Dawgs By Nature
This Sunday, the Cleveland Browns take on the Baltimore Ravens. Below, we analyze a few advantages, disadvantages, or general thoughts about the two teams before getting to our predictions for the game.
Is it bad that at this point, I’m almost hoping Dillon Gabriel has a less than stellar performance? I shouldn’t even say it’s about hope, though. We’ve seen what his limitations have been, and I can’t even foresee a fluky type of performance overcoming that. Last week’s stat line against the New York Jets showed two touchdowns and no turnovers. Don’t get me wrong, there were some decent things he did in that game, but the overall picture screams backup quarterback.
Maybe it’s unfair to Gabriel, and more of an indictment of our offensive line and the offensive coaching staff. After all, Joe Flacco looked like a shell of his former self in those first four games, only to be back to the Joe we knew and loved with Cincinnati (even if it hasn’t translated to wins for them). Even though we’re all craving to see Shedeur Sanders, maybe the coaching staff feels that, “If Flacco and Gabriel have struggled this much with the offense, we don’t want to ruin Sanders before he even gets a fair shot.” I’m not worried about that so much. I want to see Sanders. It’s not because I’m in love with the guy (yet). This team is 2-7 and headed for another losing season. The offense has to rank up there with one of the worst in franchise history. I don’t think Gabriel is the plan to be the long-term starter, and I think he’s gotten enough reps under his belt to show he can be a good backup. Before you make a potential quarterback decision for 2026, I just think you have to at least see what you have in Sanders. If he looks like a complete deer in the headlights, then at least you’ve solved a bit of the unknown.
As for this week against the Ravens, Baltimore has won three straight games, has Lamar Jackson back, and are now being pegged by everyone as the clear favorites to win the AFC North. If you go back to earlier this season, Cleveland had Jackson shut down for that first half. If you recall, it was a special teams play — a blocked punt — that set up the Ravens’ short-field touchdown in the first half, otherwise it could have been a 3-3 game at the intermission. Baltimore had one legitimate touchdown drive that whole game; all of the others game off of turnovers.
The Ravens didn’t have a sharp defense at the time, but they, like other teams, knew they could bring the heat at Cleveland and they couldn’t stop it. Even the Jets last week, who don’t generate much pressure, logged six sacks. It’s hard to be optimistic about the offense this week because of that. All you can kind of do...
