It’s not often when the Baltimore Ravens are looking up in the AFC North standings at the Cleveland Browns when the division rivals meet. This is just the fourth time the two teams will play with the Browns holding a better record entering the game.
The 9-3 Browns are looking for payback for the first one of those three losses, a 38-6 drubbing in Baltimore in Week 1. The Ravens have gone just 6-5 since then and have played a wacky schedule due to rampant COVID-19 problems.
To get caught up on all the developments with the Ravens, I turned to Ravens Wire editor Matthew Stevens. He graciously and generously answered questions with some great insight into where Baltimore is at and why this is going to be a must-watch game on Monday night.
How is the reshuffled offensive line playing lately?
The offensive line hasn’t been great this season, but they’ve had some sparks recently. This latest iteration with Patrick Mekari in for Matt Skura at center, and both D.J. Fluker and Tyre Phillips rotating at right tackle, is seemingly working well, though they’re nowhere near last season’s unit.
I think the biggest sign the offensive line is starting to turn things around comes on the ground in the last two weeks, though. Granted, they are coming off a game against the Dallas Cowboys — the worst run defense in the league by a country mile — but anytime you can put up nearly 300 rushing yards in a game, you’re doing the right things regardless of how bad the opponent is. For those that might doubt Baltimore’s offensive line beyond that game, they also put up a 4.6 yards-per-carry average and a rushing touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers without Lamar Jackson at quarterback; missing Mekari, Skura and Phillips on the offensive line; and being without both J.K. Dobbins and Mark Ingram at running back.
The injuries seem to have hit the passing game hard. How is Lamar Jackson faring without his top tight ends?
Jackson hasn’t really played great football all season long. He’s had his moments, and in nearly every game this year, you can catch glimpses of that MVP talent, but he hasn’t really been consistent in anything — passing or running. Unfortunately, the losses of Nick Boyle to a season-ending injury and Mark Andrews to the COVID-19 outbreak didn’t do him any favors. Andrews is clearly his top target and the guy he’ll look at first when in trouble or the red zone. Boyle is considered one of the best blocking tight ends in the game right now and a massive part of what makes the offense perform as well as they can. We also can’t forget about Willie Snead, another weapon in the passing game and another of Jackson’s more trusted targets.
Jackson has always been pretty good about spreading his targets around, regularly getting five or more guys some chances in every game. But with so many of his trusted targets out last week, Jackson couldn’t be as efficient, either forcing the ball to someone he trusts when it’s not an ideal situation or holding on to the ball and throwing late to someone he might not have the same rapport with.
Fortunately, Snead and Andrews should be back for this game, giving Jackson two relatively sure-handed targets who can make big plays happen just as easily as they’ll help convert crucial third downs. They might have a little rust after not playing and practicing, but this offense is absolutely better with them in the lineup, even if they aren’t 100% yet.
Baltimore’s pass defense remains very impressive. How are they getting it done?
Two of the top cornerbacks in the league certainly help. While they can get a little grabby and they are by no means perfect, Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters are a great combo for how each plays. Humphrey is more technical and physical, matching up well against receivers both on the inside and outside, making him a tough guy to throw against in any situation. Peters is more of a gambler and can shy away from contact sometimes, making him a boom-or-bust cover guy. But he’s returned enough interceptions for touchdowns when a quarterback throws outside the numbers late that most tend to not try him in those situations, even if someone looks open at first glance.
I think it’s also really important to point out Jimmy Smith, who has been floating all over the secondary, including covering tight ends. He’s often forgotten about because of Peters and Humphrey earning more attention, but when healthy, Smith is an outstanding cornerback.
They’ve shored up by two relatively unknown safeties playing solid football in Chuck Clark and DeShon Elliott. Clark earned rave reviews for his football intelligence from coaches and his teammates over the last few seasons before taking over the starting job from Tony Jefferson last year. He’s effectively the secondary’s general in that regard, helping guys get lined up properly and diagnosing things throughout the game. If someone screws up, you’ll see Clark letting them know and holding them accountable. Elliott is a heat-seeking missile. He’s not nearly as good in coverage as Earl Thomas was but you’re not going to see him get stiff-armed down the field or stop chasing a running back either.
In fact, you’re far more likely to see Elliott throw his body into a hit at full speed like he’s trying to knock someone’s soul out of their body. It all combines in a wonderful way with a touch of finesse, a touch of intelligence, a touch of swagger, and a touch of physicality that creates a really impressive secondary.
Where they’ve struggled this season has been inside and on quick throws. Baltimore has put five different slot cornerbacks on injured reserve this season, eventually signing guys off the street to start. Obviously, quarterbacks are looking at whoever lines up there with wide eyes and they’ve regularly been getting abused because of it. With a few guys banged up entering this game, the Ravens are once again potentially looking at a new face playing in that role.
What’s one thing about the matchup with the Browns that concerns the Ravens most?
I think running back Nick Chubb still gives this team nightmares and rightfully so. He’s fast but has the size and rushing style to run both inside and outside, which is exactly the type of player Baltimore has struggled to contain. While I don’t think it’s quite fair to compare Chubb and Derrick Henry together, both have this rare ability to turn a missed tackle into a touchdown. For Chubb, he has really good balance to stay on his feet and keeps his legs churning during contact, with the speed and acceleration to hit the jets after he breaks free and turn it into a race.
With Calais Campbell banged up, Patrick Queen still very inexperienced, and some previous lapses in play from the defensive line, it’s the perfect recipe for Chubb to wreak havoc once again. And against this Browns offense that is firing on all cylinders, giving them a potent rushing attack will force the Ravens to take away from their pass rush to stop him, giving quarterback Baker Mayfield clean pockets and time to pick apart the secondary. Baltimore can’t necessarily commit everything to stop Chubb, but if he has a big game, the Ravens’ defense is in trouble everywhere.
Who wins and why?
This is so tough. I’d love to give it to the Ravens but I’m not terribly confident in that. At the same time, I’m not confident in Cleveland’s consistency to pick them in this one either. Picking a tie is a cop-out but this might just be the best I’ve seen the Browns play in years at the same time Baltimore is as inconsistent as they’ve been in years, creating a scenario where absolutely anything can happen.
However, after all my hemming and hawing, I have to go with the Ravens. Technically, this isn’t a must-win game for Baltimore’s playoff hopes. But in reality, this game will absolutely determine if the Ravens are getting into the playoffs or not, with their chances dropping dramatically if they lose. If Baltimore can’t get up for a rivalry game with that much weight behind it, they don’t deserve to play in January. Ravens 27, Browns 23