Baltimore (4-5) travels to Cleveland to face the Browns (2-7) in an AFC North matchup that sees the rivals heading in opposite directions. Jim Harbaugh’s team has won three straight games and sits one game behind Pittsburgh for the division lead with two matchups looming.
Kevin Stefanski’s team has lost two games in a row and would have the No. 5 overall pick if the season ended today. Baltimore is 38-15 all-time against the Browns, with a 27-8 record under head coach John Harbaugh, which includes a 41-17 win in Week 2 this season. Under Harbaugh, the Ravens are 12-5 in Cleveland, where the Browns have won three of the past four meetings.
With kickoff fast approaching, we’re looking at four keys for the Ravens offense vs. the Browns defense in Week 11.
Establish the run
In the first meeting between the Browns and the Ravens in Week 2, Cleveland held Baltimore running back Derrick Henry to a season low of 23 rushing yards. Overall, they limited Baltimore to a total of 45 net rushing yards for the game, not allowing a run over 11 yards, but still lost. With Cleveland looking to take away the pass, the Ravens have to establish the running game while unleashing Keaton Mitchell formally. One significant factor was that fullback and Mr. Do Everything, Patrick Ricard, missed that first matchup. Since his return from a calf injury, Ricard’s playing time has steadily increased. He played a season-high 52.7% of Baltimore’s offensive snaps in Week 10. In the three games since Ricard’s return, Henry has rushed for at least 71 yards. This season, the Browns are allowing an average of only 97.9 rushing yards per game, ranking 10th in the league.
Get Lamar Jackson on the edge
The Browns’ defense will face Jackson for the second time this season and will look to limit his dual-threat ability, both in passing and using his legs to either scramble or execute a designed quarterback run. In their 27-19 win over the Vikings, Jackson completed 17 of 29 passing attempts for 176 yards and one touchdown. In his six games this season, Jackson has completed 103 of 147 passing attempts for 1,249 passing yards and 15 touchdowns. He has also recorded 35 carries for 216 rushing yards and one touchdown, and could look to make Jackson a rusher against the Browns’ pass rusher.
The offensive line has to bring their lunch pail.
Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz’s scheme is built on attacking the edges and penetration up the middle. Cleveland’s defense has 27 sacks and 11 takeaways this season, including recording multiple sacks and getting a takeaway in each of its last three games. The Browns’ defense held Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry to their lowest rushing outputs this season and limited Baltimore to 45 net rushing yards.
Pass protection is key.
In the first meeting, rookie Mason Graham and Myles Garrett both had five tackles and combined for three tackles for losses in the game while Garrett recorded 1.5 sacks. Garrett leads the NFL in tackles for loss with 17, and Cleveland’s defense has 67 tackles for loss, averaging 7.44 per game.
Unleash Keaton Mitchell
Whether it’s via the run or the pass, John Harbaugh and Todd Monken have to get Keaton Mitchell involved. Mitchell still hasn’t had more than four carries in any game this season, but that should end on Sunday.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: 4 keys for Ravens offense vs. Browns defense in Week 11
