CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Browns are back home for the holidays to wrap up the home portion of their schedule the next two Saturdays.
First up, the Baltimore Ravens, who hung on to beat Cleveland in Week 7 23-20.
The Browns are trying to cling to a shred of hope for the playoffs with a win while the Ravens find themselves tangled with the Bengals in a race for the top spot in the AFC North.
What to watch for – Deshaun Watson has split his first two games as the Browns franchise QB. Watson won his debut in Houston despite struggling and lost last week in Cincinnati while showing marked improvement and some comfort within the offense even though he’s only led one touchdown drive to date. Watson will get his first taste of Cleveland in December as he’ll look to heat up on a chilly afternoon with temperatures in the low 30s.
Watson will need to be aware of Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen, who had 11 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack in Week 7 against the Browns. Queen is looking for a fourth road game in a row with a pass breakup.
Nick Chubb, who has been held to 3.8 yards per carry over the last five games, looks to get the run game going against the No. 2 run defense in the league. Chubb has been held to 80 or fewer yards in four of those five games. He ran for 91 yards and a score in Week 7 in Baltimore.
Tyler Huntley will start for Baltimore for the second time against the Browns with Lamar Jackson ruled out. The Browns are Huntley practiced the last two days and cleared the concussion protocol to do so. Last December saw the backup QB complete 27 of 38 passes for 270 yards and a touchdown in a 24-22 loss to the Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Ravens tight end Mark Andrews makes for a friendly target for Huntley and a difficult player to defend for the Browns. Andrews, who leads the Ravens with 58 catches for 671 yards and five touchdowns, has caught a touchdown in two of the last three games against the Browns.
The Browns linebackers have been left in shambles after Cleveland has lost four – Anthony Walker, Jacob Phillips, Sione Takitaki and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah – to season ending injuries to date. Expect the Ravens to exploit the weakness in the middle of the Browns defense with running back J.K. Dobbins, who is coming off a season-high 120-yard performance in a win over the Steelers. Dobbins is averaging 4.9 yards per carry this season and he has scored in both games he’s played against the Browns.
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett has been on a tear this season and is third in NFL with 12.0 sacks. In addition to averaging a sack per game, Garrett has racked up 19 QB hits, 14 tackles for loss, four batted passes and two forced fumbles as he has been able to climb within reach of the Defensive Player of the Year award. Last year, Garrett had a strip sack, scoop and score against Huntley and he hopes to repeat the feat Saturday.
Last week – Ravens beat the Steelers 16-14; Browns lost to the Bengals 23-10
Last Time – October 23, 2022: Ravens 23, Browns 20
Series – Ravens lead 35-12
Rankings – Points: Ravens 12 (23.2), Browns 13 (23.1)
Yards: Ravens 14 (347.0), Browns 6 (368.8)
Rushing: Ravens 3 (162.2), Browns 5 (149.5)
Passing: Ravens 27 (184.8), Browns 18 (219.3)
Points allowed: Ravens 8 (19.2), Browns 27 (24.8)
Yards allowed: Ravens 12 (330.4), Browns 17 (343.8)
Rushing yards allowed: Ravens 2 (81.2), Browns 22 (128.1)
Passing yards allowed: Ravens 26 (249.2), Browns 16 (215.8)
Turnover ratio: Ravens 2 (+9), Browns T-27 (-5)
Projected starters for Browns – Offense: WR Amari Cooper, LT Jedrick Wills Jr., LG Joel Bitonio, C Hjalte Froholdt, RG Wyatt Teller, RT Jack Conklin, TE Harrison Bryant, WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, QB Jacoby Brissett, RB Nick Chubb, TE David Njoku
Defense: DE Myles Garrett, DT Jordan Elliott, DT Taven Bryan, DE Jadeveon Clowney, SAM Tony Fields II, MIKE Deion Jones, CB Martin Emerson Jr., CB A.J. Green, CB Denzel Ward, SS Grant Delpit, FS John Johnson III
Injury report – QUESTIONABLE: WR David Bell (thumb); EXPECTED TO PLAY: DE Jadeveon Clowney (rest/ankle), WR Amari Cooper (rest/hip), S John Johnson III (knee), DE Myles Garrett (rest/shoulder), LG Joel Bitonio (rest), RT Jack Conklin (rest), TE David Njoku (knee), CB Denzel Ward (shoulder), C Hjalte Froholdt (ankle), CB AJ Green (toe), DE Chase Winovich (knee).
Uniforms – Brown jerseys, orange pants, white facemasks
Broadcast – Radio: 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 WNCX and the University Hospitals Cleveland Browns radio network. TV: NFL Network (National), WEWS-TV 5 (Local)
Kickoff – 4:30 p.m. FirstEnergy Stadium – Cleveland, Ohio
Prediction – Browns 22, Ravens 16
