Browns vs. Ravens: Week 8 Need to Know

It is a new day (allegedly) for Cleveland’s offense as they host Baltimore. Here is everything to know about the game.

The Cleveland Browns are home again on Sunday as they host the Baltimore Ravens.

The game will mark the debut of quarterback Jameis Winston as Cleveland’s starting quarterback in the wake of Deshaun Watson’s latest season-ending injury. It will also be, for reasons that remain unclear, the first regular-season game that offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey will call the plays for the Browns.

While the Browns have struggled to gain any traction this season, the Ravens come into the weekend with a five-game winning streak that has them tied for the lead in the AFC North Division.

Cleveland is winless at home this season, the players are fighting with the fans, and the rumors about ownership having a “quick trigger finger” are running rampant as we hit the last Sunday in October.

Can Winston and Dorsey turn around the fortunes of the offense? Will the home fans be rewarded with a victory? Can something positive finally happen for this team?

We’ll find out on Sunday afternoon. In the meantime, here is everything you need to know about the game.

Game Info

Records: Cleveland is 1-6. Baltimore is 5-2.

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

Stadium: Huntington Bank Field, Cleveland, Ohio

TV: CBS

Announcers: Tom McCarthy, Jay Feely, Ross Tucker, and Amanda Balionis (sideline reporter)

Radio: 850 ESPN Cleveland, 92.3 The Fan WKRK, 98.5 WNCX, 89.1 FM La Mega (Español)

Announcers: Andrew Siciliano, Nathan Zegura, and Je’Rod Cherry (sideline reporter)

Last meeting: The Browns won the last meeting, 33-31, in Week 10 of the 2023 season.

First meeting: The Ravens won the first meeting, 17-10, on September 26, 1999.

All-time series: Baltimore leads the all-time series, 36-14. Cleveland has won three of the last five meetings with the Ravens.

Weather: 55 degrees and sunny, with no chance of rain. Winds from the west at 6 mph. (weather.com)

Uniform: The Browns are back again this week with brown jerseys and orange pants:

Injury report: Browns – Out: Running back Jerome Ford (hamstring), safety Ronnie Hickman (ankle), linebacker Jordan Hicks (elbow, triceps), and offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee). Questionable: Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (knee). Ravens – Out: Running back Rasheen Ali (ankle), running back Keaton Mitchell (knee), and cornerback T.J. Tampa (ankle). Doubtful: Cornerback Marlon Humphrey (knee). Questionable: Cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis (hamstring), wide receiver Zay Flowers (ankle), defensive tackle Travis Jones (ankle), and cornerback Nate Wiggins (shoulder/illness).

The line: Browns are +8 to +8.5 on the various betting apps.

News and Notes

• Baltimore running back Derrick Henry leads the NFL in rushing yards (873) and is tied for first in rushing touchdowns (8).
• Cleveland’s defense has not allowed a running back to gain more than 67 yards this season.
• In five career meetings, Cleveland’s defense has held Henry to just 3 yards per carry, one rushing touchdown, and only allowed him to rush for more than 60 yards once.
• Cleveland linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah has the second-highest run defense grade (92.4) in the league, according to Pro Football Focus.
• Baltimore’s defense has allowed 20 receptions of at least 25 yards this season, the most in the NFL.
• This week’s game poster has a ghoulish vibe to it:

• The Browns are the only team in the league not to score 20 points in a game.
• The Ravens are allowing 25.7 points per game.
• With the start on Sunday, Jameis Winston will see his name added to the list of quarterbacks who have started for the Browns since 1999, which will hit 38 on Sunday.
• Baltimore left tackle Ronnie Stanley has not allowed a sack in 224 pass block snaps, while Cleveland defensive end Myles Garrett has 8.5 career sacks against the Ravens, including at least one sack in the past six games against Baltimore.
• The Ravens are tops in the league in total offense (461 yards per game) and rushing yards (210).

• Cleveland cornerback Denzel Ward has the most forced incompletions (11) in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.
• Cleveland kicker Dustin Hopkins has struggled this year with three missed field goals and two missed extra points, which are as many as he missed all of last season.

In Case You Missed It

Browns rule out 4 including 2 starters for Ravens game; Wyatt Teller return update

Browns Grant Delpit hilariously explains how to prepare to tackle Ravens Derrick Henry

RB coach Duce Staley on Nick Chubb’s return to the field

NFL Picks Week 8 and media picks for Ravens vs. Browns

Will Jameis Winston, Ken Dorsey succeed where Deshaun Watson, Kevin Stefanski failed?

Ravens vs. Browns: Week 8 TV Map

Kevin Stefanski handing over playcalling duties to Ken Dorsey

Jameis Winston: The Browns new Joe Flacco

What Jameis Winston provides the Browns as a starting quarterback

Browns sign former Patriots starting QB

Deshaun Watson reportedly weighing surgery options

A Final Quote

Offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey on taking over play calling on offense (quote via a team-provided transcript):

“There’s not a magic coach or a magic pill to play better on offense. It’s going to be work. It’s going to be attention to detail. It’s going to be us at the end of the day, locking in and fighting and going out and playing with extreme physicality, playing with speed, playing with confidence. So, in terms of that perspective, I think I’m taking that same approach as a coach, as every player should be. We want to freaking go out and play fast, physical, accountable football to each other. And I think that’s the approach I’m going to take, and I think that’s the approach that every single player should take that step out on the field.”

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What are you looking for from the Browns in Sunday’s game against the Ravens?