Baltimore Ravens: 5 Keys to Victory vs. Cleveland Browns

Breaking down the Baltimore Ravens five keys for a win over the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football.

The Baltimore Ravens are in the midst of their worst season in franchise history. They are currently 3-7 and without Joe Flacco, Justin Forsett, Steve Smith and Terrell Suggs to name just a few of the 17 players on injured reserve. It has been a rough year for John Harbaugh, but Baltimore has an opportunity to win two in a row for the first time this season.

The Cleveland Browns are one of the few teams in the NFL with a record worse than Baltimore. They have lost 13 of their last 15 games, and it would not be a typical Browns season if some kind of drama is holding them back. After turning to Johnny Manziel for the remainder of the season, Mike Pettine has benched the former first-round pick after video was released of the Browns quarterback partying during the team’s bye week.

The last win for the Browns actually came in Baltimore in Week 5, only the second time since Harbaugh took over the Ravens that his team lost to Cleveland. The Browns lost five straight since and are averaging just 11 points and 293 yards in their last five games. However, if the Browns can pick up a win on Monday night, it would be the first time Cleveland has swept the season series since the 2007 season, Brian Billick’s last season with the Ravens.

The Browns have had two weeks to prepare for the Ravens that is missing the majority of its starting offense. Jeremy Zuttah was placed on injured reserve prior to last week’s win over the St. Louis Rams, and will likely be without tackle Eugene Monroe and guard Kelechi Osemele against Cleveland. Matt Schaub takes over at quarterback and none of the skill position players remaining were expected to be starters this season.

Baltimore will have their work cut out for them if they hope to get win No. 4. Here are the five keys to a win on Monday night.

Next: The Battle in the Trenches