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Cleveland Browns: 5 Bold predictions for Week 1 vs. Ravens

By Randy Gurzi

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 22: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns gives a play to Odell Beckham Jr. #13 during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. Baltimore defeated Cleveland 31-15. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 22: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns gives a play to Odell Beckham Jr. #13 during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. Baltimore defeated Cleveland 31-15. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /
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Cleveland Browns
CLEVELAND, OHIO – DECEMBER 22: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens runs the ball against the Cleveland Browns during the third quarter in the game at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

5. Lamar Jackson throws no TD passes

Lamar Jackson won the NFL MVP last season in large part due to his rushing. The Ravens quarterback ran for 1,206 yards and seven touchdowns on the season but when he played the Browns, it was his arm that really did them in. Jackson threw six touchdowns in those two games, and while his running hurt the Browns, it was the touchdown passes that really left the mark — especially in the Week 16 loss.

Looking ahead to this matchup, the Browns again need to be worried about Jackson’s ability to win with both his arm and legs. However, they also need to be careful not to focus so much on Jackson’s running that it leaves players wide open — especially in the red zone.

Surely, Joe Woods and the Browns coaching staff has been working on a way to make sure this doesn’t happen. They know Jackson is going to get his on the ground but selling out to stop him running the ball helped him throw for 3,127 yards with a 36-to-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

Our first build prediction is that the defense does find a way to keep Jackson from throwing any touchdowns in the opener. It would be a stark contrast from how each of these teams started the 2019 campaign, and for Cleveland, it would also be something positive to build momentum off of.

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