The Browns are eager to close out the 2024 season with a win over their AFC North rival when they travel to Baltimore in Week 18 to face the Ravens.

Facing an MVP candidate in QB Lamar Jackson and a playoff-bound Ravens team, the Browns will look to earn a season sweep over the Ravens for the first time since the 2007 season.

"We're excited about the opportunity to go against them," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "We're looking forward to the opportunity to compete, so we'll get some finishing touches with some meetings in the next few days and then we'll be playing Saturday afternoon."

Here are three burning questions ahead of the Browns' final game of the 2024 season.

How will the Browns approach the quarterback position in Week 18?

Stefanski has not announced whether QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson or QB Bailey Zappe would start in Week 18 against the Ravens, but did confirm that both quarterbacks would see action in the last game of the season.

Stefanski said Thursday, Jan. 2, that he would talk to each quarterback later in the day regarding his plan for the Browns' game on Saturday, Jan. 4. Both quarterbacks spent time with the first team offense in practice this week as they prepared to potentially split time against the Ravens.

"There's a limited number of reps to get guys ready, and that's just the nature of the beast," Stefanski said. "We wanted to see both of those guys with the first group to see how they operate and those type of things."

Thompson-Robinson started at quarterback in Weeks 16 and 17 and has thrown for 427 yards, zero touchdowns and six interceptions in six total appearances this season. Zappe started the season on the Chiefs practice squad but joined the Browns in Week 8 and has not seen game action this season. Zappe has played 14 career games, all of which as a member of the Patriots, throwing 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Stefanski said that each player's uncertainty regarding whether they would start on Saturday is the nature of being a backup quarterback.

"You have to be ready to roll," Stefanski said. "Whether you know you're starting, or don't know you're starting, play number one of the game, somebody might need a shoelace and you have to go in there. So, you have to always be ready at that position. That's just part of it; it's dealing with uncertainty. So, I thought both guys handled that part really well."

Can the Browns limit Lamar Jackson's ability to make plays with his legs?

For the second time this season, the Browns will face the difficult task of stopping Jackson – who is just as much of a threat on the ground as he is in the passing game.

A year after winning his second NFL Most Valuable Player award, Jackson is putting together another MVP-caliber season, throwing 39 touchdowns and only four interceptions while leading the league with a 121.6 passer rating.

On the ground, Jackson has rushed for over 850 yards and four touchdowns. In Week 17, Jackson passed Michael Vick for the most rushing yards by a quarterback in NFL history, taking just seven seasons to tally 6,110 rushing yards.

"He's a great player," S Grant Delpit said. "We know what he's going to bring, but you don't know what he's going to actually do on every play, like all the great players. But all you can do is prepare for him and use what you already know."

In their last matchup against the Ravens, the Browns held Jackson to 46 yards on eight carries and sacked him three times for a net loss of 26 yards. However, Jackson's ability to create time in the pocket with his legs allowed him to throw for 289 yards and two touchdowns.

Jackson has been difficult to bring down in the backfield this season. Of the quarterbacks who have played all 16 games this season, only Bills QB Josh Allen has been sacked fewer times than Jackson, taking 14 sacks compared to Jackson's 23. Jackson's ability to stay alive in the pocket makes life difficult for opposing secondaries, who have to spend more time covering Ravens receivers while Jackson creates time to find open targets.

"The man is amazing," DE Myles Garrett said. "He's been steadily growing year after year. He's back to being lean and fast as hell. Whether he breaks the pocket or stays in the pocket, you could have a rough day."

Jackson is among the quarterbacks Garrett has sacked the most in his eight-year career, bringing down the Ravens signal caller 5.5 times in nine matchups. Only Bengals QB Joe Burrow has been met by Garrett in the backfield more, with Garrett earning nine sacks against Burrow in eight games.

Garrett, who is seeking to secure the most sacks in the NFL this season, said that no quarterback in the league is as difficult to bring down as Jackson.

"There are definitely some other cats at the quarterback position who are shifty," Garrett said. "But he has speed. He has quickness. He's shifty. He has a tremendous running ability and can also throw the ball pretty much anywhere on the field right now."

Which of the Browns' offensive weapons will step up in Week 18?

With several of the Browns' skill position players working through a variety of injuries, the Browns will look to find production from some of their backups at key offensive positions.

RB Jerome Ford suffered an ankle injury in Week 17 against the Dolphins and RB Pierre Strong Jr. suffered a concussion in the same game. Both will not play in Week 18 against the Ravens.

RB D'Onta Foreman, who has 205 yards on 61 carries this season, will likely see an uptick in carries in Week 18. The Browns could also look to RB John Kelly Jr. to help establish the run game.

The Browns signed Kelly to the active roster ahead of Week 18. Kelly spent the 2021-23 seasons with the Browns, playing five games across his three seasons in Cleveland. Kelly was a member of the Browns' 2024 training camp roster but did not make the team's final roster ahead of the 2024 season.

"It's familiarity with John, knowing the system, knowing his skillset, his strengths," Stefanski said. "Those are important as you're trying to get ready on a short week."

In addition to losing two running backs, the Browns will be without TE David Njoku, who did not play in Week 17 against the Dolphins with a knee injury. Njoku has been an important part of the Browns offense, tallying 505 receiving yards and five touchdowns in his 11 games played this season.

TE Jordan Akins started Week 17 in place of Njoku, catching six of his eight targets for 49 yards. Akins has played all 16 games this season, catching 34 passes for 330 yards and a touchdown. TE Blake Whiteheart, who is questionable for Week 18, also saw action with Njoku out, catching one pass for eight yards. Whiteheart, who has been active for 10 games this season, has five receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown.

Other pass catchers who will not be available include WR Cedric Tillman, who was placed on the injured reserve list in Week 18 with a concussion after missing the previous five games of the season. While WR Jerry Jeudy, who leads the Browns with 1,166 receiving yards, will likely continue being a major factor of the Browns' passing attack, WR Elijah Moore will also look to carve out a role in Week 18. In the five-game stretch without Tillman, Moore has caught 16 passes for 166 yards.

"We have guys like Elijah Moore and Blake Whiteheart and the rest of the guys. Those guys are going to step up, obviously," Zappe said. "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."