Will the Browns be caught off guard by running back Kenyan Drake if they focus entirely on Lamar Jackson's RPO run game? (USA Today)
Opportunities are down to a few for staggering Browns
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
BALTIMORE, MD
Four downs on Browns (2-4) v. Baltimore Ravens (3-3)
First down: It’s now or never.
All the Browns’ excuses for underperforming on offense, defense, special teams and coaching dry up with another loss Sunday against the Ravens. A loss would be the team’s fourth in a row – longest losing streak in the Kevin Stefanski era -- and would take away their slim advantage of being undefeated in the AFC North. They’re 1-0, but so is Baltimore. Cincinnati is 0-2 and Pittsburgh is 1-1. So the Browns have the tremendous opportunity to pull back into first place in the division with a win -- or stay close. A win also sets up another great opportunity to further distance themselves from AFC Champion Cincinnati next Monday night against the Bengals on Halloween Night. FirstEnergy Stadium would be electric. However, to make that game a fulcrum to the division title the Browns have to take care of business in Baltimore. “It is a great opportunity,” Stefanski flat-lined. “We are on the road, a division opponent. We know what the standings are and all of those things – I get all of that – but the focus is really to go down there and play good, clean football.” The Browns have played good, clean football only one time, in a 29-17 win over the Steelers. Maybe that’s a sign the Browns need a division rival to bring out the best in themselves this year.
Second down: Bring the wood.
In recent vintage, as the gap closed between the rivals’ overall rosters, the Browns best games against the Ravens have been marked by toughness and physicality. Toughness emanates from hammering Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt and unleashing Bill Callahan’s multi-faceted run-blocking system with two All-Pro guards leading the charge (right guard Wyatt Teller will miss this game). When the Browns stray from that mentality and naively seek the “explosive” plays Stefanski talked about this week, their quarterback gives the game away. Last year it was Baker Mayfield who failed to take advantage of four defensive takeaways. Stefanski called 39 pass plays vs. 15 run plays to Chubb and Hunt in a 16-10 loss. Heresy! Incredibly, in three possessions late in the second quarter earned by Browns’ interceptions, Stefanski called pass plays on 9 of 11 snaps with the Ravens ahead, 6-0. The Browns netted only three points. Last week against the Patriots, Stefanski sought an “explosive” play on the Browns’ first possession and it exploded in his face – a Jacoby Brissett interception on an underthrown ball that turned the game in favor of the Patriots the rest of the afternoon. Chubb and Hunt touched the ball 17 times in 70 total snaps by the Browns’ offense and the Patriots pulled away, 38-15. Unbelievable! If this collaborative mindset doesn’t change, the Browns will be out of contention by Nov. 1.
Third down: Step up or get out.
Veteran leaders John Johnson and Joel Bitonio and others led the narrative this week of younger players not giving 100 percent commitment, particularly after work hours and outside the building. Stefanski seemed to perk up when discussing the subject matter. It came off as Stefanski were appealing to his veteran leaders in each position group to help out and do what they can to snap the younger players out of their collective funk. Two young players on defense who have not progressed this season are safety Grant Delpit and linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. They’ve been out of position on pass plays, bowled over on run plays, and have contributed to the defense’s sloppy tackling epidemic. Yet they continue to hold on to their starting jobs. Why? Delpit and JOK are mainstays in the Browns’ concerted effort to upgrade their speed on defense to run with the trendy fast-paced passing games of the league’s elite offenses. This matchup against the Ravens actually is a great fit for Delpit and JOK to showcase their speed and versatility. They had good games against the Ravens last year. In the first game, JOK had 12 tackles and .5 sack and Delpit had an interception. In the second game, Delpit had 11 tackles and one quarterback hit and JOK knocked Lamar Jackson out of the game – and the Ravens out of the division race – with a low hit that caused a season-ending ankle injury. These two players have to rediscover their games fast if the Browns hope to win in Baltimore. If they don’t, the coaches should consider replacements (but they won’t).
Fourth down: Beware.
With all the deserved attention devoted to Jackson and his All-Pro tight end Mark Andrews, the Browns would be advised not to ignore running back Kenyan Drake. The seven-year veteran was signed as a free agent at the cut to 53 as insurance for injured backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards. On Sunday, Drake will be the Ravens’ No. 1 back after posting 119 rushing yards and scoring two touchdowns against the Giants. Drake, 6-1 and 210 pounds, gives the Ravens the ability to smash-mouth the ball at the Browns’ light defense to reduce the load on Jackson. In a game against the Browns in 2019 while with the Cardinals, Drake ran over the pre-Joe Woods defense for 137 yards and four touchdowns. On another note, the biggest mismatch in this contest pits the Ravens’ always-great special teams against the Browns’ always-suspect special teams. The Ravens boast the league’s greatest kicker of all time, Justin Tucker, and this season’s NFL-leading kickoff and punt returner, David Duvernay. Among 19 game-winning field goals made by Tucker in his illustrious career, three have come against the Browns. This year, more games than ever are coming down to one score, so any mistake on special teams could be the difference between a win and loss.
The pick: Browns 22, Ravens 19.
My record: 3-3.
