011 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 79th season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League (NFL). It was the twelfth season under the leadership of general manager Kevin Colbert and the fifth under head coach Mike Tomlin. The Steelers hoped to return to the Super Bowl and defend their AFC championship from 2010, but suffered a 29–23 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. The Steelers played all of their home games at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The 2011 Baltimore Ravens season was the franchise's 16th season in the National Football League (NFL), the fourth under head coach John Harbaugh and their 10th season under general manager Ozzie Newsome.
The 2012 Cincinnati Bengals season was the team's 45th season as a professional sports franchise and its 43rd season as a member of the National Football League (NFL). This also marked the 22nd season under the leadership of owner and team president Mike Brown and the 10th season under head coach Marvin Lewis. The team improved on its 2011 season, finishing tied with the Baltimore Ravens for the AFC North division title, but lost the tiebreaker to the Ravens. The Bengals, however, made the playoffs as a wild card team, finishing as the 6th seed in the AFC playoffs, but lost to the Houston Texans for a second consecutive season.
The 2012 season was the Baltimore Ravens' 17th in the National Football League (NFL). While the Ravens failed to improve on their 12–4 record from 2011, they still managed to clinch the AFC North division title in Week 16 and finish the regular season with a 10–6 record, sending them to their fifth straight playoffs, where they advanced to the AFC Championship Game for the second consecutive season and third time in five years, and then to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2000. They won their second Super Bowl, 34–31 against the San Francisco 49ers. It was the first time in franchise history that the Ravens won consecutive division titles. This marks head coach John Harbaugh's fifth season as the head coach of the franchise and fifth consecutive post-season appearance. The Ravens played their home games at M&T Bank Stadium.
The 2013 season was the Baltimore Ravens' 18th in the National Football League (NFL) and their sixth under head coach John Harbaugh. The Ravens entered the season as the defending Super Bowl champions from the previous year, but failed to improve on their 10–6 record from 2012, and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2007 and for the first time in the Harbaugh/Flacco era. This marked the first time in 10 years, as well as the most recent time, that the defending Super Bowl champion missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.
The 2013 Cincinnati Bengals season was the franchise's 44th season in the National Football League (NFL), the 46th overall, and the 11th under head coach Marvin Lewis. The Bengals improved on their 10–6 regular season record from 2012 and clinched the AFC North division title. However, the Bengals lost 27–10 to the San Diego Chargers in the playoffs – the third consecutive season that the Bengals had lost in the Wild Card round. Their training camp was featured on the HBO show Hard Knocks.
The 2013 Cleveland Browns season was the franchise's 65th season as a professional sports franchise and its 61st season as a member of the National Football League (NFL). They failed to improve on their 5–11 record from 2012, finishing the year at 4–12 their sixth consecutive 11+ loss season. They also extended their franchise record playoff drought to 11 years. This was the first season under head coach Rob Chudzinski and new general manager Michael Lombardi. This also marked the first full season under owner Jimmy Haslam. The Browns played all of their home games at the newly renamed FirstEnergy Stadium.
The 2014 season was the Baltimore Ravens' 19th in the National Football League (NFL) and their seventh under head coach John Harbaugh. The Ravens improved upon their 8–8 record from 2013, when they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2007. Additionally, the Ravens scored a franchise record 409 points and quarterback Joe Flacco passed for a career-high 27 touchdowns and 3,986 yards.
The 2015 season was the Baltimore Ravens' 20th in the National Football League (NFL) and their eighth under head coach John Harbaugh. Although picked by some, including Sports Illustrated's Peter King, to reach the Super Bowl, they had a disappointing season due to devastating injuries to team starters. 14 of their games were decided by 8 points or less and Joe Flacco, Justin Forsett, Steve Smith, Sr., and Terrell Suggs all suffered season ending injuries. They were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 14 with a loss to the Seattle Seahawks, in which they also suffered their ninth loss, resulting their first losing season in the Harbaugh era and first since the collapse of the Brian Billick era. Ultimately the Ravens finished with a 5–11 record and twenty-two players ended the season on Injured Reserve. The 5–11 record is their worst since the 2007 season.
The 2015 Cincinnati Bengals season was the franchise's 46th season in the National Football League, the 48th overall and the thirteenth under head coach Marvin Lewis.
The 2016 season was the Baltimore Ravens' 21st in the National Football League (NFL) and their ninth under head coach John Harbaugh. With a week 12 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, the Ravens improved upon their 5–11 record from 2015, finishing the season 8–8. Despite the improvement, the Ravens failed to qualify for the playoffs for the second consecutive year after losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day in Week 16. It was the first time the Ravens missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons since 2004–2005, and their first consecutive non-winning seasons since 1996–1999. They did, however, improve their position in the division, finishing in second place after finishing in third place for the previous three seasons.
The 2018 season was the Baltimore Ravens' 23rd in the National Football League (NFL), their 11th under head coach John Harbaugh, and their 17th and final season under general manager Ozzie Newsome.
The 2020 season was the Baltimore Ravens' 25th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 13th under head coach John Harbaugh. They failed to improve upon their franchise-best 14–2 regular season and were denied their third consecutive AFC North title following a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 12 after 18 of their players contracted COVID-19. Despite this, as well as a 6–5 start, the Ravens won their five remaining games to finish 11–5 and after a win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17, clinched their third consecutive playoff berth. The Ravens rushed for 3,071 yds during the regular season, best in the NFL for the second consecutive season.
The 2022 season was the Baltimore Ravens' 27th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 15th under head coach John Harbaugh. They improved on their 8–9 record from the previous season and qualified for the postseason after missing the playoffs the previous season.
The 2022 season was the Cincinnati Bengals' 53rd in the National Football League (NFL), their 55th overall, and their fourth under head coach Zac Taylor. After an 0–2 start, the Bengals quickly turned around, winning 12 out of their last 14 games to match their franchise best record of 12–4. The Bengals improved upon their 10–7 record from the previous season and clinched the AFC North title for the second straight year. Cincinnati's Week 17 game against Buffalo was declared a no-contest after Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest, resulting in only 16 games played. Despite the incident, they won the AFC North and won their last game to finish 12–4, tied for the best record in the history of the franchise, but they couldn’t clinch the 1 seed in the AFC as a result of the cancellation and risk losing home advantage if they lose their last game and coin toss to the Baltimore Ravens. Instead, they defeated Baltimore 27–16 to avoid that dreaded situation.
The 2023 season was the Baltimore Ravens' 28th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 16th under head coach John Harbaugh. Baltimore made their second consecutive postseason appearance, having improved on their 10–7 record from the previous season.
