With the Ravens aiming to win back-to-back AFC North road games and improve to 10-4 at Cleveland on Saturday, I’ve offered a dozen thoughts, each in 50 words or less:
1. With many figuring Lamar Jackson would miss at least two games with his left knee injury, splitting back-to-back AFC North road games sounded like the reasonable goal before the Pittsburgh victory alleviated much of the pressure. Still, Cincinnati is making it difficult to feel too comfortable right now.
2. Since the Browns averaged 4.7 yards per carry in their Week 7 meeting, Baltimore has surrendered just 2.77 yards per rush over the last six games, a dominant stretch of run defense. For context, it’s even more remarkable that the 2000 Ravens allowed 2.69 yards per carry all season.
3. The Browns running game enters Week 15 ranking fifth in yards per game, ninth in yards per carry, and eighth in Football Outsiders’ efficiency metric, but it averaged a brutal 2.8 yards per attempt against the Bengals last week. That doesn’t bode well with the Ravens coming to Cleveland.
4. Rust was anticipated with Deshaun Watson having not played in two years, but he’s averaged 2.1 yards per pass attempt in the red zone and 3.3 yards per pass attempt on third down, per Sharp Football. Considering his off-field perception, how patient will Browns fans be in his home debut?
5. Tyler Huntley is on track to play despite last Sunday’s concussion in Pittsburgh, but he must find a way to avoid taking so many big hits, something for which Jackson seemingly has a knack. Anthony Brown showed admirable composure last week, but you’d rather not be in that position again.
Huntley good to go, Jackson out for Ravens in Cleveland on Saturday https://t.co/sBTBl6q7Fw
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6. No one anticipated J.K. Dobbins matching his career high with 15 carries in his first action since arthroscopic knee surgery in late October, but I’d expect him and Gus Edwards to continue having a fairly even split in touches. Pushing either too hard before January would be unwise.
7. After watching Baltimore impose its run-heavy will on the Steelers last week, Cleveland has to be very concerned about its rush defense that ranks 26th in yards per carry and 30th in efficiency. Even if the Browns know it’s coming, will that even matter?
8. While the Ravens have surrendered 13.5 points per game since the bye, they’ve also allowed at least 8.6 yards per pass attempt to Trevor Lawrence, Russell Wilson, and Mitch Trubisky in the last three games. Yards aren’t everything, of course, but they can’t allow Watson to get going like that.
9. Browns tight end David Njoku had seven catches for 71 yards on seven targets in the first meeting before exiting in the third quarter with an ankle injury. Health is a constant concern with him, but he’s routinely shown off his game-changing ability against Baltimore.
10. Held without a touchdown and having registered no more than 63 receiving yards since Week 6, Mark Andrews was blanked by Cleveland in Week 7 and is seeing double teams “a lot more than he ever has,” per Greg Roman. Given the passing game’s current state, that sounds about right.
11. As usual, the Ravens have the overall edge on special teams, but the Browns sport one of the league’s better punt return units, which was evident when Donovan Peoples-Jones returned one for a touchdown in Houston two weeks ago. It’s expected to be cold and windy on Saturday.
12. Though Baltimore hasn’t really blown out anyone all season, you’d imagine the team’s brass would love nothing more than to thoroughly embarrass the Browns with the way the unprecedented Watson contract has impacted negotiations with Jackson. The off-field aspect of rivalries can be just as bitter.
