It seems like eons ago (in the geologic sense) since the Browns went to Baltimore and dismantled the Ravens by a score of 40-25. Baker threw for 342 yards, Chubb scored three times, had 165 yards on 20 carries, and Landry caught eight passes for 167 yards. Everything was looking so rosy back on September 29th, but the the Browns promptly went out and lost four straight games and panic had set in across Northern Ohio. The Ravens responded in a different manner after that game, and haven't lost a game since. (10 game winning streak) Lamar Jackson has been electric all season, and leads just about every imaginable category for quarterbacks. Every cliche has been thrown at Lamar Jackson and rightfully so, the league hasn't seen anything like him...maybe ever. He is far more than just a running quarterback, he's got 33 touchdowns, only 6 picks, and leads the league in QBR. It's crazy to think that the Browns took Baker #1 overall that year, and Lamar slid to #32. I'm pretty sure the Browns would like to have a do-over on that draft (and a lot of other drafts as well)
In any case, the football landscape is much different than 10 games ago, and with a win the Ravens can clinch the number one seed for the playoffs. I think that's incentive enough for the Ravens, and I don't buy into the idea that the Baltimore wants to come to town and get some revenge for that loss back in September. This really isn't a rivalry game, at least Baltimore doesn't see it that way. The hard truth is that the Browns have been so bad for the last 20 years, they don't really have a rivalry with anybody. There aren't really any other teams, including Pittsburgh, that really feel like Cleveland is a rival. (I think in a true rivalry, both teams need to win some games.) So I don't think Baltimore gives a second thought about the Browns, and the only thing they're looking to accomplish is to come to Cleveland and get a win, something they've done many, many times.
So on the field today, I expect the Ravens will absolutely stop the run today. They will not allow Chubb to get going, and I think they'll stack the box and force Baker Mayfield to throw the ball downfield. That means that Landry and OBJ will find themselves in single coverage at times, and I wish I was more confident in Baker being accurate enough to get big chunks of yardage through the air. But I don't see a lot of reason to expect that, he just hasn't been sharp on passes that travel over 15 yards in the air. Like I have said many times in this blog, the Browns have great pass catchers and there is always a chance we can get the passing game going, but I have zero confidence in that happening today. Also, I don't really know who has the incentive to come out today and play like their job depends on it. Freddie apparently has the confidence of Dorsey and Haslam no matter what, there aren't a lot of guys in a contract year, and who knows what you get out of Landry and OBJ week to week. What we are really going to see is what these players think about their head coach, and if they are willing to play hard despite the shit sandwich this season has been. I think the Browns scratch out a couple of touchdowns, but in the end can't keep up with the Ravens and their explosive offense. I think Cleveland will be on the wrong end of this one, by a score of something like 34-17.
Go Browns.
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