Ravens QB Lamar Jackson is expected to be back in the lineup Sunday night against the Browns after missing last week's game with flu-like symptoms. (CBS Sports)
Cleveland Browns scouting report: Baltimore Ravens
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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, 8:20 p.m., in M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD
Record: 7-3.
Last game: Defeated Chicago Bears, 16-13, Nov. 21, in Chicago.
Coach: John Harbaugh, 147-90, 14th year.
Series record: Ravens lead, 33-11.
Last meeting: Ravens won, 47-42, Dec. 14, in Cleveland.
League rankings: Offense is third overall (third rushing, 11th passing), defense is 25th overall (second rushing, 31st passing) and turnover differential is minus-5.
Things to watch
1. Be it resilience, championship character or just plain luck, the Ravens have stayed atop the AFC North because of five comeback victories in the fourth quarter. They’re only the fourth team in the last 40 years to have that many fourth-quarter comebacks in their first 10 games of a season. They’ve rallied from: 11 points behind to beat the Chiefs (36-35), 1 point to beat the Lions (19-17), 16 points to beat the Colts (31-25), 7 points to beat the Vikings (34-31), and 4 points to beat the Bears (19-17).
2. The comeback v. Chicago was engineered by backup QB Tyler Huntley in his first NFL start in place of Lamar Jackson, who missed with severe flu-like symptoms. Jackson is expected back Sunday night. His 36-10 record in regular-season games is the best in the NFL since he took over in Week 11 of 2018. Jackson is the league’s 18th-ranked passer (93.1 rating) and 8th-ranked rusher (639 yards, 6.0 average). Jackson has recorded a passing or rushing touchdown in 45 consecutive games. It’s the fourth-longest streak in NFL history. He’s nine games behind leader Drew Brees, who had 54.
3. The Ravens’ running game has suffered because of season-ending injuries to J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards. Replacements Davonta Freeman and Latavius Murray have been OK, but non-explosive, which is why Jackson has become the even more a focal point of the running game. At the same time, Jackson has never had a trio of wideouts as good as Marquis “Hollywood” Brown, rookie Rashod Bateman and Sammy Watkins. Still, Jackson’s go-to guy remains tight end Mark Andrews (56 receptions, 696 yards, 4TD), who has been a notorious Browns-killer (25 receptions, 330 yards, 5 TD) in six career games.
4. It’s been an uncharacteristic year defensively for the Ravens. They’re 25th overall, 31st in pass defense, 19th in sack percentage and tied for 30th with only eight turnovers. They’ve allowed eight completions of 50 yards or more and three 400-yard passing days. But they are great in two categories the Browns have suffered. They are first in third-down efficiency (allowing only 30.5 percent conversions) and are first in red zone (allowing 42.9 percent touchdowns inside the 20).
Did you know … ?
1. Justin Tucker is the most accurate kicker all-time (311 of 343 field goals, .907), holds the record for longest field goal (66 yards), has never missed in 54 field goal attempts in the fourth quarter or overtime, and has made 18 game-winning field goals in his career, including ones of 32, 49 and 55 yards against the Browns.
2. The Ravens have 15 players on injured reserve, including the following starters: running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, safety DeShon Elliott, cornerback Marcus Peters, left tackle Ronnie Stanley and defensive end Derek Wolfe – all of whom are out for the year.
3. Under John Harbaugh, the Ravens are 23-6 at home in the month of November.
4. First-round draft pick (No. 31 overall) Odafe Oweh has four sacks after netting zero his last season at Penn State.
Small world: Executive VP Ozzie Newsome was a Browns tight end from 1978-90 and is the Browns all-time leader in receiving yards, and is enshrined in the Browns Ring of Honor and Pro Football Hall of Fame … Guard Kevin Zeitler played for the Browns in 2017-18 … Linebacker L.J. Fort (IR) played for the Browns in 2012 … Offensive coordinator Greg Roman attended John Carroll University … Defensive line coach Anthony Weaver was line coach with the Browns 2014-15 … Inside linebackers coach Rob Ryan was Browns defensive coordinator 2009-10 … Director of player personnel George Kokinis was Browns general manager in 2009 and in the scouting department 1991-95 … Scout Bobby Vega was a Browns scout 2005-18 … Senior player personnel executive Vince Newsome played for the Browns 1991-92 and was a scout 1993-95.
