Browns vs Ravens: 2 on offense, 1 on defense from Baltimore that could change Week 8

Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry are having award level seasons for the Ravens

Fall is upon us. It’s been a frustrating season for the Cleveland Browns. The team is struggling, fans are going at it with the players, players are going at it with the fans, the quarterback is lost for the season (and potentially out of the league). It’s looking rough.

Things don’t get easier as Cleveland will play host to the division-leading Baltimore Ravens.

After a slow start to the season, Baltimore appears to be clicking on all cylinders. Keep in mind we are talking about a team that hosted the AFC Championship game last season, so it’s not a surprise that the team looks better than they did to start the season. The Ravens are clearly the best team in the AFC North and they are the only team in that division that is a legit threat to dethrone the Kansas City Chiefs in an AFC conference that’s not as strong as people thought going into the season.

Offensively, the unit is one of the best in the division as well as the entire league. Quarterback Lamar Jackson should be the front-runner for the MVP at this point, he’s playing at that high of a level. Running back Derrick Henry has fit in well after signing with Baltimore this offseason and he adds that closer element that the Ravens lacked.

As far as the receiving weapons go, wide receiver Zay Flowers (who is questionable for the game) has started to come into his own and Rasho+d Bateman has found ways to contribute. The tight end duo of Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely are also high quality. After a rough start to the season, the offensive line has settled but it has its fair share of concerns.

The offense is a top 10, hovering around a top 5 unit.

Defensively, it isn’t the same dominant force it was last year. When you lose your defensive coordinator, Mike MacDonald (current head coach for the Seattle Seahawks), and multiple defensive players in free agency, the drop-off was going to be evident.

Make no mistake, the defense is good but it’s not necessarily the shutdown one it was last season.

Defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike is stout in the interior, and edge rusher Odafe Oweh is a contributor. Linebackers Roquan Smith and Trenton Simpson are a solid duo, and safety Kyle Hamilton and cornerbacks Nate Wiggins and Marlon Humphrey (one is questionable and the other is doubtful Sunday) are names to watch in a somewhat porous secondary.

The defensive unit is talented but there are weaknesses to exploit.

Here are the 3 players to watch for in this AFC North tilt:

QB Lamar Jackson

Since being drafted by the Ravens back in 2018, Jackson has shown why they made the right decision by sticking by him. Despite what the doubters have said about him, Jackson has gotten better every single season since he’s been in the league. Everyone knows how good Lamar is on the ground, but his passing has evolved. He didn’t win those MVP’s by mistake, he’s a top 5 quarterback in this league for a reason.

For Cleveland, they are already familiar with Jackson and what he brings. The Browns defense has given the QB issues in the past but Jackson is on a different level than before.

Cleveland’s defense hasn’t been as bad as people suggest but limiting the explosive plays Jackson can generate will pay dividends if the Browns want to upset Baltimore.

RB Derrick Henry

When Derrick Henry signed with Baltimore this past offseason, many fans had the same reaction that I had.

Henry has settled in with the Ravens and he has brought another layer to Baltimore’s potent running game. Accounting for Jackson was already difficult, now you have to deal with Henry. Henry’s running style can wear down any defense, the physicality he brings and his home-run hitting ability is why he’s one of the best running backs in the league.

Cleveland’s run defense has been up and down this year, last week being their best outing but Henry is a different beast. You can’t arm tackle against Henry, the same goes for taking bad angles because Henry will make you pay.

CB Nate Wiggins

The Ravens have had their fair share of concerns in the secondary this season. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey left Monday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers so his status will be in doubt for Sunday’s game. Enter rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins, who is questionable himself for the game.

Wiggins, who Baltimore drafted in the 1st round of this past draft will likely be tested on Sunday by a Cleveland passing offense that has struggled all season but Wiggins will likely be prepared.

Wiggins is tall, with a ton of range (in terms of his frame), with the athletic traits to back it up.

The Browns would be wise to not test Wiggins, he’s capable of rising to the occasion. If there is someone to keep an eye on, it’s the rookie out of Clemson.