Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns: Staff Predictions
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson threw four interceptions but still made just enough big plays to pull out a 16-10 win and send the Browns into their bye week searching for answers.
With just five games left, the Browns don't have much time left for searching. Three of the five games are against AFC North Division rivals, all of which are ahead of the Browns in the standings.
The Browns will most likely have to win all of the division games, beginning Sunday against Jackson and the Ravens, and at least one of the two other games against the Las Vegas Raiders and Green Bay Packers if they want to have any chance at all of making the playoffs.
The defense has played better in recent weeks and was outstanding in defeat against the Ravens. Defensive end Myles Garrett is chasing the Browns' all-time sack record and cornerback Denzel Ward has been outstanding.
The defense can not afford a letdown because a season that began full of promise has disintegrated into one full of desperation.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield has had his longest break of the season in which to nurse his myriad injuries and will need to be at his best to guide a struggling offense to the finish line as one of the top seven teams in the conference. He'll have to start that surge without one and possibly two of the team's tight ends. Harrison Bryant is injured and David Njoku has been placed on the COVID-19 list.
Our Browns team will be there to cover it all and here is how they see Sunday's crucial game against the Ravens:
Browns season on brink: JOK stands by Browns QB Baker Mayfield: '... you guys will see how great a quarterback he is.'
Steve Doerschuk (8-4)
Game prediction: Browns 24-20: Baltimore's defense got gashed on the road by the Raiders to open the league season. Here's a nervous hunch Kevin Stefanski's bye-week studies can make that happen at the start of the Browns' second season.
Marla Ridenour: From Coach of the Year to coach of the flop of the year: Browns' Kevin Stefanski loses his way
Marla Ridenour: More Kareem Hunt the best and most plausible fix for Browns' ailing offense
Marla Ridenour (8-4)
Game prediction: Browns 21, Ravens 20: With the playoffs on the line, this game will show how much the Browns are willing to play for each other. They don't seem as tight a team as 2020, but maybe they will prove me wrong.
Berry trusts Stefanski: Browns notes: Andrew Berry says Kevin Stefanski 'can manage everything on his plate'
George Thomas (7-5)
Game prediction: I got nothing. I have no idea who wins this one. So I've stuck my wet thumb in yesterday's 60 mile-per-hour breeze and I came up with The Browns - only because this could be it for their season and desperation sometimes breeds inspiration. Browns 17-10.
Nate Ulrich's Takeaways: Browns takeaways: Myles Garrett defends himself for dapping Lamar Jackson, Kevin Stefanski won't consider QB change
Cover 2 Podcast: Is Cleveland Browns QB Baker Mayfield in a five-game job audition? Cover 2 podcast
Nate Ulrich (8-4)
Game prediction: Browns 17, Ravens 16: Cleveland is coming off a bye, and it's the more desperate team.
Hall of Famer weighs in: Kurt Warner hasn't seen enough consistency from Browns' Baker Mayfield to call him franchise QB
Cleveland Browns quick hits: Myles Garrett questions focus in buildup to 'win or go home' game and delivers wake-up call
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns: Staff Predictions
