CLEVELAND, Ohio — There’s something strange happening in Berea this week — or rather, not happening. As the Cleveland Browns prepare to face the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, an unusual silence has descended over the team. The latest episode of the Orange and Brown Talk podcast digs into this curious phenomenon and what it might tell us about the Browns’ mindset heading into this crucial AFC North matchup.
Orange and Brown Talk host Dan Labbe kicked off the discussion by noting the stark contrast in atmosphere compared to previous weeks: “It’s just real quiet this week. I’m trying to decide if that’s a sign of, OK, this Browns team, when they usually aren’t feeling themselves going into a game, that’s when they sort of show up and pull an upset.”
This observation raises an intriguing question: Is the silence a sign of a team that has lost all confidence after a gut-punch loss to the Jets, or could it be the calm focus of a squad ready to ambush an overconfident opponent? The podcast panel wrestled with both possibilities.
Browns beat reporter Ashley Bastock offered a more optimistic interpretation of the subdued mood: “I actually, in theory, I think I prefer for guys not to be getting in over their heads and handing over bulletin board material a bit freely because the reality is when you’re 2-7, you’re not really in a position to talk like in that way.”
Her point resonates given the history between these teams. When the Browns last faced the Ravens in Week 2, there was plenty of pregame chatter, including Jerry Jeudy making comments about Baltimore’s defensive backs. While Cleveland’s defense performed well in that contest, particularly against Derrick Henry, the outcome was still a loss.
Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot, however, saw the quiet as potentially more concerning: “And it does feel like the wind is out of their sails a little bit. They’re still talking a good game about that. You know, anything can still happen. But right now they have less than a 1% chance of making the playoffs. And the truth of the matter is that was a backbreaker, that loss to the Jets. So I think that will kind of quiet anybody a little bit.”
The podcast discussion highlighted how this muted atmosphere follows directly on the heels of perhaps the season’s most devastating defeat. The Jets loss — particularly the way it happened with special teams failures — seemed to extinguish whatever playoff hopes remained. As Cabot noted, the team went from potentially challenging for relevance in the division to having less than a 1% chance at the postseason.
What makes the silence particularly noteworthy is how it contrasts with typical AFC North matchups, which tend to feature plenty of bulletin board material and fiery declarations. Even the Ravens have been uncharacteristically restrained in their comments this week, focusing on the improved play of their defense rather than providing any provocative soundbites.
The podcast panel noted that Friday’s availability with Myles Garrett could still change the narrative, as the defensive star typically provides honest, unfiltered assessments. But as of recording time, the Browns locker room had remained surprisingly muted.
Whether this quieter approach represents resignation or determination remains to be seen. But as the podcast discussion made clear, the Browns have historically performed best when expectations are lowest and when they aren’t making bold proclamations beforehand.
Could this subdued week lead to a shocking upset on Sunday? Or is the silence merely the sound of a team that knows its season is effectively over? For the complete breakdown of the Browns’ mindset heading into this pivotal divisional clash, make sure to listen to the full episode of Orange and Brown Talk wherever you get your podcasts.
Here’s the latest podcast:
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