Browns vs. Ravens: Full Cleveland Game Preview

Being bereft of passing weapons probably doesn’t faze Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco as he prepares his team for their Week 5 matchup against the Cleveland Browns.

Flacco’s 13-1 record against them and running back Justin Forsett’s success in 2014 are probably big factors in that. The veteran running back averaged 6.5 yards per carry in two matchups with Cleveland last season.

After getting out to a slow start through three weeks, Forsett looked nowhere near 30 years old while rushing 27 times for 150 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers last Thursday. Forsett turns 30 on Oct. 14.

Although they looked better against the patchwork San Diego Chargers offensive line last week, the Browns are still second-last in the league in rush defense, giving up 140 yards per game on the ground. They limited the Chargers to just 91 yards last week but were victimized by a couple of big chunk plays by those running backs.

Ravens No. 1 receiver Steve Smith will probably not play, and tight end Crockett Gillmore will likely be a game-time decision. That leaves receiver Kamar Aiken, rookie tight end Maxx Williams and recently acquired veteran wideout Chris Givens as Flacco’s primary passing options. Prompted by Michael Campanaro being placed on injured reserve, Givens was acquired in a trade on Oct. 3, so he will have had a full week worth of practice before kickoff.

If the Browns don’t have a better showing this week against another offense ailing with injuries, you have to wonder if they’re going to make progress this season.

The Ravens have won seven in a row over the Browns at M&T Bank Stadium.

Viewing Info

Location: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore

Date: Sunday, October 11

Time: 1 p.m. ET

TV: CBS

Week 4 Results and Recap

Denis Poroy/Associated Press

The Cleveland Browns played maybe their best offensive game of the season—and McCown’s best of his career—but it wasn’t enough to upset the Chargers in San Diego.

Despite playing with just two of their five offensive line starters, the Chargers were able to do what every other team in the league has found success with against the Browns: moving the ball and scoring points. The Browns allowed 27 or more for their third time of the season, surrendering 30 to the Chargers in their 30-27 defeat.

Thanks to McCown, the Browns had a shot to force overtime. But a controversial offside penalty on Tramon Williams nullified a missed field goal by Chargers kicker Josh Lambo. Five yards closer, Lambo drilled the game-winner on his ensuing 34-yard field-goal attempt.

It was a disappointment and another loss to put the Browns in a tie with the Ravens for last place in the AFC North Division.

AFC North Division Standings

Team	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	Streak
Bengals	4	0	0	1.000	121	77	W4
Steelers	2	2	0	.500	96	75	L1
Browns	1	3	0	.250	85	102	L2
Ravens	1	3	0	.250	93	104	W1

News and Notes

Aaron Josefczyk/Associated Press

Pettine Clarifies Comments About Joe Haden's Inactive Game 4

After the Browns' Week 4 loss to San Diego, Pettine seemed to throw his cornerback under the bus.

“We left it up to Joe, and he made the decision that he didn’t want to go,” the coach said during his postgame press conference, per Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer.

Pettine continued with more detail:

"

He went out with (assistant secondary coach) Aaron Glenn. They went ahead and covered [his finger] up. He went out and worked out before the deadline to turn in the inactives to see if he could go or he couldn't. Joe practiced with it during the week in some pain. I just don't think that it ever lessened to the point that he could go. He came out early and tested it and decided that he couldn't go. So we had to adjust.

"

Speaking to media on Wednesday, Pettine blamed himself for the subsequent criticism Haden received for opting to not play:

"

I think a lot of that's unwarranted, and I will bear some of that blame just in detailing the procedure and how it went. But Joe made the decision based on he didn't feel he could be 100 percent, and he felt it would hurt the team if he played. So it's something that I've talked about it with him and I'm comfortable with where we are with it.

"

According to ESPN Cleveland’s Tony Grossi, Haden said he took shots and put a cast on his broken finger but still couldn’t use his finger. He echoed Pettine’s comments about fearing he would hurt the team if he played in his injured state.

Although listed as probable on the team’s injury report, not playing prompted an inquiry from the NFL. That shouldn’t be a surprise, the league attempts to keep league injuries as transparent as possible to keep teams honest each week.

Tramon Williams Claims NFL Admits He Was Not Offside on Key Field-Goal Miss

It's hard to tell from available angles, but the NFL and Tramon Williams are not in agreement on an exchange the player says was made after the team inquired about the controversial play.

According to Cabot, Williams said the team’s inquiry was met with a response indicating the league admitted its official were at fault.

“It came back that I wasn’t offside," the cornerback said. “I moved when the ball was snapped.”

But Cabot later updated her report after receiving an e-mail from NFL Vice President of Football Operations Michael Signora, who said Williams’ statement is “not true.”

“The video we have is inconclusive because we do not have a shot from the line of scrimmage,” Signora said in the email. “The person with the best view was the line judge who made the call on the field.”

Either way, there’s no looking back; the call was made, and the results will not change. But the league should look into developing better processes for preventing situations like this in the future.

Mike Pettine's press conference quote obtained from a transcript distributed via e-mail by Cleveland Browns Communications Manager Rob McBurnett.

Latest Injury News

Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

Player	Position	Injury
Johnson Bademosi	DB	Elbow
Desmond Bryant	DL	Shoulder
Karlos Dansby	LB	Ankle
Tashaun Gipson	DB	Ankle
Joe Haden	DB	Ribs/Finger
Johnny Manziel	QB	Right Elbow
Craig Robertson	LB	Ankle
Mitchell Schwartz	OL	Thumb
Scott Solomon	LB	Ankle
Robert Turbin	RB	Ankle
K'Waun Williams	DB	Concussion
Shaun Draughn	RB	Back
Duke Johnson	RB	Ankle
Donte Whitner	DB	Illness

All injury information courtesy of Kevin Jones of ClevelandBrowns.com.

