Cleveland Browns vs Baltimore Ravens: 3 match-ups to watch

Even when the Cleveland Browns are on their bye week, they find a way to lose. Right before the Browns left for their bye week, head coach Mike Pettine named second year quarterback Johnny Manziel the starting quarterback for the remainder of the season. Pettine praised Manziel for his improvements on and off the field and that he earned the right to be the starting quarterback of the Browns.

Manziel reassured the Browns and the media that there was no need to worrying about him over the bye and that his focus would be on the Monday night game against the Ravens. However, nothing can be that easy for us Browns fans. Manziel was caught partying over the bye, after promising the Browns he would act responsible and mature as the starting quarterback. The Browns organization was disappointed with Manziel breaking trust between them and gave them no choice to rename Josh McCown starting quarterback.

On the Ravens side they have been battled by injuries all season. Last week starting quarterback Joe Flacco and running back Justin Forsett had season ending injuries. In Flacco’s place the Ravens will start veteran Matt Schaub.

This is how the McCown vs Schaub Monday night battle was formed between the 3-7 Ravens and 2-8 Browns. Here are the match-ups to watch for in order for the Browns to win their first Monday night game since 2009.

Matt Schaub vs the Browns defense

Veteran Matt Schaub will start in place of the injured Joe Flacco. Flacco suffered a season ending ACL tear last week. Schaub has not started a game since 2013 when he was a member of the Houston Texans. Schaub is a two-time pro bowler and will provide leadership in the Ravens huddle.

The Browns defense will need to pressure Schaub and not let the veteran get comfortable early. If the Browns can get to Schaub early it will set the tempo for the whole game. Making his first start since 2013, Schaub will look for easy completions early in the game to settle into a grove. Ravens offense coordinator Marc Trestman addressed why Schaub will still be able to make the Ravens offense successful.

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“His football intelligence is at a very high level. Because he’s seen a lot, he can handle multiple situations,” Trestman said. “He’s a very good passer and an accurate passer. In his career, he’s proven that.”

Schaub will be tasked with a difficult challenge without top playmakers to help him on offense. The Browns must pressure Schaub early and set the tone and tempo for the entire game.

Josh McCown vs the Ravens secondary

Although McCown does not provide the excitement of Johnny Manziel, he will do the job the Browns signed him for and that is to execute the game plan and manage the offense. McCown has had a solid season throwing 11 touchdowns and just 4 interceptions. The veteran McCown will continue to hold the fort down for the Browns until they have a quarterback that can permanently take over the offense.

“You’ve got to go in that way and prepare that way,” said McCown. “They’ve improved since that game. It’s obvious on the tape. We’ll draw on those things but again, we’ve got to have a good plan put together and go out and execute that plan.”

McCown had a career passing day throwing for 457 yards, in the 33-30 overtime win over the Ravens in October. The Ravens defense didn’t have an answer for McCown as he was able to lead the Browns offense to a big day. McCown probably won’t throw for 457 yards again, but he will be able to produce constancy for the Browns offense and produce enough points to beat the injury battled Ravens.

Browns rushing attack vs Ravens defense

The Browns run game ranks 31st overall, averaging only 75.6 yards per game. In the last loss to Pittsburgh the offense only ran the ball 14 times and only managed to gain 15 yards. The Browns have been one-dimensional offensively and have yet to establish the running game.

Isaiah Crowell is the teams leading rusher on the season with only 328 yards averaging 3.1 yards a carry. Rookie Duke Johnson has been used primary as a receiver but has shown the playmaking ability to yield more touches on the ground and in the air. Establishing the rushing attack is something the Browns must figure out during the stretch run of the season. Running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery acknowledged over the bye week the run game must improve over the last six games saying,

“The running backs have to get more yards when they have the opportunity, and the line has to do a better job and the tight ends have to do a better job on holding up their end of the bargain, as well, and that’s blocking.”

Despite their 3-8 record, the Ravens defense presents challenges to the Browns offense. The Ravens defense ranks 12th against the run only allowing 97.0 yards per game. If the Browns can commit themselves to running the ball it will make situations more manageable for the passing game.