Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens eye key AFC North showdown to cure ills of season

BALTIMORE − The pathway to the playoffs for the Browns is to win the AFC North. Considering they're already 0-3 in home conference games outside of the division, they're making the hill awfully tough to climb.

The season won't officially be over if the Browns can't go into Baltimore on Sunday and beat the Ravens. However, it would be pushing any hopes of getting the division crown a little bit further away.

"I mean, right now it’s the biggest game of the season, and that’s not only just because it’s the next one," Browns defensive end Myles Garrett said this week. "Right now, we have to get rolling, it’s a very crucial game for us and the next one will be as well, but we have to focus on this one, a division matchup and going into leading the division if we win it. But right now it’s a tough task, we have our work cut out for us on defense, but I like the guys who we have in this room and who we’re going to put on the field."

Browns vs Ravens predictions:Did anyone on our staff pick Cleveland to win?

The Ravens and Browns share one thing in common. Both can look at their records and see disappointment and lost opportunity.

The Browns' three-game losing streak and 2-4 record is built almost exclusively on blown leads and missed chances. An onside kick recovery, a covered receiver and a made field goal could be the only things separating them from 5-1.

The Ravens, meanwhile, are the 39th team in NFL history to hold a double-digit lead in each of their first six games of the season. Yet, Baltimore is just 3-3 after having blown leads to the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills and New York Giants.

"We’re pissed off about losing – everyone is," Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson told Baltimore reporters Wednesday. "Our fans are pissed off and all of us are pissed off, but at the same time, we can’t dwell on it. We’ve got to move on here and get focused on the Browns. And the young guys, they’re dialed in, as well. Everybody is focusing up. We’re just ready to go out there and put on a show, because we’re so mad – real talk.”

Lamar Jackson vs Browns:Cleveland once again prepares for unique challenge of Ravens' QB

The difference between the Browns and Ravens is position in the standings. The Ravens are currently tied for first place with the Cincinnati Bengals, another AFC North team that has been running in place for much of the season.

That's opened the door for the Browns if they can take advantage of the opportunity. The path to the playoffs has to go through the division, and that starts Sunday in Baltimore.

Matchup to watch: Ravens QB Lamar Jackson vs. Cleveland Browns defense

There's no sense getting cute with this matchup and singling one specific Browns defender out. The only way the Browns contain the sensational Jackson is by playing the kind of defense they really haven't played much of this season.

That means playing as a full unit. Not one or two players doing one thing while 10 or nine do another.

It has to be an 11-as-one operation. Otherwise, Jackson will make the Browns look incredibly foolish both running and throwing the ball.

Get too aggressive pursing Jackson, and he'll find a way to use that to his advantage changing direction. Peek too much into the backfield as a defender, and you'll be looking at the back of a Ravens receiver as he's running past you.

Jackson has had great games against the Browns. He's also had awful games against them. The Browns need the latter if they're going to leave Baltimore with a win.

Cleveland Browns player to watch: LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah

This is the specific opponent Owusu-Koramoah was drafted to play against. The 6-foot-2, 221-pound outside linebacker was chosen because he didn't just have the ability to play against the run, but also the speed and athleticism to play against the kind of unique talents you see in the NFL. Specifically, the one wearing No. 8 for the Ravens, Jackson.

Owusu-Koramoah's first game-plus of experience against Jackson was successful. He tackled Jackson eight times in a Nov. 28 game in Charm City, with a half sack and a tackle for loss, while helping pressure Jackson into four interceptions. Two weeks later, Owusu-Koramoah's hit on the quarterback, while not malicious, ended Jackson's season with an injured ankle. Now, they meet again.

Baltimore Ravens player to watch: TE Mark Andrews

The Ravens have struggled for years to find consistent threats at receiver. Mark Andrews, though, has been a steady threat catching the ball at tight end. That's particularly true when the opponent has been the Browns. In eight games against the Browns, Andrews has 40 catches for 510 yards and seven touchdowns. A year ago, he posted 16 combined catches for 180 yards and two touchdowns in two games against the Browns. This week, a knee issue kept him out of two days of practice. However, Andrews was back on the field Friday and ready to go against a team he's had quite a bit of success against as he continues to be the Ravens' top receiving target.

Three numbers: Mark Andrews easily Lamar Jackson's favorite target

39

Andrews has 39 catches for 455 yards and five touchdowns this season. All three are team highs for the Ravens. The 39 is also 10 more than the combined total of the next two Ravnes receiving targets: Devin Duvernay (18 catches, 240 yards, three TDs) and Rashod Bateman (11 catches, 243 yards, two TDs). So when things get dicey for Jackson, it's a safe assumption he's going to look to his big tight end to bail him out.

453

Nick Chubb has run the ball against just about everyone he's faced over his career. The Ravens, though, have been a tough nut to crack for the star back. He's carried the ball 99 times for 453 yards and five touchdowns in eight games against the Ravens. Chubb had a monster game in the Browns' last win in Baltimore in 2019, rushing for 165 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries. However, he's only rushed for more than 60 yards one other time against the Ravens, gaining 82 yards on 17 carries on a Monday Night Football shootout with them in 2020 in Cleveland. Chubb will need to get going if the Browns are going to leave M&T Bank Stadium with a win.

Two

The Browns and their former selves, the Ravens, have played twice a year now for 46 times coming into Sunday's game. Only twice times in those previous 46 meetings have the Browns won back-to-back games over the Ravens. They swept two games in 2001, the year after the Ravens won their first Super Bowl. They also swept the season series in 2007, when the Browns won 10 games. A win on Sunday would be the third time the Browns have won back-to-back games in the series, which the Ravens have dominated by a 34-12 margin, including an 18-5 mark at M&T Bank Stadium.

Contact Chris at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com.

On Twitter: @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns vs Ravens a key AFC North showdown