A 4-year-old hostile reunion will escalate into a rivalry today.
Previously linked only by the same roots, the Ravens (7-7) and the Cleveland Browns (7-7) now share the same mission: stay alive. Survival - and not a franchise relocation - is the theme at sold-out Ravens Stadium, where only one team will leave still in the playoff hunt.
"You win, you still have a chance to go after the ultimate prize," Ravens inside linebacker Bernardo Harris said. "You lose, you look forward to next year's minicamp."
Ever since the expansion Browns returned to the league in 1999, the story line always centered on Cleveland's bitter feelings toward Ravens owner Art Modell, who moved his franchise from the shores of Lake Erie to Baltimore before the 1996 season.
The result of the game has been an afterthought, with the Ravens winning five of the seven meetings. Now, the focus shifts to the field, where the first installment of a potentially long-standing, high-stakes AFC North feud is set to take place.
"I'm excited about playing Cleveland under these circumstances," Ravens coach Brian Billick said. "I'm hoping this Cleveland rivalry takes on Tennessee proportions. That only happens when you play a game against an intradivision rival that has further-reaching ramifications than just a win or a loss."
To win the division, the Ravens have to beat the Browns today and need the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5-1) to lose to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road tomorrow night.
If that happens, the Ravens would travel to Pittsburgh next Sunday with the division title on the line and perhaps a first-round bye at stake.
If the Steelers win tomorrow, the Ravens could earn an AFC wild-card spot if they win out and other teams lose because of their favorable 7-3 conference mark.
The most viable scenario would have to play out like this: The Miami Dolphins beat the New England Patriots next Sunday in addition to the Denver Broncos and the San Diego Chargers losing one more time in the final two weeks.
Rather than getting bogged down in the scenarios, the Ravens are concentrating on capturing their first division title.
To accomplish that for Modell, the Ravens would have to beat his old team in the Browns and his oldest rival in the Steelers.
The interesting setup is not lost on the 77-year-old owner.
"It is very odd," Modell said. "It's three good football teams and we'll see how it works out [today]. Monday night could be interesting viewing."
At last night's team meeting, Billick gave his team a pat on the back and a kick in the rear.
He praised the NFL's youngest team for putting itself into this position with two weeks remaining but warned his players the job is far from done.
"The question in the NFL is: Can you finish something off?" Billick said. "That's what this is about."
In games of this magnitude, the bigger problem for the Ravens has been the start.
The Ravens have reached the .500 mark for the fourth time this season, yet they have failed to achieve a winning record because of first-half flops.
The past two tries - against Pittsburgh and the New Orleans Saints at home - have been disastrous early, with the Ravens falling behind by a combined halftime deficit of 48-10.
But beating quality teams has escaped the Ravens recently. Since Week 5, the Ravens are 1-5 against teams still in playoff contention and 4-0 against teams eliminated from the postseason.
"We can quiet all critics if we win out," left guard Edwin Mulitalo said. "That's a statement we need to make ourselves."
That statement today is expected to occur in a photo finish.
Ten of the Browns' 14 games this season have come down to the final two minutes, and Cleveland is 3-5 in games decided by five points or fewer.
Meanwhile, the Ravens have won three of their past four by a total of nine points and have had to make game-winning stops on the final drives in five victories.
In their 26-21 win at Cleveland on Oct. 6, rookie safety Ed Reed intercepted a pass in the end zone on the game's final play.
"You put it on the line and put it in our hands, we're going to get it done," inside linebacker Ed Hartwell said. "We've shown that we can do that."
In last Sunday's 28-23 loss to Indianapolis, the Browns lost a 16-0 halftime lead, surrendered 28 second-half points and failed to score after driving to the Colts' 5-yard line in the final minute.
Team president Carmen Policy made a rare post-game locker room appearance and questioned the Browns' ability to win big games. Receiver Quincy Morgan then sounded off about not getting the ball more.
Being tired and disheveled at this point of the season has been a trademark of these new Browns. Since 1999, their record in the final six games of the season is 4-18.
The Ravens have carried a different tradition during that same time span. With Billick as coach, they are 17-5 in their last six games of the regular season.
"The overall mentality is preparing the players physically, mentally and emotionally for what comes in November and December," Billick said.
"You see a lot of teams cracking under that pressure. Emotions run high, particularly in December. If you don't control those, they will control you."
Today, gaining more control of one's playoff destiny will be on the line as the Ravens and the Browns try to begin a new history.
"They need to win as bad as we do," Ravens linebacker Peter Boulware said. "This being a do-or-die for both of us will take the rivalry to the next level."
Ravens today
Matchup:Ravens (7-7) vs. Cleveland Browns (7-7)
Site:Ravens Stadium
Time:4:15 p.m.
TV/Radio:Ch. 13/WJFK (1300 AM), WQSR (102.7 FM)
Line:Ravens by 3
SunSpot:For more coverage, visit sunspot.net/ravens