CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – If the Cleveland Browns have any chance to end their divisional title drought, which dates to the 1989 season, Sunday’s game in Baltimore against the Ravens is a must-win.
At 5-3, the Browns are two wins behind the 7-2 Ravens and 1-2 within the AFC North having lost in Week 3 at home to Baltimore 28-3 without Deshaun Watson. Cleveland has won just twice in Baltimore with John Harbaugh coaching the Ravens. Harbaugh is 13-2 at home and 25-6 overall against the Browns.
Here’s what, and who we are watching for against the black birds from Baltimore.
While quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Lamar Jackson dominate the headlines for their respective teams, it’s the defenses of the Browns and Ravens that are the headliners Sunday afternoon in Baltimore.
The Browns are No. 1 in total yards allowed per game [234.8], passing yards allowed [145.0], net yards per game allowed [234.8 – the fewest through the first nine weeks since the Steelers in 2008], third down conversion rate allowed [26.0%], fewest third down conversions allowed [27] and fewest first downs allowed [96].
The Ravens lead the NFL in sacks [35], fewest touchdowns allowed [9], fewest points allowed per game [13.8], yards per play [4.08], yards per pass [5.5], rushing yards allowed [160.3], opposing quarterback rating [69.7] and opposing red zone touchdown rate [33.3%].
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, who had another sack last week and has 9.5 in 2023, needs a half sack to extend his double-digit sack seasons streak to six consecutive seasons. He’s the only player in the NFL with such a streak. Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is tied for the most tackles for loss or no gain this season with 14. Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson is coming off a career-high 2.5 sack performance and had half a sack in Week 3 against the Ravens. Cornerback Denzel Ward has broken up nine passes this season and he has two interceptions, including one last week. Ward is second in the NFL with 74 PBUs since he was selected fourth overall in 2018.
All indications are that Watson’s right rotator cuff continues to improve. Watson completed 19 of 30 passes for 219 yards with a pair of touchdowns in a 27-0 win over the Cardinals that saw him return after missing three of the previous four games with the injury. This season, Watson is completing 62% of his passes for 902 yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions.
Amari Cooper is Watson’s top target as the four-time Pro Bowler looks for his fourth 100-yard receiving game of the season after racking up a season-high 139 yards last week. Cooper and Stefon Diggs are the only receivers with at least 600 receiving yards in each of the last nine seasons.
Despite losing All Pro Nick Chubb, the Browns run game is hanging in there. Cleveland is ranked third in the NFL with an average of 144.1 rushing yards per game this season while featuring a three back rotation that includes Jerome Ford, Kareem Hunt and Pierre Strong. Hunt has five rushing TDs over the last four games.
With Jedrick Wills Jr. on injured reserve and rookie Dawand Jones out, the Browns enter Sunday’s game with just three true healthy offensive tackles – James Hudson III, Geron Christian and Leroy Watson IV.
Cleveland’s tackle situation being what it is, tight end David Njoku’s blocking ability will be required. Njoku, who looks for his third straight game with a touchdown catch and is second on the team with 32 catches for 319 yards this season, had a season-high six catches in the first meeting between the two teams.
Jackson, who is completing 71.5% of his passes for 1,954 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions in 2023, is coming off completing a season-best 80.8% of his passes [21 of 26] and he looks to avoid throwing an interception in his fourth straight game for the Ravens. Jackson put four touchdowns on the board – two passing, two rushing – in Week 4 in Cleveland and had a 142.5 rating. The 2019 NFL MVP is just 60 yards shy of becoming the first QB in NFL history to rush for 500 yards in each of his first six seasons.
Baltimore tight end Mark Andrews has tormented the Browns. In 11 games Andrews has 48 catches for 621 yards and nine touchdowns, including five catches for 80 yards and two scores in Week 4, against Cleveland.
The Ravens racked up 298 yards on the ground last week against Seattle. Gus Edwards scored twice and rookie Keaton Mitchell, who had 138 of those yards against the Seahawks, got in once. Garrett vowed this week the Browns won’t allow a repeat performance.
Odell Beckham Jr. gets to face the Browns for the first time since forcing his way out of Cleveland in the middle of the 2021 season. Beckham, who is beloved in every locker room he steps into, has 19 catches for 218 yards and a touchdown, which came last week in the fourth quarter.
Ravens safety Geno Stone is the definition of a ball hawk. Stone, who leads the NFL with six picks to date, has an interception in four straight and five of his last six games.
Last week – Browns beat the Cardinals 27-0; Ravens beat the Seahawks 37-3
The last time – October 1: Ravens 28, Browns 3
Series – Ravens lead 36-13
By the numbers – A look at how the two teams match up statistically.
Browns offense vs. Ravens defense:
Scoring: Browns 22.6, Ravens 13.8
Total yards: Browns 328.3, Ravens 262.6
Passing: Browns 184.1, Ravens 170.7
Rushing: Browns 144.1, Ravens 91.9
Cardinals defense vs. Browns offense:
Scoring: Browns 17.4, Ravens 26.6
Total yards: Browns 234.8, Ravens 399.0
Passing: Browns 145.0, Ravens 208.7
Rushing: Browns 89.8, Ravens 160.3
Defensive stats
Sacks: Browns 27, Ravens 35
Takeaways: Browns 13 , Ravens 13
Turnover differential: Browns -4, Ravens +1
Projected Browns starters – Offense: WR Amari Cooper, LT Geron Christian, LG Joel Bitonio, C Ethan Pocic, RG Wyatt Teller, RT James Hudson III, TE David Njoku, WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, QB Deshaun Watson; WR Amari Cooper, RB Kareem Hunt
Defense: DE Myles Garrett, DT Dalvin Tomlinson, DT Jordan Elliott, DE Za’Darius Smith, LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB Anthony Walker, CB Denzel Ward, CB Martin Emerson Jr., SS Grant Delpit, FS Juan Thornhill, CB Mike Ford Jr.
Injury report – OUT: WR David Bell (knee), WR Marquise Goodwin (concussion), OT Dawand Jones (knee/shoulder); QUESTIONABLE: CB Greg Newsome (groin), RB Pierre Strong (hamstring); EXPECTED TO PLAY: WR Amari Cooper (rest, ankle), TE David Njoku (knee), DE Ogbo Okoronkwo (groin), DE Alex Wright (knee), S Grant Delpit (shoulder), OL Nick Harris (toe), QB Deshaun Watson (shoulder)
Uniforms – Orange helmet, white jersey, orange pants
Broadcast info – Radio: 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 WNCX; TV: WJW TV-8 (FOX)
Kickoff – 1:03 p.m. M&T Bank Stadium; Baltimore, Maryland
Prediction – Ravens 27, Browns 26