Linebacker Roquan Smith was happy to leave the Bears in a trade. With the Ravens, he has transformed the LB-centric Baltimore defense. (Baltimore Sun)
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. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Browns v. Baltimore Ravens
Saturday, 1 p.m., in FirstEnergy Stadium
Record: 9-4.
Last game: Defeated Pittsburgh Steelers, 16-14, Dec. 10, in Pittsburgh.
Series record: Ravens lead, 35-12.
Last meeting: Ravens won, 23-20, Oct. 23, in Baltimore.
League rankings: Offense is 14th overall (third rushing, 27th passing), defense is 12th overall (second overall, 26th passing) and turnover differential is plus-9.
Things to watch
1. Like most good teams, the Ravens do whatever it takes to win. In their case, with franchise QB Lamar Jackson incapacitated with a sprained PCL knee injury, they are fine with running the ball, playing stout defense and relying on their fantastic special teams to produce a play or two to swing momentum. The Ravens’ wide receivers have the fewest receiving yards in the NFL. And yet they are in contention for not only the AFC North division title but also for AFC No. 1 seed. Their last three wins were by the scores of 13-3, 10-9 and 16-14.
2. The Ravens are hopeful that QB2 Tyler Huntley clears concussion protocol and is able to play. If not, QB3 Anthony Brown will fill in. Guess what? It doesn’t matter that much. Running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards were paired together against Pittsburgh last week for the first time since the end of the 2020 season. They combined for 186 yards and one touchdown on 28 attempts (6.6 average) against the Steelers. With right guard Kevin Zeitler expected back after missing one game with a knee injury, the Ravens’ starting offensive line should be intact for the first time since Game 10.
3. The deadline-beating trade for Chicago linebacker Roquan Smith has transformed the Ravens’ defense. In the five games with Smith positioned next to Patrick Queen, the Ravens have allowed the second-fewest points in the NFL (to the 49ers) and have produced 10 defensive turnovers. In their key division win over the Steelers, Smith’s sack of Kenny Pickett knocked the Pittsburgh quarterback out of the game and then had an interception Mitchell Trubisky in the red zone.
4. Safety Marcus Williams was the Browns’ No. 1 target in 2021. After New Orleans franchised Williams, the Browns signed John Johnson. The Ravens signed Williams in 2022 in free agency. He missed seven games with a wrist injury. In the six games he’s been active, Williams has four interceptions.
Did you know … ?
1. The Ravens’ leading running back has 422 rushing yards. Yet they are tied for second with a 5.2-yard team rushing average and have outrushed the Browns, 2,108 to 1,943. Jackson’s the leading rusher with 764 yards, but running backs Dobbins and Edwards haven’t been healthy until recently.
2. Kicker Justin Tucker, the NFL’s most accurate field-goal maker (.910), surpassed Matt Stover as the Ravens’ all-time scorer with 1,473 points. That ranks 28th on the NFL all-time list.
3. Fifteen Ravens have recorded at least one sack. Their leading sackers are 15-year veteran Calais Campbell, 36, and 12-year veteran Justin Houston, 33.
4. The Ravens still don’t know if they can sign Lamar Jackson to a long-term contract. Jackson insists on a fully-guaranteed contract similar to what the Browns gave to Deshaun Watson. The Ravens question Jackson’s durability over the long haul and are resigned to slapping the franchise tag on Jackson in 2023 and probably in 2024. If it comes to that, the Ravens could seek to trade Jackson after 2023.
5. Tight end Mark Andrews, a notorious Browns-killer, had zero catches in the teams’ first meeting. The only other time that happened in Andrews’ five-year career was as a rookie in 2018 against the Chiefs.
Small world: Executive VP Ozzie Newsome is the Browns’ all-time leader in receiving yards and is one of 17 members of the Browns in the Pro Football Hall of Fame … President Sashi Browns was Browns legal counsel 2013-15 and was executive VP/football operations from 2016-17 … Director of player personnel George Kokinis was Browns GM for half a season in 2009 … Guard Kevin Zeitler played for the Browns 2017-18 … Run game coordinator/defensive line coach Anthony Weaver coached Browns defensive line 2014-15 … Offensive coordinator Greg Roman attended John Carroll University.
