Cleveland Browns vs Ravens: Do we predict a bounce back win?

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OAKLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 30: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns tells to the crowd to be quiet after the Browns scored a touchdown against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 30, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Writer: Chris Markoch

Game: Baltimore Ravens (3-1) at Cleveland Browns (1-2-1)

Summary: I didn’t want to believe the Baltimore Ravens could be good this year. However, Baltimore brings one of the best teams they’ve had in years to First Energy Stadium. This will be the most complete defense the Browns have faced all season.

And as much as I hate to give credit to any of our divisional opponents, I tip my cap to the Ravens for dancing with the quarterback they have. They have surrounded Joe Flacco with better weapons and what do you know, Flacco is eighth in the NFL in passing and the Ravens are a top-10 offense. I don’t know if Flacco will ever be considered an all-time great, but there are only 32 starting quarterbacks in the league and Baltimore has a pretty good one. At the end of last year, there was a sense that the Ravens might actually be considering moving on from Flacco. Instead, they’ve doubled down, and they’re better for it.

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Which brings me to the Browns, because the story of this game – and let’s face it every Browns game for this season – will be the continuing development of Baker Mayfield. Last week in Oakland, Mayfield was not as good as he seemed, nor was he as bad as he seemed. He didn’t look like a rookie making his first start, but he did, at times, look like a rookie. Baltimore will be sure to give Mayfield different looks, and they will try to generate pressure. Mayfield will have to show Browns fans he can pick his spots. Playing a defense like Baltimore requires patience, and the confidence to make the most of the few chances they give you.

A solid running game would help and I believe the combination of Hyde and Chubb will allow the Browns to move the ball. But can they get in the end zone? Last week, for the first time in way too many years, the Browns were not trading touchdowns for field goal opportunities. But they are showing a tendency to score fast. The key to this game will be sustained drives that allow the defense to have some gas in the tank for the fourth quarter.

In the end, I think Mayfield will have a game that may not look pretty in the stat line but will be looked back on as a game where he made some positive strides. In the end, however, I think too many drives will stall for the Browns and won’t for the Ravens.

Final Score: Baltimore 31, Cleveland 20

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