What does league MVP Lamar Jackson do for an encore in his third season? He knows he has to win a playoff game after two losses in two seasons. (Baltimoreravens.com)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is an analyst on the Cleveland Browns for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Browns v. Baltimore Ravens
Sunday, 1 p.m., in M&T Bank Stadium; Baltimore, MD
Record: 14-3 (in 2019).
Last game: Lost to Tennessee Titans, 28-12, Jan. 11, in AFC divisional playoff.
Coach: John Harbaugh, 128-81, 13th season.
Series record: Ravens lead, 31-11.
Last meeting: Ravens won, 31-15, Dec. 22, in Cleveland.
League rankings: In 2019, offense was second overall (first rushing, 27th passing), defense was fourth overall (fifth rushing, sixth passing) and turnover differential was plus-10.
Things to watch
1.How many reigning MVPs carry a chip on their shoulder into their next season? That’s what quarterback Lamar Jackson brings. Now that he’s dispelled doubts about succeeding as a running quarterback, Jackson has a new criticism to motivate him. He’s 0-2 in the playoffs, both losses coming at home. As a rookie, he was bounced in a wild card game loss to the Chargers. Last year, a 14-2 regular-season record went kaput in a 28-12 loss to the Titans in a divisional round playoff game. In those games, Jackson was a 51 percent passer, threw three interceptions, was sacked 11 times, and had a 68.3 passer rating. Nevertheless, Jackson is 19-3 in regular-season starts and last year became the first quarterback in history to throw for more than 3,000 yards and run for more than 1,000 yards. He accounted for 43 touchdowns – 36 passing and seven running.
2.The Ravens are intent on stretching the field with their passing game this year. They want to veer from over-reliance on their tight ends and Jackson’s runs. Key to this evolution of their offense is further development of second-year wideouts Marquise Brown (the burner) and Miles Boykin (big and physical). By the way, Jackson reportedly threw one interception in team drills all of training camp. One.
3.That 40-25 Browns’ beatdown of the Ravens in Game 4 last year ultimately did more good to the Ravens than harm. The Ravens never lost again until the playoffs, and the 193 rushing yards and four touchdowns the Browns posted on the Baltimore defense set in motion plans for a major do-over. In the offseason, the Ravens traded for Jacksonville five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Calais Campbell, signed tackle Derek Wolfe in free agency, and selected linebackers Patrick Queen of LSU and Malik Harrison of Ohio State in the draft. Harrison is a future starter, but not yet. The Ravens are smarting from yielding 4.4 yards per rush last year – the worst figure in their history.
Did you know … ?
1.The Ravens are 9-3 in season openers under John Harbaugh and have won four in a row.
2.Retired guard Marshal Yanda will be the fourth Ravens player elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame when he is eligible in five years. His replacement might be third-round rookie Tyre Phillips or veteran pickup D.J. Fluker. Either way, it’s a big drop-off at their right guard position.
3.The Ravens consider the banishment of safety Earl Thomas to be addition by subtraction. Still, there is vulnerability at deep safety. Replacement DeShon Elliott, a sixth-round pick in 2018, will make his first NFL start and he has finished both his seasons on injured reserve.
4.The Ravens were the other team that tried to acquire defensive end Jadeveon Clowney via an NBA-like sign-and-trade deal. The Ravens were conspiring with the cap-rich Jacksonville Jaguars to sign Clowney and trade him for draft picks. The Browns were going to be the team to help the Saints try the same thing. Ultimately, the NFL negated both attempts.
5.The Ravens’ formidable place-kicking team – kicker Justin Tucker, holder/punter Sam Koch, and long snapper Morgan Cox – are entering their ninth season together. Tucker is the NFL’s all-time best kicker with a field-goal conversion rate of 90.8 percent.
Small world: Executive vice president Ozzie Newsome, who retired as GM in 2019, is the Browns’ all-time leader in receptions and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999 … Former Browns include quarterback Robert Griffin (2016), linebacker L.J. Fort (2012) and receiver Willie Snead (2014 training camp) … Senior vice president of football operations Pat Moriarty is a Cleveland native who played at Benedictine High School and played running back for the Browns in 1970 … Director of player personnel George Kokinis was Browns general manager for eight games in 2009 … Senior player personnel executive Vince Newsome played safety for the Browns (1991-92) and was a special assignment scout (1993-95).