Four key matchups to watch for in Ravens v Browns part II

The Baltimore Ravens got back on track and notched their first win in nearly a month with a commanding 34-17 win over the Dallas Cowboys last week and will be hitting the road to face the Cleveland Browns in a third straight primetime game on Monday Night Football to close out Week 14.

It is a crucial game for both teams but is essentially a must-win for the 7-5 Ravens than it is for the 9-3 Browns since they may need to run the table to make their third straight trip to the postseason where they intend to go much further this time around after a pair of early exits in the previous two years.

This matchup between these two AFC North rivals could come down to one or several pivotal matchups between individual players or whole units on the opposing side of the ball.

Here are four key matchups that could determine the outcome of this game:

CB Marlon Humphrey v WR Jarvis Landry

With no Odell Beckham Jr this time around, this will be the top individual matchup between offensive and defensive skill players to watch and since Landry is an excellent slot receiver and Humphrey is the Ravens’ best option at nickel corner, the two will likely see a lot of each other early and often.

These are two of the most physical players at their respective positions and neither shies away from initiating contact and prides themselves on being tone seters on their respective sides of the ball.

Landry is having a solid season and has begun to heat up over the Browns’ last two games with 16 receptions on 21 targets for 205 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

He has played well against the Ravens since joining Cleveland. In five games against Baltimore as a Brown, he has recorded 30 catches on 45 targets for 473 yards but has only reached the end zone once.

Humphrey is having another All-Pro season and is even in the conversation to win Defensive Player of the Year. He gave up his first touchdown of the season in coverage last week against the Cowboys but tweeted out after the game that he doesn’t intend on making it a habit.

He is a turnover machine who currently leads the league in forced fumbles with six and recorded his lone interception of the season against Cleveland in the season opener.

OT Orlando Brown v DE Myles Garrett

This will be the top individual matchup to watch for in the trenches with both players enjoying good seasons. Brown struggled against Garrett in the season opener when he was at right tackle but has been playing lights out since he has had to flip over to the left side following the season-ending injury to All-Pro Ronnie Stanley.

Garrett has recorded 10.5 sacks in 10 games this season which leads his team and is tied for third-most in the league. His four forced fumbles are tied for the second-most league.

The Browns might lineup Garrett on the right side more often since the Ravens are less stable at the right tackle spot and rotate veteran DJ Fluker and rookie Tyre Phillips, however, when these two do lineup across from each other it will be a clash of physically imposing titans.

QB Lamar Jackson v Cleveland secondary

The reigning league MVP had his best pure passing performance of the season against a depleted Browns’ defensive backfield and they will be without top cornerback Denzel Ward this time around yet again after he was declared out with a calf injury.

In Week One, Jackson completed 80 percent of his passes and produced a perfect passer rating of 152.1 by going 20-of-25 for 275 and three touchdowns to zero interceptions.

Ward will likely be replaced in the starting lineup by Kevin Johnson again. The former first-round pick has allowed a completion percentage of over 60 percent of the passes thrown his way, a touchdown, and opposing quarterbacks have a quarterback rating of 91.8 when targeting him in coverage.

The Browns’ other starting cornerback is seven-year veteran Terrance Mitchell who has appeared and started in all 12 of their games but hasn’t fared much better.

He allows over 60 percent of the passes thrown his way to be converted as well, has given up four touchdowns and nearly 700 yards, and opposing quarterbacks boast a quarterback rating of 105.2 percent when targeting him in coverage.

Cleveland’s secondary almost gave up what seemed like an insurmountable lead in their impressive 41-35 win over the Tennessee Titans last week.

Veteran quarterback Ryan Tannehill to recover from a rough first half and finished with nearly 400 yards passing, three touchdowns to one interception, a completion percentage of over 64 percent, and a passer rating of 104.8. If it wasn’t for the clock running out, Tennessee would’ve likely been able to battle all the way back.

Jackson is 3-1 against the Browns since he became the starter midway through his rookie season. In each matchup, including the lone loss, he has dazzled with both his arm as well as his legs and has scored 11 touchdowns between the air and ground attacks.

Ravens front seven v Cleveland O-line

Last season the Browns’ offensive line was the biggest reason why the team couldn’t live up to their preseason hype but this year after some key additions, it is the main reason why they have secured their first winning season in over a decade and are on the precipice of making the playoffs since the Bush administration.

Cleveland’s offensive line is among the league’s best at both pass and run blocking. They have paved the way for the second-best rushing attack behind only the Ravens top-ranked unit and have given third-year quarterback Baker Mayfield plenty of ample time and to throw and consistently clean pockets in which to throw from.

This will be one of the stiffest challenges that the Ravens front seven will have faced all season but thankfully, they have been getting several key players in trenches back and the youngsters behind them that will be rotating in got some valuable playing time during their absence.

Both nose tackle Brandon Williams and defensive end Calais Campbell returned to the lineup last week against the Cowboys and made their respective presences felt in limited snaps but against the Browns, they both will be needed to slow down a surging Browns team led by their potent and well-balanced offense.

The return of outside linebacker Matthew Judon from the Reserve/COVID-19 List and the presence of Pro Bowl pass-rusher Yannick Ngakoue who the team traded for near the midseason deadline will make for some interesting matchups in the edge against the stellar offensive tackle pairing of veteran Jack Conklin on the right and rookie Jedrick Wills on the blindside.

At the second level veteran inside linebacker L.J. continues to be a steady and reliable presence, rookie Malik Harrison has come on strong during the second half of the season but the spotlight will be on top rookie Patrick Queen.

The Ravens’ first-round pick had a great NFL debut against the Browns in the season opener by finishing his first career regular-season game with eight total tackles including one for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble.

He will be instrumental in limiting the impact of the dynamic running back duo of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt in both the running and passing game.

If the Ravens can make the Browns one-dimensional on offense by stifling their run game then it will make for a clearer path to victory so that their playoff hopes stay alive and well.