The Browns are in Baltimore to take on the Ravens in a critical AFC North game. Not only is it important for the division standings, it's important for the Browns to turn the season around and simply get some momentum, and get things going the right way. But the bad news? This is probably not the place they're going to get it. I'm just going to say it folks: I'm mashing the panic button today.
Not only have the Browns lost three games in a row, but the WAY in which they've lost them has just been demoralizing. Two close losses to the Falcons and Chargers that should've been wins, and then an absolute clown show of a loss to the Patriots last week, 38-15. There's no other way to put it other than the Browns are in a freefall. A win today in Baltimore would be a massive morale boost for what's probably a fractured locker room.
But as the old saying goes, games aren't won on paper. They're won on the field. And as crazy as it sounds, the Browns still can upset the Ravens on the road today. How do they do it? Let's take a look at the Keys to Victory.
Run, run, and run some more!
I'm glad I missed most of the game last week thanks to a friend's wedding. Because I likely would've broken the TV from frustration at how little the Browns ran Nick Chubb last week. He only carried the ball 12 times for 56 yards. The Browns MUST run him at least 25 times. At least. 25 on an average day, and 30-35 on a great day when things are rolling along on the ground.
This is the Browns' identity. They are a run-heavy football team. And Nick Chubb is the best running back in the NFL. But they're wasting his prime years with games like last week. They need to go to the well early and often against the Ravens today. If they don't? They have no one to blame but themselves.
Figure out how to stop the run/contain Lamar Jackson
Do I think the Browns will be able to do either of these things? No. Their run defense is just flat out bad. Lamar Jackson has tortured Cleveland ever since he's entered the NFL. If my memory is correct, Cleveland has only beaten him twice that I can remember, and once in Baltimore. But I do remember how they beat him on that day in 2019 on the road: They made him extremely uncomfortable, contained him, and finished plays by either sacking him or forcing incompletions. And the Ravens' running game wasn't very effective either.
The Browns can do these things, but I just don't expect them to. Joe Woods and the rest of the defensive staff has just failed to put these guys in the right position to stop opposing ground games. They're surrendering an average of 132 rushing yards on the ground this season, which is ranked 24th in the league. But if there ever was a game to show up on defense to shut down the run? This is it.
Unleash the defensive front!
The defensive front has just been extremely underwhelming this season. Myles Garrett did get two sacks last week, but the pass rush, which was supposed to be one of the biggest strengths of this team along with the running game, has just not shown up. I don't know who to blame for that one. Joe Woods hasn't adjusted to the double teams on Garrett, and perhaps Garrett isn't giving his all like he should be. Plus who else other than Garrett has been a force on the defensive line? I can't think of anyone else. That's not a good sign. When this Browns defensive front is operating at peak potential, Garrett is wreaking havoc. And when he's not wreaking havoc thanks to being double teamed? Someone else is, or at least they should be! That's what is supposed to make this Browns pass rush so scary. But I haven't seen any of that consistently this season. Would be nice to see it today!
The Browns are in serious danger of going even further down the hole if they can't get it done today. I don't want to give the Last Rites to this season this early. But it's in serious danger of being another lost year unless the Browns pull off an unlikely stunner at M&T Bank Stadium today in Baltimore. It's do or die.
Sources: nypost.com, ESPN
Picture Credit: pressboxonline.com
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