As the Browns close out the 2024 season, they will face the AFC North division leader in the Ravens who are fighting to officially claim the division title.
They will also see QB Lamar Jackson for the second time this season.
When the Browns faced the Ravens in Week 8 at Huntington Bank Field, Cleveland found ways to limit Baltimore's offense just enough to come away with a 29-24 win. They held Jackson to completing 23 of 38 passing attempts for 289 yards and two touchdowns, as well as eight carries for 46 yards.
"He's a great player, you know what he's going to bring," S Grant Delpit said. "You don't know what he's actually going do on every play, like all the great players. But all you can do is prepare for him and use what you already know."
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their game this week against the Baltimore Ravens at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Tight end Jordan Akins (88) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 2, 2025.
Defensive end Sam Kamara (92) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 2, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 2, 2025.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Defensive end James Houston (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 2, 2025.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 2, 2025.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 2, 2025.
Running back John Kelly Jr. (42) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 2, 2025.
Running back John Kelly Jr. (42) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Running back John Kelly Jr. (42) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Running back Aidan Robbins (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Running back Jacob Kibodi (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Safety Chris Edmonds (41) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 2, 2025.
Offensive guard Germain Ifedi (65) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Tight end Cameron Latu (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Tight end Brenden Bates (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 2, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Offensive Line Coach Andy Dickerson during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Team Logistics Assistant Hunter Carson, Offensive Assistant/Quarterbacks Coach Ashton Grant, and Bill Willis Diversity Fellow Nemo Washington during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 2, 2025.
Running back Aidan Robbins (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Safety Trey Dean (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 2, 2025.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Running back Jacob Kibodi (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Running back Aidan Robbins (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
`Running back Jacob Kibodi (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Running back Aidan Robbins (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Director of Equipment Operations Kory Gillissie and Equipment Intern Sophia Birlson during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 2, 2025.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Running back Aidan Robbins (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Cornerback Chigozie Anusiem (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Running back John Kelly Jr. (42) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Running back Aidan Robbins (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Assistant Wide Receivers Coach Callie Brownson during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 1, 2025.
This season, Jackson has completed 300 of 442 passing attempts for 3,955 yards and 39 touchdowns. Jackson also has rushed for 852 yards on 120 carries and four touchdowns.
Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said the play of their defensive line will factor largely into the success of their defense against Jackson.
"It's a really good running attack and you have a quarterback component to it and then you got to chase the most elusive quarterback in the NFL that can extend plays and also can throw on time," Schwartz said. "We need our whole defensive line and the whole coordinated coverage to be able to play well."
Yet, it also comes down to the other two levels of the defense to help force turnovers. Schwartz said in Week 8 the Browns had their hands on the ball four times but did not come down with the turnover. As a defense, they preach the importance of creating turnovers, seeing them as the "lifeblood" of a team's offense and defense. This season Jackson has thrown just four interceptions this season and been sacked 23 times.
Schwartz said Jackson's ability to extend plays and throw on time puts stress on their defense. If the Browns are in zone coverage, Jackson can buy time as they try to cover receivers who are running play ground routes and working to get open. However, Schwartz added if they leave Jackson alone, he can rush for the first down or make a big play. Then, if the Browns are in man-to-man coverage – which the Browns run at the second highest rate in the league – it could give Jackson room to make plays.
"We're going to have to be disciplined in our rushes, be disciplined in our coverage," Schwartz said. "And we're going to have to do a good job of stopping the run because that's where it all starts and keep Derrick Henry from going north-south."
Henry, who has a total of 1,783 rushing yards this season, ranked second in the league – leads the Ravens in rushing attempts with 305 carries. He is a top target for Jackson in the run game, as Henry has scored 14 touchdowns this season. Henry also has 20 explosive run plays this season, breaking through for 20 or more yards on a carry, with his longest run this season for 87 yards.
This season, the Browns are allowing an average of 124.1 rushing yards per game, ranked 19th in the league. CB Denzel Ward said there will be an importance of tackling at all three levels of the defense and beat him to his spots to limit explosive runs and contain Henry.
DE Isaiah McGuire added that in order to keep Henry from running hard, they will have to be physical as a defensive line. It's a trait of their unit they have showcased throughout the season, and one that McGuire said they take pride in as a unit.
As the Browns play in their season finale, the defense sees the opportunity to put on tape the talent of their defense and build towards the 2025 season. While many of the defensive players have spoken about not living up to the standard they set during the 2023 season, they believe in finishing out the 2024 season on a high note.
"You need to," Delpit said. "It's going to be a long time until we strap it up again and we step out on that field. Have to give it all you got."
