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

The Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns renew their AFC North rivalry this weekend in a matchup of 1-3 teams looking to get their seasons on a more positive track. 

The Browns are coming off a last-second 30-27 loss to the San Diego Chargers in Week 4. That was their second loss decided by one possession this season.

As for the Ravens, they're coming off a hard-fought 23-20 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime. It was also Baltimore's first win of the year, and they'll be looking for their first winning streak when Cleveland comes to town this week.

Here's a look at what kind of game plan the Ravens should have to get this win. 

Offensive Game Plan 

The Ravens passing game is really going to struggle in this game, mostly due to injuries depleting the tight end and receiver positions. They have already ruled out tight end Crockett Gillmore along with wide receivers Steve Smith Sr. and Breshad Perriman. 

That's going to force Baltimore to lean more on their ground game to have success this week. The good news is they're facing a Browns team that struggles mightily against the run.

Nick Wass/Associated Press

After ranking 32nd in run defense last season, Cleveland currently ranks 30th in that category this season. This is where Baltimore needs to focus the bulk of its offensive attack this week. 

Cleveland will be without safety Tashaun Gipson and linebacker Craig Robertson, the team announced Friday, making this even better of a matchup for Baltimore. Those two have combined for 23 total tackles this year with Robertson having only played in three games due to an ankle injury. 

Gipson is also one of Cleveland's best defenders in coverage, as evidenced by his 10 interceptions in his last 18 games. This will help Baltimore get more big plays in the play-action passing game as long as they're able to establish the run early and often.

This also comes one week after Baltimore finally got its ground game going in a win over the Steelers. Going into that game, the Ravens as a team had rushed for 218 yards through their first three games. 

Against Pittsburgh, they pounded the ball for 191 yards in an overtime win. This offense is built to have most of its success running the ball and getting that established is a big reason why they got their first win of 2015. 

It's really as simple as that. The Ravens may not face a team weaker in run defense this year than the Browns. Look for the Ravens offensive line to dominate this matchup and pave the way for all of their running backs to have good performances. 

David Richard/Associated Press

Defensive Game Plan 

The Browns are limited offensively, with few playmakers at the skill positions. However, they do have guys capable of making big plays against a Baltimore defense that's given up plenty of them. 

The biggest threat to do so is wide receiver Travis Benjamin. Coming into this game, Benjamin has just 16 catches in four games this season. However, he has touchdown grabs of 54, 60 and 50 yards this season. 

Benjamin is a big deep threat who will burn Baltimore's enigmatic corners if they're not careful. Keeping their No. 1 corner, Jimmy Smith, on Benjamin will give Baltimore the best shot of keeping him contained and slowing down the Browns passing game. 

The only other consistent passing threat Cleveland has is tight end Gary Barnidge. He's caught 16 passes for 235 yards and two scores this season. He's really come on as of late with 12 grabs for 180 yards and two scores over his past two games.

The good news is Baltimore has one of the best pass-coverage inside linebackers there is in Daryl Smith. According to Pro Football Focus, Smith ranks 10th out of 141 inside linebackers in pass coverage.

Another player Baltimore should use to help defend Barnidge is safety Will Hill. Per PFF, Hill ranks ninth out of 132 safeties in pass coverage. 

Those two will likely take turns in helping contain Barnidge but there's another intriguing offensive player they'll have to help defend. That's rookie running back Duke Johnson Jr., who had his breakout game in last week's loss to the Chargers.

That game saw Johnson haul in nine passes for 85 yards, including a 34-yard touchdown grab that showed how good of a pass-catcher he is. Johnson has caught a combined 15 passes for 117 yards and that highlight-reel score in his past two games as he's become a viable weapon in this offense. 

If the Ravens can adequately defend those three players, they should be able to keep the Browns offense from ever getting any rhythm. That's mainly because Cleveland has had little rushing offense to speak of. 

Starting running back Isaiah Crowell is a straight-line runner who struggles to pick up yards outside the tackles. That's exactly the kind of running back Baltimore's front seven typically has little issue with shutting down. 

Brandon Williams has become one of the game's best nose tackles for the Ravens. C.J. Mosley and Daryl Smith are still one of the league's best inside linebacker duos. 

Those three should be why Baltimore is able to shut down the Browns ground game.

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

Key Matchups to Watch

Ravens NT Brandon Williams vs. Browns OC Alex Mack

As mentioned above, Brandon Williams has become a star for the Ravens who has made life hard for any rushing offense that goes against them. PFF ranks Williams as the No. 1 interior defensive lineman in run defense. 

He's a load on the inside, but Williams will be going against one of the game's best centers in Alex Mack this weekend. Mack has been named to the Pro Bowl twice and was a Second-Team NFL All-Pro selection in the 2013 season. 

Who wins this matchup will help dictate whether the Ravens defensive line or Browns offensive line will win the battle in the trenches. 

Ravens OLB Elvis Dumervil vs Browns RT Mitchell Schwartz

When the Browns do pass, this is the matchup Baltimore needs to win most to ensure they get pressure on quarterback Josh McCown. Elvis Dumervil has come on as of late with two sacks in his past two games after getting blanked in his first two.

Mitchell Schwartz entered the year as a perceived weakness along Cleveland's offensive line, but he's quietly had a good showing thus far. PFF currently has Schwartz as their ninth-ranked offensive tackle and 13th-best tackle in pass protection.

This is still a matchup Dumervil needs to win to ensure Baltimore's defense keeps the pressure on McCown in this game. 

Prediction

The Ravens saved their season with an overtime win over the Steelers last week. On one hand, you'd think that would have given them some nice momentum to carry into this game.

On the other hand, that was such an emotional and draining game that Baltimore could have a letdown game against what most view as an inferior opponent. 

In the end, this is a division-rivalry game that will likely come down to the fourth quarter, as has been the case in most of these team's recent matchups. I still see the Ravens coming out with the win to improve to 2-3 and keeping their positive momentum going. 

Final Score: Ravens 24, Browns 16