The Browns continue their three-game home stand as they are set to host the Ravens in Week 8 at Huntington Bank Field. It's also the Browns second division game of the season, after they lost to the Bengals in Week 7.
The Browns are 1-6 on the season and rank last in the AFC North, while the Ravens are 5-2 and are at the top of the division.
As Cleveland looks to break its five-game losing streak and claim its first division win, here are three keys to Sunday's game against the Ravens.
Pressure QB Lamar Jackson
The Browns defense has a tall task ahead of them to limit the success of dual threat quarterback Lamar Jackson. This season, Jackson has completed 135 of 198 passing attempts for 1,810 passing yards and 15 touchdowns. He's averaging 9.1 yards per passing attempt, thrown just two interceptions and been sacked nine times. Jackson also has rushed for 455 yards on 73 carries and two touchdowns.
Over the years, defensive coordinator has seen Jackson go from being a run-first quarterback to a pass-first quarterback who can make plays with his feet and make quick throws.
"Now he's spreading the ball around to a lot more people, has that combination of getting it out quick, but he can also make a play when the play breaks down," Schwartz said. "And he threatens all 53 and a third 110, 120 yards of the field. He's sideline-to-sideline and he can go north, south in a hurry, also. So, they pretty much open the whole passing game up to him and he can rely on that. But he also has those legs that he can make explosive plays."
The Ravens have a total of 21 explosive passing plays this season, and Jackson has the second-most explosive runs at 18.
Establish the passing game
The Ravens pass rush has allowed the most passing yards this season, giving up 2,159 yards. Opposing teams are averaging 8.1 yards per attempt, which is tied for second highest in the league, and given up 14 passing touchdowns – tied for the third- most in the league.
"They've been playing from ahead, too, so teams have had to pass the ball a little more," G Joel Bitonio said. "They draft guys, and they keep them in the system. They develop these defensive tackles and defensive linemen and linebackers, and right now, their guys are pretty formidable. It's a tough task. They have big, strong guys inside and we know it'll be a challenge. […] They are pretty formidable in the pass rush."
The Browns could find success in moving the ball downfield and putting points on the board if they can establish consistency in the pass game. They have struggled in the pass game through the first seven games, totaling 1,313 passing yards – ranked 25th in the league – and average just 5.2 yards per passing attempt – ranked last in the league.
However, the Browns will see some changes offensively beginning in Week 8, as QB Jameis Winston will be under center. Winston served in backup role for the first portion of the season, stepping onto the field for some short yardage and quarterback sneak situations. He's played in five games, completing 6 of 12 passing attempts for 83 yards and a touchdown. He's also totaled five first down this season and been sacked once. Winston has also totaled five carries for two yards, including three first downs.
"I don't think with Jameis, we're going to be running a lot of pin and pull quarterback run type things or anything like that," offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey said. "It's going to be in the pass game, what he's got reps on throughout training camp, throughout OTAs, and that he feels comfortable with within the system."
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their game this week against the Baltimore Ravens at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Cornerbacks Coach Brandon Lynch during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Offensive tackle Michael Dunn (68) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Tight end Jordan Akins (88) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Linebacker Khaleke Hudson (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Tight end Geoff Swaim (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Running back Gary Brightwell (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Linebacker Khaleke Hudson (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Defensive Quality Control Coach Jeff Anderson during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Defensive Line Coach Jacques Cesaire during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Offensive Assistant/Run Game Specialist Nick Charlton during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Senior Offensive Assistant Bill Musgrave during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Safety Trey Dean (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Center Cameron Tom (64) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Contain Derrick Henry in the run game
Not only do the Browns have to focus on limiting Jackson in the run game, but their run defense also has to take into account RB Derrick Henry.
"Derrick Henry is a guy that we've played before," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "We know that you're in for a 60-minute affair when he's out there. He's outstanding downhill. He's outstanding on the perimeter. They're using him in a very difficult way to defend in some of the different run schemes that they're using. So, it's a huge, huge challenge for our football team."
Henry leads the league with 873 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns. He has 39 rushing first downs this season, which leads the league, and averages the most yards per carry with 6.5 yards per rush. Adding to his ability to run the ball, Henry can catch out of the backfield, as he has seven receptions for 62 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Henry is also finding gaps created by the Ravens offensive line and is averaging the most yards before contact at 3.10 yards among running backs in the league this season.
Schwartz has seen Henry's work ethic firsthand when they were both at the Titans in from 2021-22. He knows the kind of run threat they are facing.
"Very serious about his craft and his conditioning and those kinds of things," Schwartz said. "He's obviously been blessed with some physical skills and some size and things like that, but he's also been a hard worker and has made the most of it. And I think when you see veteran players that have success late in their careers, it's not just an accident. It's because of professionalism and discipline and hard work."
This season the Browns run defense has struggled at times to contain run threats, as they have given up 883 rushing yards this season – ranked 17th in the league. Opposing teams are averaging 4.4 yards per carry and have scored eight rushing touchdowns against the Browns. They've also given up nine carries of 20+ yards, and two of 40+ yards.
