CLEVELAND, Ohio — The gauntlet has been thrown down for the Cleveland Browns.
As they prepare to face the Baltimore Ravens and their suddenly dominant defense, the latest Orange and Brown Talk podcast painted a stark picture of the challenge ahead — and identified exactly which Browns players need to step up in this crucial divisional matchup.
“The Ravens against the Vikings, in the game that they just won, they produced 12 quarterback hits and 13 passes defensed in that game. They also forced three turnovers,” warned Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot. “This is going to be a tough, tough football game against a defense that’s playing really well right now.”
The timing couldn’t be worse for a Browns offense that has struggled to find any consistency. With quarterback Dillon Gabriel facing accuracy issues and the receiving corps failing to win contested catches, the Ravens defense — winners of three straight games — presents a formidable obstacle.
What makes this matchup particularly concerning is how the Ravens have transformed their defense in recent weeks. By moving safety Kyle Hamilton into the box, they’ve improved their run defense significantly — bad news for a Browns offense that has leaned heavily on rookie running back Quinshon Judkins.
“The issue is becoming Quinshon Judkins is the only thing people have to be consistently worried about,” explained Browns beat reporter Ashley Bastock. “But it wouldn’t be if they really could have to consistently worry about a Jerry, a Ced, a David Njoku, a Harold Fannin, but there’s just nothing in the passing game that is consistently working.”
This one-dimensional attack has allowed defenses to stack the box against Judkins, who ranks second in the NFL in facing eight-man fronts (43.94%). His recent production reflects these challenges — just 19 yards against New England and 75 yards on 22 carries (3.4 yards per attempt) against the Jets.
To have any chance against Baltimore, Cabot believes the Browns need their most physical players to rise to the occasion.
“You need tough players against the Baltimore Ravens,” Cabot emphasized. “Focus on your tough guys. Quinshon’s tough, David is tough, Cedric is tough. And that’s what it’s going to take this game. The tough guys are going to have to rise to the occasion and stand up to these defenders.”
The recent history between these teams adds another layer of intrigue. The Ravens have struggled in Cleveland in recent years, including last year’s game. That memory remains fresh for Baltimore players like Kyle Hamilton, who dropped a potential game-sealing interception in that contest.
While the Browns’ playoff hopes at 2-7 are virtually non-existent, this divisional matchup represents an opportunity to show competitive spirit against a Ravens team that has found its stride after a 1-5 start. Now 4-5 and just one game behind the Steelers in the AFC North, Baltimore knows what’s at stake.
“They are in a dog fight for the AFC North right now,” noted Cabot. “They’ve won these three straight games. So now they’re at 4-5 after a 1-5 start. I mean, that’s pretty remarkable.”
For Cleveland, this game will test not just their execution but their toughness and resolve. In a matchup where physicality will likely determine the outcome, we’ll quickly learn which Browns players are ready to answer the call against one of the NFL’s most aggressive defenses.
Want to hear more insights about this crucial AFC North showdown? Listen to the full Orange and Brown Talk podcast for a deeper analysis of the matchup and what the Browns must do to have any chance against the surging Ravens.
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