By STEVE KING

Will the clock strike 12 for the Browns at Baltimore on Sunday night, for all intents and purposes ending their season after just a dozen games?

Or will they answer the bell and jump right back into contention in the AFC North race?

We’ll find out just before midnight, but this is, without question, a must-win game for the 6-5 Browns, who are in last place in the tightly-compacted division, a game and a half behind the first-place Ravens (7-3). They are also a half-game behind the Cincinnati Bengals (6-4) and just five percentage points in arrears of the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4-1), who play each other on Sunday afternoon at Paul Brown Stadium.

If the Browns can defeat the Ravens, and then beat them again at Cleveland on Dec. 12 after having a bye next weekend, then they will be right where they need to be — right where they wanted to be — heading down the stretch when the season began just after Labor Day. One win — even on Sunday — won’t do it. They have to sweep the Ravens. They’ve dug that kind of hole for themselves.

The Browns are coming off a less-than-stellar 13-10 victory over the winless Detroit Lions last Sunday in a game in which their offense struggled for the second straight game. Even against a stout Baltimore defense, that offense should get back in gear because of the return of right tackle Jack Conklin and running back Kareem, and possibly also wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones.

Despite that, though, the game will bevel much more so on the Browns’ ability — or inability, as it were — to contain quarterback Lamar Jackson, who has bedazzled them with his legs over the last several years.

But the Browns have to find a way to do it. Their season depends on it. There are — there can be — no excuses. They have the talent, and they were supposed to be able to look the Ravens eye-to-eye this year. Now they’re looking up three places.