GameScope NFL research

CLE at BAL uncertain forecast

Sun, Dec 27 at 1:00 PM ET · M&T Bank Stadium

Most likely outcome
BAL wins — 60.9%
CLE win
39.1%
BAL win
60.9%

Expected score: CLE 20.4 – BAL 25.8

Total anchored to the league-wide baseline of 46.2 points — a shared baseline, not a matchup-specific forecast.

Home-field adjustment included (+65 Elo rating points)

Fair odds (display only): CLE 2.56 · BAL 1.64

How this forecast is calculated

Team ratings (Elo): CLE 1482.1 vs BAL 1493.9. 393 games trained (Oct 30).

Model: nfl-elo-v2 — Elo ratings trained on real ESPN results (2025 regular+postseason and 2026 regular season to date), chronological replay, K=20, home advantage = 65 Elo rating points, applied only at true home venues: games the feed flags neutral-site get no home bonus, in training and in prediction. Totals baseline is the mean total points of the training games (measured, not assumed). Score-model spread/total probabilities use the engine's bivariate-normal assumptions (score std 13.5, correlation 0.3) — documented approximations, not measured NFL parameters. No backtest against closing lines exists; treat all outputs as experimental uncertain forecasts.

What the win probability uses: Elo ratings only, plus a home-field adjustment of 65 Elo rating points at true home venues (no adjustment at feed-flagged neutral sites).

Contextual research (displayed, not in the calculation): Contextual research only — form, rest, injuries, head-to-head, weather, and travel do not change the win probability above.

Totals: Expected scores are centered on a shared league-wide totals baseline of 46.2 points (the mean total of the training games) — a baseline, not a matchup-specific forecast.

Score-distribution assumptions: Spread/total probabilities assume team scores are bivariate normal (score std 13.5, correlation 0.3) — documented approximations, not measured NFL parameters.

Validation status: No backtest against closing lines exists. Treat all outputs as experimental uncertain forecasts.

Data used

Form & rest contextual research

CLE (5-2) — 63 days rest

Last 5: 4-1 (2 straight wins)

Oct 25, 2026TENW27-24
Oct 18, 2026BALW13-10
Oct 11, 2026NYJL12-17
Oct 1, 2026PITW27-24
Sep 27, 2026CARW21-18

BAL (4-3) — 63 days rest

Last 5: 3-2 (2 straight losses)

Oct 25, 2026CINL13-35
Oct 18, 2026CLEL10-13
Oct 11, 2026ATLW30-23
Oct 4, 2026TENW24-18
Sep 27, 2026DALW34-31

Head-to-head contextual research BAL 3 - CLE 2

Coverage: 2024-2026 regular+postseason schedules (ESPN)

DateScoreWinner
Oct 27, 2024CLE 29 - BAL 24CLE
Jan 4, 2025BAL 35 - CLE 10BAL
Sep 14, 2025BAL 41 - CLE 17BAL
Nov 16, 2025CLE 16 - BAL 23BAL
Oct 18, 2026CLE 13 - BAL 10CLE

Injuries contextual research

Week 8 report — availability for Week 16 unknown. These designations were published for Week 8's games. They are the latest available report, kept as dated context; they do not say who will be available in Week 16.

CLE

Tytus HowardQuestionableHoward (concussion) didn't participate in Cleveland's practice Wednesday.
Mike Hall Jr.QuestionableHall (ankle) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday.
Myles HardenQuestionableHarden (hamstring) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday.
Jared VerseQuestionableVerse (knee) did not participate at practice Wednesday.
Daniel ThomasQuestionablequestionable
Elgton JenkinsQuestionablequestionable
Mason GrahamQuestionablequestionable
Grant DelpitQuestionablequestionable
Carson SchwesingerQuestionableSchwesinger finished Sundays' 27-24 win over the Titans with eight tackles (four solo).
Kalia DavisInjured ReserveDavis (quadriceps) will spend the rest of the 2026 season on injured reserve after his 21-day practice window expired Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Show all 25 (15 more)
Dylan SampsonActiveSampson (knee) was a full participant in Thursday's practice, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Jerry JeudyActiveNFL reporter Jordan Schultz reports that the Browns are currently "less likely" to trade Jeudy before the Nov. 10 deadline.
Ronnie HickmanActiveHickman registered 10 tackles (six solo) and a fumble recovery during Sundays' 27-24 win over Tennessee.
Quincy WilliamsActiveWilliams finished Sunday's 27-24 win over the Titans with 10 tackles (seven solo).
Jaleel McLaughlinActiveMcLaughlin turned five kickoff returns into 117 yards during the Browns' 27-24 win over the Titans on Sunday.
Dillon GabrielActiveThe Browns activated Gabriel (back) from injured reserve Monday.
Taylen GreenActive
Parker BrailsfordActive
Justin JeffersonActive
Noah IgbinogheneActive
Audric EstimeActive
Denzel BostonActiveBoston caught three of eight targets for 27 yards in Sunday's 27-24 win over the Titans.
Harold Fannin Jr.ActiveFannin caught six of nine targets for 91 yards in Sunday's 27-24 win over the Titans.
Deshaun WatsonActiveWatson completed 25 of 36 passes for 308 yards with an interception in Sunday's 27-24 win over the Titans. He added 19 yards and a touchdown on three carries.
KC ConcepcionActiveConcepcion caught eight of 10 targets for 129 yards and added 23 yards on three carries in Sunday's 27-24 win over Tennessee.

