Browns vs. Ravens: Biggest Storylines to Watch in AFC North Battle

It is rare that a matchup between a winless team and a potential Super Bowl contender warrants serious discussion, but the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens are two of the most fascinating case studies in all of football. 

The Browns are a complete mess right now. They are 0-3 and seem to be getting worse with each passing game. They started out losing by one point to Philadelphia, then by seven points to Cincinnati and then by 10 points to Buffalo in Week 3. 

The Ravens are 2-1, but could easily be entering this game at 3-0 or 1-2. They are not a perfect team, nor do they look as dominant as they did even last season when they went to the AFC Championship Game. 

As we scrutinize both of these franchises, here are the biggest storylines that we will be paying attention to on Thursday night. 

Will Brandon Weeden Have Success Against Ravens D?

Through the first three weeks of the season, the Ravens defense has looked mediocre, at best. They are giving up over 400 yards of offense and 22 points per game. That is not the kind of performance this team can afford to have if it wants to make another deep playoff run. 

Weeden has looked exactly like you would expect a rookie quarterback to look. He had a disastrous game against Philadelphia to start the year, looked outstanding against Cincinnati and was down against the Bills. 

Something has to give in this game. If you are a betting man, you would have to give a huge edge to the Ravens. 

The Browns are going to take a lot of beatings this season, but it can be a valuable learning experience if they are able to find players who will contribute in the future. 

Which Joe Flacco Is Going to Show Up?

If Joe Flacco wants to be an elite quarterback, this is the kind of game where he has to show how dominant he can be. 

Fans and analysts will tell you that the Achilles' heel of the Ravens offense is Flacco, because you never know what you are going to get. 

So far this season, there have been two outstanding performances and one terrible game. A game against the Browns, who are giving up 269 yards through the air, should bring out the Good Flacco. 

Will the Browns Be Able to Keep This Game Close?

Here we get into the crux of the matter. We should all want to see the Browns do well. The Cleveland fan base is one of the best and most passionate in all of sports. It is desperate for something to root for, but hasn't had anything since LeBron James took his talents to South Beach. 

This just isn't the right game for the Browns to be in primetime. They don't have a lot of players who can make an impact, especially against elite teams. Weeden and Trent Richardson are the two players who need to develop this year for this franchise to get back on track. 

The Ravens are playing at home, against a winless team, on a short week. This has blowout written all over it. We have seen plenty of surprises through three weeks this season, but this definitely won't be one of them. 

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