Ravens vs. Browns: What's the Game Plan for Cleveland?

The new Cleveland Browns pale in comparison to the Baltimore Ravens, their former franchise.

Baltimore has two Super Bowl rings since its franchise packed up and left the shores of Lake Erie in 1995. Alternately, the Browns have just one playoff appearance since returning to the NFL as an expansion franchise in 1999.

We all know these comparisons. They are a part of the history of where both these teams have been.

But after 10 games in 2015, both are falling way short of expectations. The Browns have just two wins—one over Baltimore—and the Ravens haven’t been much better with three total victories.

That makes this Monday night matchup an underwhelming one, at least on the surface. We’ll take a look at what to expect from the Browns as they attempt to sweep the beaten-up Ravens and win their third game of the season.

Offensive Game Plan

There’s no reason the Browns need to do anything differently this week than the last time they faced Baltimore. Josh McCown set franchise records, nickel-and-diming the Ravens for 457 yards passing and two scores.

He did it by utilizing everyone at his disposal, including running backs Duke Johnson and Isaiah Crowell.

Spreading out the Ravens and getting the ball quickly to playmakers like Johnson and Travis Benjamin is a way to neutralize Baltimore’s aggressive defense. Its porous secondary has proved to be its weak spot, and McCown will look to exploit them again this week.

Defensive Game Plan

The Ravens are thin offensively—having lost Joe Flacco, Justin Forsett and Steve Smith for the season—and will be limited in their play-call sheet as a result. But what they do really well is involve tight ends, running backs and fullbacks in their passing game. That means the Browns will have to play fundamental defense, not getting sucked into play-action fakes and misdirection plays.

That’s a problem if you have seen the Browns play defense this season.

Despite missing their big-name starters, the Ravens offense could pose problems for Cleveland’s defense. Matt Schaub is a 12-year veteran who can and will execute a short passing-game attack. The only question is whether he’ll be ready to take a few shots down the field, allowing the Ravens to keep the Browns honest.

Key Player Matchups

TE Gary Barnidge vs. Ravens LBs/DBs

Barnidge has been an unexpected hero for the Browns’ passing game in 2015. His rise started weeks prior, but Barnidge’s eight-catch, 138-yard performance against Baltimore in Week 5 really made a statement. It was his third game in a row with a touchdown reception, and he didn’t even need his hands to catch that one.

McCown is responsible for six of Barnidge’s seven touchdowns, but the Ravens’ linebackers and safeties have been tough against opposing tight ends. Not counting Barnidge’s 138 yards and one score in Week 5, the Ravens have allowed just 299 yards and one touchdown in nine other games this season, per ESPN.com.

OLB Elvis Dumervil vs. OT Mitchell Schwartz

The Browns held Ravens sack leader Elvis Dumervil in check in Week 5, but Baltimore was able to create alternate pressures to sack McCown four times. The Browns’ offensive line has allowed 36 sacks this season, the most in the NFL, per ESPN.com.

Dumervil won’t be any easier to contain on the edge this week—or to move aside on running plays—meaning Mitchell Schwartz will again have to be on top of his game for the Browns to have success on offense.

DTs Brandon Williams and Timmy Jernigan vs. Browns Interior OL

The duo of Brandon Williams and Timmy Jernigan has been a good one for the Ravens. Williams has been a rock throughout the season, and Jernigan has come on strong recently.

Last week, the Ravens interior defensive line did an admirable job shutting down standout running back Todd Gurley. The Browns know him well; he gashed them for 163 yards from scrimmage earlier this season.

Cleveland’s run game has had a season to forget: last in the league with 756 total rushing yards on a 3.3-yards per carry average. So it’s obviously not going to rely on its ability to run the ball between the tackles. But when it does make those calls, it’ll need to create some type of push to move these two space-eaters out of the way.

Prediction

The Ravens are too underhanded and, as a result, too predictable offensively to take much advantage of the beatable Browns defense. They should still be able to compete, depending on Schaub's effectiveness.

Schaub, Javorius Allen and Kamar Aiken aren’t bad players, but they don’t have the standout ability to be difference-makers at this stage in their respective careers.

Look for the Browns offense to rally behind McCown and have another successful game through the air. McCown might not set franchise records on Monday Night Football, but he’ll do enough to power the Browns on national television.

Final Prediction: Browns 27, Ravens 19