Dawg Pound Daily
FanSided

3 matchups to watch as Cleveland Browns face off against Ravens

By Justice Sunderland

CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 08: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns calls a first half play in the huddle while playing the Cincinnati Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 08, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 08: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns calls a first half play in the huddle while playing the Cincinnati Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 08, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 4
Next
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – SEPTEMBER 29: Middle Linebacker Joe Schobert #53 of the Cleveland Browns sacks quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens in the second half at M&T Bank Stadium on September 29, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – SEPTEMBER 29: Middle Linebacker Joe Schobert #53 of the Cleveland Browns sacks quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens in the second half at M&T Bank Stadium on September 29, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images) /

This is a rematch of a game won by the Cleveland Browns in Week 4. Both of these teams are entirely different places now then they were then. Baltimore is getting ready for the playoffs and Cleveland is getting ready for the offseason.

Here we are with two weeks left in the NFL season and the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens are sitting at familiar places. Cleveland is making more headlines for anything but their play on the field and Baltimore is looking like one of the best teams in the league.

It seems like so long ago that the Browns beat the Ravens easily 40-25, and believe it or not that was the last game Baltimore lost. Baltimore has already clinched the AFC North and have a chance to clinch the AFC’s No. 1 seed with a win on Sunday, but it won’t come easy.

The Browns have the players on defense to slow down the Ravens rushing attack. But Lamar Jackson has also been extremely accurate passing the ball, especially down the middle of the field.

It’s not just him either, as Baltimore led the league with 12 players named to the Pro Bowl so there is talent all over Baltimore’s offense and defense. But Jackson is the straw that stirs the drink so he has to be the focus of the game plan.

It will be imperative for the Browns to contain Jackson on running plays and force him to throw the ball towards the sidelines because he has been deadly passing down the middle.

Offense will be a struggle for Cleveland like it has been all season. Baker Mayfield has been terrible and Freddie Kitchens hasn’t been any better as a play-caller. If he can’t find a way to take advantage of matchups and get this team to play hard, Kitchens won’t be the coach much longer.

Everybody (except Kitchens) knows the Browns need to run the ball more because they have two of the most talented running backs in the league and they can’t pass protect. That isn’t going to get easier because the Ravens are one of the best blitzing teams in the league.

On paper everything is pointing in the direction of the Ravens, but the game isn’t played on paper, it’s played on grass. Cleveland will have to play hard and play disciplined.

Home/Browns News