3 matchups the Cleveland Browns must win to upset Baltimore in Week 10

We all probably should have seen this coming, especially if you are a Cleveland Browns fan. All offseason the Baltimore Ravens were the afterthought of the AFC North. But just like death, taxes, and McDonald’s ice cream machine being down…the Ravens are inevitable.

10 weeks into the 2023 NFL season, and the Ravens are a buzzsaw sitting at 7-2. Now the Browns have the unenviable task of heading to Baltimore and attempting to put a stop to that buzzsaw. However, if there is a team equipped to go into M&T Bank Stadium and go blow for blow with Baltimore it is the Browns.

Jim Schwartz’ defense is completely capable of shutting down any team in the league, including the red-hot Ravens. Baltimore hung 28 points on Schwartz’ unit in their last meeting and you know that did not sit well with the veteran defensive coordinator. Now, the Browns have their chance at revenge.

But the Browns defense cannot do it by themselves. It's going to take a total team effort in order for the Browns to leave Baltimore with a victory. Here are three matchups that could prove to be the deciding factor.

Matchup No. 3: Wyatt Teller vs Justin Madubuike

The Baltimore Ravens have plenty of talent up front on their defense. The Ravens defensive tackle room is stout, but one particular tackle is starting to separate himself from the pack. Justin Madubuike has entered the chat as one of the most dominant defensive tackles in the league.

Madubuike leads all NFL defensive tackles in sacks with 7.5 through nine games this season. He also has racked up 14 quarterback hits and eight tackles for loss. The fourth-year pro has officially leveled up.

The Browns enter this game already thin at the tackle position with Jedrick Wills being placed on injured reserve. Then you factor in that Dawand Jones is going to be a game-time decision, and it is easy to see that the Browns focus, and additional resources, are going to be placed on protecting the edge against Baltimore. This means the interior offensive line is going to have to fend for themselves and handle their individual assignments.

While Madubuike will move from side to side, the main concern is when he is lined up across from Wyatt Teller. While Teller has been playing better in recent weeks, as have the Browns offensive line in general, his pass protection has been hit or miss. Against Baltimore and Madubuike, Teller is going to have to be on his A-game, or Watson will not have a pocket to step up into to avoid the Ravens edge defenders.

Matchup No. 2: Dustin Hopkins vs Justin Tucker

What happens when the two best defenses in the league play one another? The answer…not a lot of scoring. In a game where scoring should be scarce, one would think having a clutch kicker could come in handy. Well, both the Browns and Ravens have to feel good about their respective kickers in this AFC North grudge match.

Normally this would be one-way traffic. The Ravens have perhaps the greatest kicker of all time in five-time All-Pro and probable Hall of Famer Justin Tucker. With a 90.2% career field goal percentage 12-year span, it would be hard to make a legitimate argument for any other kicker taking Tucker’s G.O.A.T status.

However, the Browns have the current league leader in field goals made this season with 20 by Dustin Hopkins. But what is the most impressive about the season that D-Hop is currently having is that the veteran kicker is a staggering seven for seven from 50-plus yards. It should also be noted that Hopkins has been more accurate than Tucker through the first half of the season. In a game that could very well come down to a last-second field goal, both the Browns and the Ravens have an ace up their sleeve, or should I say, in their shoe.

Matchup No. 1: Deshaun Watson vs Geno Stone

The largest determining factor in wins and losses in the NFL is the turnover battle. For the Browns to have a shot against the Ravens, winning that turnover battle must be their top priority. Last week against the Arizona Cardinals, the Browns registered their first turnover free game of the season.

But it will not be the Cardinals lined up across from the Browns this Sunday. It will be a bird of a different color awaiting the Browns offense in Baltimore. The Ravens already have nine interceptions on the season.

However, six of those nine interceptions have been snatched up by one player…Geno Stone. The fourth-year safety has unlocked a level to his game and is currently leading the entire NFL in picks. Stone will no doubt be looking to pad those numbers going up against Watson and the Browns this week.

For Watson, there's a fine line between being careful with the football and playing it too safe. If this Browns offense is going to realize its full potential, Watson needs to continue to take shots down the field and give his receivers opportunities to make plays. Watson was able to connect on two massive plays to Amari Cooper in his first game back from injury in Week 9.

To leave Baltimore with a win, Watson is going to have to connect on a handful of high-risk/higher-reward throws. If Watson is unable to manipulate Geno Stone with his eyes, those throws down the field become a good bit riskier. All these matchups are key, but this one could be the deciding factor.