The Browns will close out their 2024 season in a divisional matchup against the Ravens, looking to put a damper on their hopes of winning the AFC North title.
The two teams met earlier in the season in Week 8, when Cleveland bested Baltimore 29-24 at Huntington Bank Field. Now, as the Browns travel to face the Ravens in Baltimore, they'll look to end their 3-13 season on a high note.
Here are three keys to Saturday's matchup.
Pressure QB Lamar Jackson
The Browns defense will face another elite quarterback when they take the field against QB Lamar Jackson, who can use his legs to escape pressure and run with the ball, as well as throw the ball at a high level.
This season, Jackson has been sacked 23 times, which is 26th in the league among all quarterbacks who have played this season. Among quarterbacks who have played all 16 games this season, only Bills QB Josh Allen has been sacked fewer times than Jackson with 14 sacks.
When the Browns faced the Ravens in Week 8, they sacked Jackson a total of three times for a net loss of 26 yards. Their ability to apply pressure to Jackson one again – especially from their defensive line – could play an important role in Week 18.
"You have a quarterback component to (the running attack) and then you got to chase the most elusive quarterback in the NFL that can extend plays and also can throw on time," defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said. "We need our whole defensive line and the whole coordinated coverage to be able to play well."
DE Myles Garrett said while they can't take Jackson completely out of the game because of his ability to use his legs and throw the ball. Because of his dual threat ability, Garrett said they must be aware of when he stays in the pocket as well as when he breaks the pocket.
"There are definitely some other special cats at the quarterback position who are shifty," Garrett said. "Lamar has that. But he also has speed. He has quickness, is shifty. So, he has that tremendous running ability, and he can also throw the ball pretty much anyone on the field right now."
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.
Contain Derrick Henry in the run game
While the Browns defense will have its hands full with Jackson, their run defense will also have its eye on RB Derrick Henry.
Henry is one of the top running backs in the league with a total of 1,783 rushing yards this season — ranked second in the league. He's totaled 305 carries and 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.
The Browns run defense will need to contain Henry and stop him from finding a gap in the defense to break through and run down the field. This season, the Browns are allowing an average of 124.1 rushing yards per game, ranked 19th in the league. There will also be an importance of tackling at all three levels of the defense to limit explosive runs and contain Henry.
"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."
Rely on the pass game
The Browns have not officially announced their starting quarterback for Week 18, but they have an opportunity to turn to the pass game and move the ball downfield.
The Ravens defense gives up the second-most passing yards per game in the league at 248.5. When the Browns faced Baltimore in Week 8, they gave up 321 net passing yards as QB Jameis Winston threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns.
The Browns have dealt with their struggles in the pass game, as they have used three different quarterbacks this season and average 208.3 net passing yards per game through 16 games – which ranks 20th in the league.
Yet, as they deal with injuries in the run game with RB Jerome Ford and RB Pierre Strong Jr. officially ruled out – as well as the question at the quarterback position – they can turn to their pass catchers in WR Jerry Jeudy and WR Elijah Moore to help move the ball downfield.
"Jerry's (Jeudy) one of the best receivers in the league," Zappe said. "There are certain things that defenses are going to try to do to stop him and I think (offensive coordinator Ken) Dorsey and coach (Kevin) Stefanski are going to do a good job of kind of moving him and kind of just creating opportunities for him to get the ball. Guys are going to step up, obviously, and Elijah's done a great job this year, too. So, I'm excited for all those guys to get their opportunity as well, and hopefully I can get them the ball and they can run with it."
