CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – With their playoff destiny in their own hands, opportunity knocks Monday night for the Browns.
Thanks to the Bills win over the Steelers Sunday night, Cleveland can climb to within a game of the division leaders with a win over the Ravens and set an expansion era record for consecutive wins since 1999 with a fifth straight victory.
The Ravens blew out the Browns in Week 1, 38-6, but things have changed for both teams. Cleveland has won 9 of 11 while Baltimore has lost 4 of 6 due to injuries and a COVID-19 outbreak, but both appear to be behind them.
What to watch for – Monday night’s game features the top two rushing attacks in the league. The Browns average two tenths of a yard more per game with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt as the league’s lone running back combo with over 700 yards apiece this season. Chubb is averaging 6.0 yards per carry and he's fifth in the league in rushing (799 yards) despite missing four games with a sprained right knee. Hunt isn't far behind Chubb with 739 yards.
The Ravens have rushed for at least 100 yards in 35 straight games, the third-longest streak in NFL history. They amassed 294 yards rushing last week against Dallas. Quarterback Lamar Jackson leads the Ravens with 669 yards after topping 1,000 last year.
The Browns are coming off record-setting explosive performance against the Titans that saw them score a franchise record 38 points and Baker Mayfield throw 4 touchdowns in the first half and finished with a season-high 334 yards passing. Mayfield has 11 TD passes and zero interceptions in his last five games and gone 156 attempts since throwing his last pick on Oct. 25.
Browns Jarvis Landry has caught at least two passes in 107 consecutive games, the second-longest active streak in the NFL and the fifth longest streak in NFL history. He has 71 games with at least five catches, one game behind Antonio Brown of the Buccaneers and Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison.
He's caught eight passes and a touchdown in each of the last two games.
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett returned last week after missing two games with COVID-19 and had a sack at Tennessee raising his season total to 10 ½ this season, giving him double digits in each of the past three seasons.
Jackson is the first player in NFL history to compile 5,000 yards passing and 2,500 yards rushing in the first three years of his career for the Ravens. Jackson returned last week after missing one game with COVID-19 and threw two TD passes and ran for another against Dallas as Baltimore improved to 26-7 with Jackson as a starter.
The Ravens rank third in the league in fewest points allowed (19.3) and leads the NFL with 21 forced fumbles in 2020.
Ravens tight end Mark Andrews returns after missing the last two games while on the reserve/COVID-19 list. He led Baltimore in receptions last year and ranks second this season with 60, along with a team-high six TD catches. Linebacker Matthew Judon also returns after missing the last two games with COVID-19. His four sacks are tied for the team lead with Calais Campbell.
Ravens kicker Justin Tucker saw his NFL-record streak of 70 successive field goals inside 40 yards end against Dallas with a miss from 36 but his 90.8% career success rate on all field goal tries is the best in league history.
Last Week – Ravens beat the Cowboys 34-17; Browns beat the Titans 41-35
The last time – Sept. 13, 2020: Ravens 38, Browns 6
Series history – Ravens lead 32-11
Rankings – AP PRO32 Ranking: Ravens No. 13, Browns No. 7
Points per game: Ravens 14 (25.6), Browns 15 (25.5)
Total yards per game: Ravens 24 (332.5), Browns 16T (364.3)
Rushing yards per game: Ravens 2 (157.6), Browns 1 (157.8)
Passing yards per game: Ravens 31 (174.9), Browns 27 (206.5)
Points allowed per game: Ravens 3 (19.5), Browns 22T (26.8)
Total defensive yards allowed per game: Ravens 8 (333.1), Browns 19 (361.3)
Rushing yards allowed per game: Ravens 13 (111.6), Browns 8 (104.3)
Passing yards allowed per game: Ravens 10 (221.5), Browns 23 (256.9)
Turnover ratio: Ravens 12T (+3), Browns 4T (+7)
Probable starters for Browns – Offense: WR Jarvis Landry, LT Jedrick Wills Jr., LG Joel Bitonio, C JC Tretter, RG Wyatt Teller, RT Jack Conklin, TE Austin Hooper, WR Rashard Higgins, QB Baker Mayfield, RB Nick Chubb, FB Andy Janovich, TE Harrison Bryant
Defense: DE Myles Garrett, DT Sheldon Richardson, DT Larry Ogunjobi, DE Olivier Vernon, WILL Mack Wilson, MIKE B.J. Goodson, SAM: Jordan Elliott, CB Kevin Johnson, CB Terrance Mitchell, SS Karl Joseph, FS Andrew Sendejo
Injury report – OUT: CB Denzel Ward (calf), WR KhaDarel Hodge (hamstring); QUESTIONABLE: TE Austin Hooper (neck); EXPETCED TO PLAY: RT Jack Conklin (knee), C JC Tretter (knee); FULL: WR Jarvis Landry (hip)
Uniforms – Brown jerseys, orange pants
Broadcast – Radio: 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 WNCX and the University Hospitals Cleveland Browns radio network. TV: ESPN
Kickoff – 8:15 p.m. FirstEnergy Stadium – Cleveland, Ohio
Our prediction – Browns 34, Ravens 31
Our prediction record – 8-4
