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Cleveland Browns: 3 Make or break games for a playoff berth

By Sam Penix

Nov 15, 2020; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) runs into tight end David Njoku (85) on his way to the locker room following the game against the Houston Texans at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2020; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) runs into tight end David Njoku (85) on his way to the locker room following the game against the Houston Texans at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns vs. Ravens. Mandatory Credit: Leah Stauffer-USA TODAY Sports /

Cleveland Browns vs. Ravens, Week 14

Raise your hand if you had the Browns with a better record than the Ravens through 10 games. Baltimore faces off against Pittsburgh this week (maybe), so they could easily be 6-5 heading into a Thursday Night matchup with the Dallas Cowboys. Lamar Jackson looked fantastic against the Browns in Week 1, but has since been extremely average. The offense, which has suffered multiple key injuries, looks nothing like it did a season ago. Defenses are calling out the team’s plays. Baltimore beat the Philadelphia Eagles by two points and lost to the New England Patriots.

This is not the same team that welcomed the Browns to M&T Bank Stadium and thrashed them back in September. The Ravens are currently on the outside looking in at the playoffs, and Cleveland must keep it that way. It’s very difficult to see three AFC North teams making the postseason, so this could very well end up being a play-in game of sorts. The Browns absolutely have to show up and match the Ravens physicality, something they utterly failed to do in the season opener.

Both teams have evolved since that game, but in opposite directions. Baltimore will be motivated, and Cleveland has every reason to be as well. A mid-December Monday Night Football game between two division rivals to decide who gets to make the playoffs. What could be better than that? If the Browns want to make a statement showing the rest of the NFL that they’re finally back, this is the night to do it.

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