Although not on the injury report, Browns wide receiver Brian Hartline did not practice on Wednesday due to multiple injuries he suffered that forced him out of the team's loss in San Diego.

Coach Pettine singled out Craig Robertson as a player likely out this week. He did say Hartline, Tashaun Gipson and Shaun Draughn would also miss practice Wednesday, but their statuses were more encouraging.

Also, running back Robert Turbin and linebacker Scott Solomon were set to practice in a limited fashion, doing mainly individual drills, he said. Turbin hasn’t played since being acquired by the Browns after they jettisoned Terrance West to Tennessee, and Solomon has been out of action since injuring his ankle after two snaps in Week 1 against the New York Jets.

Haden, who was probable last week and chose not to play due to his broken finger, practiced in a limited fashion, according to the team’s injury report.

Per Cabot, cornerback K’Waun Williams passed league concussion protocol after missing the last two games while recovering from his third concussion since entering the NFL in 2014. He practiced in a limited fashion on Wednesday.

Desmond Bryant also returned to practice, albeit in limited action, after missing the last two games with a shoulder injury.

Getting Williams, Bryant and Haden back this week would be significant for going up against the depleted Ravens offense. And if Gipson can also play, Browns should feel confident with the personnel matchups they’ll create with their full defensive strength available.

Mike Pettine's injury updates are courtesy of a press conference transcript distributed via e-mail by Cleveland Browns Communications Manager Rob McBurnett.

Key Matchups

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

OT Mitchell Schwartz vs. OLB Elvis Dumervil

Elvis Dumervil is averaging more than one sack per game against the Browns during his career and is coming off two consecutive games having gotten to the quarterback. Meanwhile, Mitchell Schwartz is having another quiet, but steady, season. He probably won't live down Khalil Mack putting him on a highlight reel when allowing this sack, but he has played pretty well overall.

Dumervil can change that, and make Schwartz look foolish in the process. Schwartz, in a contract year, would do good by himself by having a good showing and keeping his quarterback clean and by controlling Dumervil at the line of scrimmage.

Offensive coordinator John DeFilippo has allowed tight ends and running backs to be left on an island against top opposing pass-rushers. It hasn't worked so far, we'll see if he makes some adjustments to minimize those matchups. 

Browns Front Seven and SS Donte Whitner vs. Ravens Offensive Line

The Browns rank 31st in the NFL in rush defense, allowing 140 yards per game on the ground. They ranked dead last in the league in 2015. Despite a couple of personnel changes, the group looks similar to the 2014 unit that was gouged by the stout Ravens offensive line. The Ravens exploited the Browns last season to the tune of 289 yards on 61 carries in two contests last season. That's a staggering 4.7 yards-per-carry average.

With the Ravens receiving corps depleted, being able to run the ball will be vital to their ability to move the ball and ultimately compete in this game. The Browns should key in on the run and commit the necessary personnel to doing so. Whitner run-blitzed several times and played closer to the line of scrimmage at times in Week 4. He should be a big factor in stopping Forsett and the Ravens this week.

X-Factor

Jason Miller/Getty Images

Browns' X-Factor of the Week: WR Travis Benjamin

The Ravens lost pass-rusher Terrell Suggs for the season to a torn Achilles injury during their Week 1 loss to the Denver Broncos, and their pass defense hasn't looked the same since. They limited Peyton Manning to just 175 yards passing and the Broncos to just 219 yards of total offense in that 19-13 loss.

But things have changed recently.

Andy Dalton and Derek Carr both threw for over 350 yards and three touchdowns in Weeks 2 and 3 before they lucked out and faced the Ben Roethlisberger-less Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 4.

That bodes well for McCown and top receiver Travis Benjamin. McCown has thrown for more than 300 yards in consecutive weeks, and Benjamin is having a career year.

Through four weeks, Benjamin's four touchdowns are second, and his 20.5 yards per catch rank fourth in the NFL. Benjamin's a threat to score on every play, even punt returns. His 214 yards are the most, and his 17.8 yards per return are fourth in the NFL.

Without Suggs, the Browns should be able to keep McCown upright long enough to connect with Benjamin. Even if he doesn't score again this week, he'll play a big role in field position in the return game and moving the sticks on offense.

Prediction: Browns 24, Ravens 23

Jason Miller/Getty Images

Final score predictions for this Browns against Ravens matchup will likely vary this week. Both teams have been scoring and giving up swaths of points, but that could change in this AFC North matchup.

The Browns have been playing uncharacteristically well offensively, and the Ravens will be without most of their offensive skill players.

Look for Benjamin to give the Browns the spark they need to finally beat the Ravens on the road. Flacco is capable of exposing the Browns defense, even with subpar talent around him, and that's mostly thanks to the luxury of having a strong offensive line and Forsett running the football. So don't rule out the Ravens keeping this close despite their injuries.

As the Browns witnessed last week against the Chargers' backups, injuries give other NFL players opportunities, and those types of players are hungry and looking for a chance to make an impact.

Still, the Browns should be getting some, if not all of their injured defenders back this week. That boost, along with the team's offensive momentum, will power them to a narrow and rare road win in Baltimore.

Final Prediction: Browns 24, Ravens 23

All stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.

Mike Hoag (@MikeHoagJr) covers the Cleveland Browns for Bleacher Report and is the managing editor of Browns Beat.