For every big game the Cleveland Browns win at home, the next one becomes even bigger. After defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers at Huntington Bank Field in Week 4, the Browns were in first place in the AFC North.
A disappointing road loss to the New York Jets in Week 5 knocked them from the top spot. Now, the Browns return home to face another division rival with a little bit more than first place on the line, taking on the Baltimore Ravens.
Bleacher Report analyst Brad Gagnon is predicting the outcome of the Browns-Ravens matchup, saying Cleveland’s recent success at home should allow it to keep the game close.
“The Browns are 2-0 at home and haven’t dropped a game in Cleveland by more than a field goal in their last five outings. They held a fourth-quarter lead over Baltimore at this site last November (a 23-16 loss), and now they catch a banged-up Lamar Jackson, if he suits up at all. Count on Cleveland keeping this within one score against a flawed Ravens team that has merely been surviving,” Gagnon wrote.
Beyond the heated rivalry and standings implications, this will be Todd Monken’s first game as Browns head coach against his former team. Monken was the Ravens’ offensive coordinator for the past three seasons, and even though they also have a new staff led by Jesse Minter, Monken is still very familiar with most of their players.
That includes Jackson, who won his second NFL MVP award in Monken’s first season on Baltimore’s staff in 2023. However, Jackson sat out Baltimore’s Week 5 win against the Atlanta Falcons with an ankle injury, and his status for this matchup is in doubt.
If he is unable to play, the Ravens will again turn to backup Tyler Huntley, which could give the Browns’ emerging defense an advantage. Cleveland had four sacks and forced two turnovers against New York, and allowed fewer than 20 points for the third time this season.
Unfortunately, the Browns’ offense is dealing with injuries of its own that may be difficult to overcome. Its backfield could be without starting running back Quinshon Judkins, who injured his surgically repaired ankle last week, and backup Raheim Sanders was placed on injured reserve with a hip injury. With Dylan Sampson just returning to practice from his stint on IR with a knee injury, that could leave in-season signee Jaleel McLaughlin to try to boost an already struggling rushing attack.
In addition, rookie wide receiver KC Concepcion is working his way through concussion protocol, and Denzel Boston has a foot injury, so the Browns may have to rely on their defense more than ever to get this victory at home.
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