BAL

Olaivavega IoaneQuestionableIoane (knee) was a limited participant at the Ravens' practice Thursday.
T.J. TampaInjured ReserveTampa (knee) was a full participant at the Ravens' practice Thursday.
Roquan SmithQuestionableSmith (knee) was limited in Thursday's practice.
Kyle HamiltonQuestionableHamilton (knee) was limited in practice Thursday.
Lamar JacksonQuestionableJackson (ankle) was a full participant at Thursday's practice, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.
Jaylinn HawkinsQuestionableHawkins (knee) was a non-participant in Thursday's practice.
Adam RandallInjured ReserveThe Ravens opened Randall's (neck) 21-day practice window Wednesday.
John SimpsonQuestionablequestionable
Tavius RobinsonInjured ReserveThe Ravens placed Robinson (pectoral) on injured reserve Saturday.
Show all 25 (16 more)
Broderick Washington Jr.ActiveWashington (ankle) logged a full practice Thursday.
Ronnie StanleyActiveStanley (toe) practiced in full Thursday.
John JenkinsActive
Josh CuevasActiveCuevas caught two of three targets for 35 yards during the Ravens' 35-13 loss to the Bengals on Sunday.
Ja'Kobi LaneActiveLane caught three of five targets for 25 yards during Sunday's 35-13 loss to the Bengals.
Justice HillActiveHill took three carries for seven yards and caught three of four targets for 26 yards during Sunday's 35-13 loss versus the Bengals.
Rashod BatemanActiveBateman caught two of four targets for 33 yards during Sunday's 35-13 loss to the Bengals.
Andrew VorheesActive
Elijah SarrattActive
Mark AndrewsActiveAndrews caught three of four targets for 23 yards in Sunday's 35-13 loss to the Bengals.
Tyler HuntleyActiveHuntley completed 23 of 34 passes for 298 yards with a touchdown and an interception while adding three rushes for 12 yards in the Ravens' 35-13 loss to the Bengals on Sunday.
Tyler LoopActiveLoop went 2-for-2 on field-goal tries and made his only PAT during Sunday's 35-13 loss to the Bengals.
Derrick HenryActiveHenry rushed 17 times for 45 yards and brought in one of two target for four yards in the Ravens' 35-13 loss to the Bengals on Sunday.
Zay FlowersActiveFlowers brought in eight of 11 targets for 137 yards and a touchdown in the Ravens' 35-13 loss to the Bengals on Sunday.
Cam JurgensActiveJurgens (concussion) does not have any injury designation ahead of Sunday's game against the Bengals.
Matt HibnerActiveHibner (hand) was a full participant at practice Thursday.

Labels: Out = confirmed unavailable; Doubtful = projected unavailable; Questionable = projected uncertain.

Weather & travel contextual research

49.5°F, wind 11.2 mph, precip — mm (next 1h),
Forecast for Sun, Nov 8 at 7:00 PM ET (updated Oct 30). Weather data: MET Norway (api.met.no), CC BY 4.0 / NLOD 2.0

Travel (CLE): ~308 miles, no time-zone change

Research only — not betting advice. All probabilities are uncertain forecasts from a simple model, never guarantees or 'locks'. GameScope places no wagers.
Scores/records/injuries: ESPN unofficial API (live). Weather: MET Norway.