The emptieness and quietude of M&T Bank Stadium helps level the playing field for the Browns and eases the challenge a little awaiting Browns rookie left tackle Jedrick Wills. (SeatGeek)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Four downs on Browns (0-0) v. Baltimore Ravens (0-0)
First down: Here we go again.
It’s impossible to kick off a new Browns season without belaboring their record in the first game of the season. Yes, they broke a 13-year losing streak with that 21-21 tie with the Steelers in 2018. Then a 30-point loss to the Titans last year extended their record in season openers to an incomprehensible 1-19-1 since 1999. Meantime, the Ravens’ John Harbaugh takes a 9-3 opening day record into Sunday’s game in Baltimore. That .750 win percentage is better than those of Super Bowl-winning coaches Mike McCarthy (.692), Bill Belichick (.680), Andy Reid (.636), Mike Tomlin (.577), Pete Carroll (.571) and Sean Payton (.462). Moreover, Kevin Stefanski is trying to buck a Browns’ losing trend that goes beyond the 1999 expansion era. A Browns coach has not won his coaching debut since Bud Carson in 1989. And Stefanski is the 11th new Browns coach in that time. One positive: The active NFL coach with the best record in openers with a five-game minimum is Mike Zimmer of the Vikings (5-1). Stefanski worked under Zimmer in that time. Hopefully, he took good notes on how to win a game on opening day.
Second down: Quiet, please! Rookie under study.
There will be 71,008 empty seats in M&T Bank Stadium as a result of the state of Maryland rejecting the Ravens’ proposal to allow up to 7,500 fans to attend games. To avoid complete silence, the NFL has mandated specific crowd noise inside the stadium to be played at a constant 70 decibels. This noise level is comparable to a passenger car traveling at 65 mph from 50 feet away or an operating vacuum cleaner in a living room. All of which is good news for Browns rookie left tackle Jedrick Wills. One of the eternal challenges for offensive tackles, particularly rookies, is to maintain composure amid the din of a stadium on the road, which typically exceeds 100 decibels. “It will definitely benefit him,” said offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. “Going into a loud place as a rookie in your first start, being in tune with that snap count or the silent cadence, as well, those can hinder a young guy. Him being able to hear a snap count, we do not anticipate the noise level to be too high so that will definitely benefit him.” Now, Wills has had a choppy rookie training camp adjusting to the left side, anyway, and should require help from backs and tight ends to keep Baker Mayfield clean. But the Browns should be thankful he’s able to make his NFL debut under these quieter circumstances.
Third down: Ground and pound.
A year ago in Game 4, the Browns pounded the Ravens for 193 yards on the ground, including 165 and three touchdowns by Nick Chubb. That humiliation begat a lineup reshuffling the next week, and the Ravens were able to run off 12 straight wins. Then, Tennessee coach Mike Vrabel reviewed the Browns tape and the Titans crushed the Ravens for 217 rushing yards in a 28-12 whupping in the playoffs. Baltimore responded by making run defense its top priority in the offseason. The Ravens traded for Pro Bowl defensive end Calais Campbell, signed tackle Derek Wolfe in free agency and made high draft picks of linebackers Patrick Queen of LSU and Malik Harrison of Ohio State. The Browns are not the same, either. Although Kareem Hunt was active in the 15th game meeting against Baltimore last year – in which the Browns were held to 49 yards on the ground – Hunt is expected to play a larger role under Stefanski alongside Chubb.
Fourth down: Containing Lamar.
One of the common talking points about defending Lamar Jackson, Baltimore’s marvelous, dual-threat quarterback and reigning league MVP, is that you must keep him from running to beat him. That might not be totally accurate. Jackson had 66 yards on nine rushes in the 40-25 loss to the Browns last year, and 143 yards on 20 runs in the 28-12 loss to the Titans in the playoffs. The key was forcing Jackson to throw in critical game situations. The Browns and Titans each intercepted Jackson twice in their victories. They did it by flooding the field with defensive backs and confusing pass coverage. The key to that, of course, is creating more difficult third down conversions and also by tackling Jackson when he does take off on third-and-long. First-year coordinator Joe Woods will have to do it without three DBs who were expected to be key contributors -- cornerbacks Greedy Williams and Kevin Johnson, and rookie safety Grant Delpit.
Prediction: Ravens 31, Browns 21.
My record: 10-6 (last year).