Cleveland Browns: 5 Bold predictions vs. the Ravens

3. The Browns will hold Lamar Jackson below his season average

The Cleveland Browns defense is going to do the unthinkable on Sunday. The Browns are going to hold Lamar Jackson under 78-yards. Why 78-yards? Because that’s how many yards Jackson averages on the ground per game.

The Browns were able to hold Jackson to 66-yards rushing the first time the two teams met back in week four. I know what you’re thinking, 66 yards, isn’t that a lot for a quarterback? The answer, yes, for a quarterback yes, it is. However, for Jackson 66-yards rushing was the sixth-worst outing he has had this season.

Greg Roman, the Ravens offensive coordinator, calls his fair share of designed quarterback runs, but where Jackson is at his best is when the pass rush forces him to make a play. This week, the Browns’ lack of a pass rush might actually be a positive. Yes, you read that last sentence correctly. By keeping Jackson in front of them and keeping their depth at the line of scrimmage, they would be better off to force Jackson to pass.

The Browns offense may play an even larger role than their defense in limiting Jackson on the ground. The Browns will have to take an early lead so the Ravens won’t be able to unleash their downhill offense from the very beginning of the game.

If the Browns offense can delay the Ravens from playing from their usual position of having a commanding lead, they will have a fighting chance at keeping Jackson under 78-yards rushing. And that would be a win.