No. 6: Week 10Â Ravens v. Browns
All-time record against: 25-9
Most recent game: Ravens 33, Browns 27 (November 30, 2015)
Significance: The Ravens will host the Browns in Week 10 of the 2016 season. In the 17 prior games that Baltimore has hosted Cleveland, the Ravens are 13-4 and have outscored the Browns by an average of 10 points per game (24.5-14.5). The Browns scored more than 17 points in just three of those games (all Baltimore losses).
On paper, this game might not seem like much of a challenge for Baltimore. However, it comes on a short week–four days after the Ravens host the Steelers.
Not only will the Ravens face the Browns on four days rest, but they’ll do so coming off a 2015 season in which they were nearly swept by Cleveland.
On November 30, 2015, Will Hill III scooped up the ball after a blocked field goal attempt and ran it into the end zone as time expired for a “kick-six” to win the game. Seven weeks prior to that, the Ravens tied a team record for most points allowed to Cleveland, as they lost to the Browns in Baltimore, 33-30.
By and large, the Browns aren’t a very good football team. Their record reflects that. However, they’re always competitive and, albeit slightly, do seem to be trending in the right direction (certainly against the Ravens).
Key match-ups
Steve Smith, Sr. vs. Joe HadenÂ
Regardless of his return from injury and other younger, talented receivers on the roster, Steve Smith, Sr. is the best pass-catcher the Ravens have. As such, he’ll likely match-up with Cleveland’s top cornerback (and two-time Pro Bowler): Joe Haden.
Like Smith, Haden (ankle) will return in 2016 after suffering a season-ending lower-leg injury the year prior. According to a cleveland.com article published on July 2, “Haden had ankle surgery on March 18. He originally hurt his ankle in a Nov. 1 loss to Arizona. He re-injured it during off-season workouts, requiring surgery. He says he plans to be ready for training camp, but no one sure if that’s the case.”
Haden was born an hour south of M&T Bank Stadium in Fort Washington, MD. He’s played in Baltimore five times, recording 11 tackles and zero interceptions. He knows the fan base and the Ravens offense fairly well.
Smith, on the other hand, didn’t play against the Browns last season. When he played for the Ravens against the Browns in 2014, he totaled 13 receptions for 191 yards (14.7 yard average).
C.J. Mosley vs. Gary Barnidge
On the flip side, Browns tight end Gary Barnidge and Ravens inside linebacker C.J. Mosley will not only be an important matchup, it could be the most important matchup of this game.
Last season in Baltimore against the Ravens, Barnidge ran wild. He caught eight of his 10 targets for 139 yards and one touchdown. Against the Ravens in Cleveland, he caught seven of his 11 targets for 91 yards.
Fifteen receptions for 230 yards and a score in two games is a strong stat line for any receiver, especially when that receiver is a Browns tight end.
And, it’s not like Barnidge had Tom Brady throwing him passes, either. Still, he caught 71.4 percent of his targets against the Ravens last season. To put that in perspective, in 2015, Rob Gronkowski (widely considered the best tight end in football) caught 60 percent of his passes. His quarterback is Tom Brady.
Mosley is now the defensive signal caller & a team captain. The performance of the Ravens defense will largely be determined by his play and his communication. Entering just his third professional season, he’s on his way to being one of the best in the game. One of the best parts of his game is his pass coverage. That’s good, because in 2015, Barnidge led the Browns in receptions (79), receiving yards (1,043), and touchdowns (9).
Especially since Josh Gordon is still suspended and Travis Benjamin signed with the Chargers in March, it’s fair to say that Barnidge is Cleveland’s best receiver.
Expect Mosley to be on a mission to erase Barnidge from the stat sheet on November 10.
Prediction: Ravens 27, Browns 16
