Cleveland Browns vs. Ravens: 5 Questions with Ebony Bird

Dec 28, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith (89) runs after the catch as Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden (23) defends during the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Baltimore Ravens defeated Cleveland Browns 20-10. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The Browns begin AFC North play this Sunday with a game against the Ravens in Baltimore.

To prepare for the game, we asked Brett Foote of Ebony Bird five questions about the game between the two rivals.

Question 1: How surprised were you that the Ravens beat the Steelers last week?

Brett: I wasn’t too surprised, as I fully expected them to win. Michael Vick played better than I thought he would, and the game was close as usual. The Ravens simply needed the win more, and I think that made the difference in the end. They switched up their game plan and pounded the ball, which was interesting since the Steelers’ defensive strength lies against the run.

Question 2: The Bengals are the favorites after four games, but who do you see winning the AFC North?

Brett: It’s a tough call right now. The Bengals are off to a strong start, but they always start off strong. Questions are going to surround this team until they finally get over the hump and make a playoff run. Right now, I would say that they are going to be a tough out for the foreseeable future, unless Andy Dalton implodes as he historically has.

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The absence of Ben Roethlisberger hurts the Steelers more than they will admit, but I expect them to be in the hunt as they usually are. I also believe that the Ravens will right the ship and contend, but both of these teams have tough schedules ahead. As for the Browns, I think they can hang in there but they have to at least tighten up against the pass.

Question 3: The Browns run defense has been atrocious all year. How many yards will Justin Forsett run for on Sunday? 100? 150? 300?

Brett: Forsett had a rough first 3 games to the season, which wasn’t totally his fault. The offensive line has been awful despite retaining all five starters from what was a top 5 unit last season. It’s somewhat baffling, but it’s also a testament to the work Gary Kubiak did last year as the offensive coordinator.

Feeding him the ball 27 times last week was smart, especially after Steve Smith went down. I fully expect the Ravens to pound the rock again this week, especially considering the Browns’ woes in stopping the run. If Smith misses the game, they simply don’t have a choice.

Question 4: How much does the health of Steve Smith Sr. impact this game?

Brett: Smitty has accounted for 35% of the Ravens’ offensive yards this season and is the 4th most targeted receiver in the NFL. The Ravens were hoping that someone would step up behind him by now, but it hasn’t happened. If he is out, I expect a heavy emphasis on the running game. I would also think that Joe Flacco will spread the ball around. No other pass catcher has more than 18 targets, which is light years behind Sr. (47 targets).

Browns vs. Ravens: 5 questions with Ebony Bird

By Steven Kubitza | Oct 9, 2015

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