Scouting Ahead/Behind: Cleveland Browns Week 14 opponent

Control the game and avoid fourth quarter stagnation

The Browns absolutely have to finish this game strong. Whether they’re coming from behind or fighting to keep/take the lead they cannot afford to risk the game by putting the ball in Lamar Jackson’s hands more times than is necessary.

Their game plan is crucial, but the ability of the staff to adapt to the flow of the game is just as important, as isn’t something that has always been present, especially against the Ravens.

If you had to pick any two players to lead a comeback in the fourth quarter against any NFL team there’s a good chance Lamar Jackson and Justin Tucker are the names you go with. The Ravens may not be built for seeing out gameplans, but the way they play maximizes risk for any defensive play call simply because they have one of the greatest improvisers to ever play the game under center.

And when all he needs is a field goal the pressure mounts even more as they’ve got someone who can nail it from almost 70 yards waiting in the wings. Defense is vital to preventing this, but the offense getting going is crucial as well.

Putting the pressure on the Ravens offense is rarely enough, removing victory as a possibility for them by controlling the game and maximizing opportunities to score is a must, and the Browns staff have to be prepared to adapt in-game to do so.

Too many times this Browns team has gone down and stayed down. They have to find ways to prevent that or fix problems on the fly.