When the Ravens hit the road this week, they won’t be playing the same old Browns. These Browns took the Steelers to the brink in Week 1 and just beat a very talented Saints team. Brian Hoyer, according to John Harbaugh, is “the best quarterback they’ve had in a number of years.”
After Sunday, Baltimore will have already played half of their divisional games. It’s not a must-win game for them, but it’s a game they won’t want to lose. Two divisional losses within the first three weeks of the season would put any team at a distinct disadvantage, which becomes increasingly difficult to overcome due to such a short season.
These are five things to look for that could help the Ravens return to Baltimore with a winning record.
Baltimore’s own Terrance West
Terrance West turned in one of the greatest seasons in college football history last year when he rushed for 2,509 yards and 41 touchdowns for the Towson Tigers.
After a 100-yard performance in his professional debut and scoring his first NFL touchdown last week, West is showing early signs that he is going to be a problem for opposing defenses. In two games (at Pittsburgh, versus New Orleans), he’s gained an average of 4.8 yards per carry.
Tackling, particularly at the second level, was a problem for the Ravens last week. West, though a rookie, is a big back that won’t shy away from contact.
How the Ravens scheme against Joe Haden
Normally I wouldn’t suggest designing an offensive game plan to attack one of the better cornerbacks in the league, but after watching Joe Haden struggle over the last two weeks, now seems like the right time to do so. Haden isn’t playing bad, per se, but he hasn’t been playing his usual brand of shutdown football recently. The Ravens have the personnel to attack the Browns through the air, and particularly in the red zone. This could be the week their passing game starts to click.
Will the Ravens continue their commitment to the ground game?
How much better did the Ravens look last week when they were moving the ball at will and controlled the tempo of the game compared to how they looked in Week 1?
Against a good defense and in what is sure to be a loud stadium, I’m sure it will be tempting to air the ball out at some point. Justin Forsett is gashing defenses and Bernard Pierce looks to have shaken off any ill effects of his concussion. Now is not the time to get away from the running game.
Will Webb (or Flacco) play?
Lardarius Webb (back) continues to insist that he’s ready to play, and practiced fully on Wednesday, but for some reason, he has yet to see game action this season. Though Cleveland’s wide receivers aren’t household names, Andrew Hawkins is the type of player who could give Baltimore fits. He runs a lot of his routes from the slot, where, coincidentally, Lardarius Webb has shown adept coverage.
Joe Flacco (illness) is set to make his 99th consecutive regular season start on Sunday. Concerns about Flacco’s availability aren’t as great as that of Webb’s, but when the starting quarterback misses practice it certainly commands one’s attention.
How will Baltimore’s offensive line protect against Cleveland’s defensive front?
Former Raven outside linebacker Paul Kruger has had a strong start to his 2014 season, as he’s accumulated 2.0 sacks thus far. Cleveland also boasts a stout defensive line, led by 335-pound nose tackle Phil Taylor.
Not much went right in Week 1, or at least that’s how it seemed. But fortunately for Baltimore, their offensive line looked very strong last week. They executed blocks and protected Flacco tremendously. Cleveland, like Pittsburgh, runs a 3-4 base defense and is able to get pressure on the quarterback in multiple ways. The Ravens must avoid an early Browns break through to help neutralize the home field advantage.
Prediction
Ravens 28, Browns 23
