This Sunday could serve as a firm indicator of which direction this Cleveland Browns team is looking to go this season. If they can take down the Baltimore Ravens and take over first place in the AFC North at 4-2, it would look a lot different than if they lost to backup quarterback Tyler Huntley and fell back to .500 and potentially last place in the division.
The Browns can’t take the Ravens lightly just because they won’t have Lamar Jackson again. He has been out for the last game and a half and Huntley has finished off a win over the Tennessee Titans and beaten the Atlanta Falcons over that span, so this is still a tough opponent regardless of who is under center.
Even without Jackson, many members of the media (including Chris Simms) don’t believe the Browns can win this game. It’s up to Todd Monken and company to prove them wrong.
“I like the Ravens here, 27-19. If he (Jackson) doesn’t play, I’m still going to pick the Ravens, but I would say it’s going to be closer and it will be something like 24-19 or 22-19,” Simms said.
Every Browns game since Week 1 has been a one-score game, so it wouldn’t be surprising in the slightest if that happens against Baltimore as well. They also need to stop beating themselves as this matchup will pit the most penalized team in the league (Cleveland) against the fourth-most penalized team.
Cleveland’s defense is going to have to make a few plays on Sunday to help out. Huntley has done a great job taking care of the football and playing within his limitations and presents a unique challenge. Cleveland also has a few key defenders on the injured list as Mason Graham and Carson Schwesinger are questionable, though both are trending towards suiting up.
If the offense can get back on track and this defense can make a few plays against Huntley, 4-2 is well within reach. Let’s see if the Browns can make Simms eat his words and start a new winning streak.
NEXT: Spencer Fano Is Quietly Proving The Browns Right
