Any coach would smile to have Lamar Jackson as his quarterback. Jackson is stalking his third MVP award with arguably his finest season.
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is an analyst the Cleveland Browns for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Browns v. Baltimore Ravens
Saturday, 4:30 p.m., in M&T Bank Stadium
Record: 11-5.
Last game: Defeated Houston Texans, 31-2, December 25, in Houston.
Coach: John Harbaugh, 183-114, 17th year.
Series record: Ravens lead, 36-15.
Last meeting: Browns won, 29-24, October 17, in Cleveland.
League rankings: Offense is first overall (second rushing, fifth passing), defense is 14th overall (first rushing, 31st passing) and turnover differential is plus-4.
Things to watch
1. The Ravens win the AFC North title with a win or a Steelers loss later Saturday night against the Bengals. The division winner would host a playoff game against the Chargers or the AFC North runner-up. The second-place finisher would play at Houston. If the Ravens have the game at hand, John Harbaugh is expected to pull starters in the fourth quarter.
2. At the time of their first meeting in October, the Ravens were dealing with two big issues – giving up too many big plays in the defensive secondary and shocking, inconsistent kicking from Justin Tucker. So what’s happened since then? In the last six games, the Ravens have allowed the fewest points (98) in the NFL. And in the last three games, Tucker has made all 16 of his kicks, 13 of 13 PATs and 3 of 3 field goals, including ones of 51 and 52 yards.
3. There is no question this is the best Ravens offensive team in the Lamar Jackson era. The addition of running back Derrick Henry (1,783 yards, 14 rushing TDs), the first 1,000-yard season of receiver Zay Flowers’ career, and the solidification of Rashod Bateman (career-high 680 yards, eight TDs) as a dependable, No. 2 receiver have resulted in career numbers from Jackson, a two-time NFL MVP. Jackson leads NFL quarterbacks in average yards per pass attempt (10.3) and passer rating (121.6), and is second in quarterback rushing yards (852) and total TDs (43).
4. Since their last meeting, the Ravens have made three changes on defense that helped turn around that side of the ball. Weakside linebacker Trenton Simpson has given way to a rotation of Malik Harrison and Chris Board, Ar’Darius Washington has taken over at free safety, and strong safety Kyle Hamilton has played further from the line of scrimmage and made more plays downfield.
Did you know … ?
1. Nate Wiggins co-leads all rookie cornerbacks with 12 PBU (passes broken up). But the undisputed MVP of the Ravens defense has been veteran cornerback Marlon Humphrey (14 PBU, 6 INT, 2 forced fumbles). Humphrey made arguably the two biggest defensive plays of the Ravens season – an INT of Joe Burrow in overtime in a 41-38 win in Cincinnati, and a Pick 6 of Russell Wilson that sealed a 34-17 win over the Steelers.
2. Derrick Henry’s 77 yards from scrimmage in the first meeting against the Browns is his fifth-lowest total of the season. Henry had 73 yards rushing and 1 TD and 1 catch for 4 yards v. the Browns.
3. Hamilton has not forgotten his dropped INT of a Jameis Winston pass with 1:04 left in the first meeting. On the next play, Winston connected with Cedric Tillman for a 38-yard TD that secured the Browns’ win and ended a five-game Ravens winning streak.
4. Lamar Jackson is 7-5 (.583) as a starter against the Browns and 62-19 (.765) against the rest of the NFL.
5. Running back Justice Hill missed the last game with a concussion. He is expected back for this game.
6. The Ravens used to boast the best press box in the NFL, based on prime location, sight level, and spaciousness. That has changed. This year the Ravens replaced the press box with a premium revenue area known as Blackwing, featuring 10 of the priciest suites in the stadium. The press box was moved to the corner of an end zone with a drastically reduced square footage.
Small world: Executive vice president Ozzie Newsome played 13 seasons with the Browns and holds the franchise record for most career receptions. He was voted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999 … President Sashi Brown was Browns general counsel (2013-15) and executive vice president of football operations (2016-17) … Offensive line coach George Warhop held the same position with the Browns (2009-13) … Offensive coordinator Todd Monken held that job with the Browns in 2019 … Quarterback Josh Johnson was with the Browns in 2012.