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The Baltimore Ravens are slated to go head-to-head with their division rival Cleveland Browns in Week 14. The Ravens have seen many struggles in recent weeks after a significant number of their players headlined by quarterback Lamar Jackson, among others, have been previously placed on the team's reserve/COVID-19 list due to a virus outbreak that emerged within their camp.
It eventually caused delays on their games, specifically against the Pittsburgh Steelers which ultimately led to a domino effect and also pushed back their most recent slate against the Dallas Cowboys to a later date. After being stopped in their tracks by the coronavirus, the Ravens will be going up against a much-improved Browns team who are currently rolling on a four-game winning streak.
The Baltimore-based squad will surely have their hands full as they aim to continue their winning ways when they visit the Browns on Sunday. Here are four bold predictions from the Ravens' standpoint heading into the highly-anticipated match:
1. Lamar Jackson will exceed his most recent tally of 107 passing yards in Week 13.
The 2019 NFL MVP had not been his usual self in Week 13 against the Cowboys which served as his first game back from a mandated 10-day quarantine after previously testing positive for COVID-19. After not finding his mark on the aerial attack, Jackson took matters into his own hands and made plays by maximizing his rushing ability where he generated 94 yards on 13 carries along with a rushing touchdown scored.
A week after making his return to the gridiron, the former Heisman Trophy winner should have already gotten a better feel for the ball this time around. His meager output of 107 passing yards against the Cowboys should also be easy for him to exceed given his better physical condition heading into the game.
2. Marquise Brown will notch a receiving touchdown of his own.
The second-year wide receiver in Marquise Brown has been a vital contributor to the Ravens' offensive attack as of late. He previously balled out with 85 receiving yards on four receptions and a touchdown in a disappointing loss against the Steelers back in Week 12.
In the following week against the Cowboys, quarterback Lamar Jackson managed to locate the speedy wideout for a touchdown to go with 39 yards on five receptions in the game. With Jackson in much better shape this time around, Brown is expected to find the endzone for the third-straight week and contribute to the scoring department especially as they look to counter the offensive attack of a dangerous team like the Browns.
3. The Ravens will maximize their rushing game once again.
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The Browns are known to be headlined by their two prominent ball-carriers in Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt who are both expected by the team to deal damage on a regular basis. What better way for the Ravens to answer back than to make use of their rushing game and give the Browns a taste of their own medicine.
In their most recent tilt against the Cowboys, the Ravens did just that and leaned on their rushing corps to score much-needed points on the endzone. Third-year rusher Gus Edwards came out with 101 rushing yards on seven carries while Lamar Jackson himself rushed 94 yards on 13 carries and a rushing touchdown.
Rookie running back J.K. Dobbins also exposed the Cowboys' defense as he recorded 71 rushing yards on 11 carries along with a scored touchdown while veteran rusher Mark Ingram added 28 yards on six touches for the Ravens. After seeing much success on this aspect of their offense in their recent game, the Ravens are expected to try and utilize it once more against the Browns.
4. It will be a tight encounter between the two teams.
The current Browns squad isn't the same team that was easily dominated by the Ravens in their Week 1 opening game with a 38-6 victory. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has been leading the team in the right direction which led to their constant improvement despite losing their top target in Odell Beckham Jr. back in Week 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Moreover, the Browns are also coming off a morale-boosting victory against a playoff contender like the Tennessee Titans whom they defeated in a 41-35 decision in Week 13. With an impressive 9-3 tally and an ongoing four-game winning streak, best believe that the Browns have already mustered enough confidence in themselves that they can exact revenge and topple their division rival this time around.
On the other hand, the Ravens are also not the type of team to easily give in, especially against the same squad that ran past them in the divisional standings. With a 7-5 record and third in the AFC North, the Ravens should already be in desperation mode if they still want to snag a seat and put themselves in a good position in the 2020 NFL Playoffs.
Nonetheless, the implications of the game will easily alter the fate of either team by the end of the season, especially in a tight division like the AFC North. The victory could go either way but fans should expect to witness a tightly-contested affair between two divisional rivals for an exciting Week 14 showdown.
