4 Keys to Victory for the Cleveland Browns

1. Balanced offense

For most teams when you say you must have a balanced offense you are referring to running the football.  For the Browns, they must be careful to not get too predictable on first down. Too often teams lock in on the run and then you are stuck in second and nine. Then the next series they go play-action and the edge rusher doesn’t bit and Baker Mayfield is forced to throw it away.

The Browns bread and butter is certainly running the ball, but Stefanski needs to make sure that Mayfield is given a chance to get the ball downfield. For the first time all year Stefanski took the training wheels off in the first half last week and it led to 38 points and four passing touchdowns. Now, the Ravens defense will be a tougher task than the Titans, but you must keep them guessing.

Look for a few trick plays and increased motion to try and confuse the defense and a return of the end around with Jarvis Landry. The Ravens defense is too quick for it to be extremely effective, but it slows the edge just enough to open holes for Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt.

The Ravens are going to be hungry for a victory and the game next Monday will be a must-win for them to keep their playoff chances alive, but the Browns are ready for this moment.

In the past, I would have been terrified of the squad laying an egg, but I think Stefanski and the crew will have a game plan that will get the Browns to 10-3 and thinking about a division championship if the Bills can beat the Steelers on Sunday Night Football.