Cleveland Browns: Keys to a Week 2 victory in Baltimore

The Cleveland Browns have a tall task facing them this week when they travel to Baltimore to take on the Ravens. What must they focus on to notch the victory?

The rest of football just doesn’t understand how close the Cleveland Browns were to snapping their opening game losing streak last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team outplayed the Steelers up front, and was in the game in the final two minutes even after surrendering a special teams touchdown.

The game showed some serious improvement, but at the end of the day, it was still Cleveland coming out on the short end. Until they start winning games, football is still not going to notice that the Browns may be back.

As encouraging as the first week was, it doesn’t get any easier today. Cleveland will now be faced with their first test away from home, which is a much different challenge. They will also be tasked with going up against a ferocious Baltimore Ravens defense that shut out the Cincinnati Bengals in their opener.

All eyes will be on rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer, who played an efficient opener despite being sacked seven times. Another step in the right direction in his development today would prove to be another positive sign regardless of the game’s outcome.

But for the team and the fans, winning a game would do more for the rebuilding process than anything. Even though they come in as 9.5-point underdogs, Sunday provides the Browns with another opportunity to get in the win column against a divisional opponent.

Here are five keys to victory this week for a Cleveland team not expected to pull off the upset.