Sportsnaut
The buildup to Browns-Ravens has had everything: a legacy quarterback going back to his old home, a 30th-season celebration in Baltimore, and a little midweek chirping to spice up an already tense rivalry. Now it comes down to matchups. These five players are most likely to decide whether Cleveland can upset Baltimore in Week 2.
Quarterback Joe Flacco moved the ball in Week 1 with long, clock-eating drives and finished 31 of 45 for 290 yards, but two tipped interceptions and two missed kicks flipped the outcome in a one-point loss to the Bengals. This week, the assignment gets tougher. He’ll return to a hostile M&T Bank Stadium, versus a Ravens front that can heat up late, and an emotional pregame backdrop that could spike the crowd noise on every third down. The plan for Flacco should be similar to what head coach Kevin Stefanski drew up against Cincinnati. The Browns want to win on early downs, lean into play-action, and take selective vertical shots rather than living in must-pass situations. If the Browns are asking a 40-year-old to throw 40-plus again, they’re inviting the kind of game-swinging rush or coverage disguise that Baltimore lives on. Take care of the ball, cash red-zone trips, and the upset door stays open.
When the game tightened last week, Garrett took it over with two sacks on a single series and constant pocket stress that helped hold the Bengals to seven second-half yards. That closing gear matters against Lamar Jackson, whose off-schedule brilliance punishes loose rush lanes. Garrett’s impact goes beyond sack count. The All-Pro forces quicker launch points, alters route timing, and can wreck Baltimore’s tendency to marry gap runs with keepers and shot plays. The Browns do not need eight sacks to win in Baltimore; they need two or three snaps where Garrett flips field position or knocks the Ravens off schedule. If Cleveland’s offense plays a ball-control script, even one Garrett strip or drive-killing sack can be the hidden seven points of the day.
Cleveland rushed for only 49 yards on 24 carries in the opener, a 2.0-yards-per-carry figure that cannot travel. Enter Judkins, who is expected to play this week. The Browns drafted him to be the first- and second-down hammer, restoring structure to Stefanski’s offense. His profile fits the scheme. He is a downhill runner with contact-balance, enough burst to punish a crease, and functional third-down value when needed. Even 10–14 carries at four yards a pop would change everything for Flacco, turning second-and-9 into second-and-5 and unlocking play-action. Cleveland can also manufacture the run game with quick screens and angle routes to rookie Dylan Sampson, who caught all eight of his targets for 64 yards last week. Either way, Cleveland must find five or six efficient run wins to keep the pass rush honest.
Baltimore’s quarterback is no longer just a threat with his legs; he’s a...
