Baltimore Ravens: Sunday’s game in Cleveland Crucial

The Baltimore Raven’s Week 3 showdown against their division rival, the Cleveland Browns, Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium will be a rather telling game.

The Ravens are coming off an impressive 26-6 victory last week at home against another division rival Pittsburgh Steelers and are looking good going ahead even without Ray Rice. I know what you’re thinking, “But it’s the Browns. Cleveland is always bad.” There’s still a few things to know before sleeping on this game against the Browns.

I saw first hand just how good the Browns actually are last week as I watched them dismantle one of the best teams in the NFL, the New Orleans Saints.

Sure “Any Given Sunday” hasn’t lost its meaning but it’s more than just a mediocre team beating a really good team. Cleveland has rebuilt for as long as anyone can remember, and losing their best player, Josh Gordon, hurts, but Cleveland seems to still be getting things right.

Brian Hoyer played well his last four games (going back to 2013) and is getting better and more confident even without his stud receiver. The Browns finally have a decent running game and a vastly improved defense.

Now we know Joe Flacco missed Wednesday’s practice with a cold, but all signs point to him being ready to go Sunday.

This game will also tell us if the Ravens can set up a sufficient run game without Rice. Bernard Pierce and Justin Forsett need a big game to take pressure off Flacco and his receiving corps which will have their hands full with cornerbacks Joe Haden and rookie standout Justin Gilbert. With a strong running attack, Torrey Smith and Steve Smith will not have to carry the load.

Success against Cleveland will rely on the Ravens stopping the run. Sure, Brian Hoyer’s confidence is running high now after pulling of the biggest upset yet this season, but without the receivers to really contest Baltimore corners Jimmy Smith and Asa Jackson, who are playing at a high level, the Browns will use the run that dissected New Orleans a week ago. Budding star Brandon Williams, along with Haloti Ngata, will have to put pressure on Hoyer and force him to throw. Defensive coordinator Dean Pees does love to dial up many blitz packages so expect Terrell Suggs and rookie C.J. Mosley to get involved early and often.

The Baltimore Ravens are 1-1 against division opponents. A victory here puts them 2-1 and in great position to take the AFC North. Slowing down the run, allowing Joe Flacco to control the tempo will see the Ravens victorious and move up in division standings.