PLAYER NOTES
–LB Patrick Onwuasor was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week. He led the team with eight tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble in a 22-10 victory at the Los Angeles Chargers. “Well-deserved, great to see it,” Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said. “He’s worked so hard and plays with such passion. That’s what you appreciate about him as a player, and really all of our guys along the same lines. I attribute it to that. I think we play team defense, have a lot of really good players.”
–LG Alex Lewis (shoulder) was limited in practice this week. He missed his third straight game Week 16 against the Chargers. James Hurst got the start and shared reps with rookie Bradley Bozeman. Lewis has struggled with injury over his three-year career.
–WR John Brown (hamstring) was limited at practice Wednesday. He played 34 snaps against the Chargers in Week 16. He was targeted six times and finished with two receptions for 27 yards.
–CB Tavon Young (groin) was listed as limited in practice Wednesday. Young played 35 snaps in the previous game against the Chargers and returned a fumble 62 yards for a touchdown. Young has played a key role as the slot cornerback this season.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: LB Terrell Suggs. The 36-year-old veteran has shown he can still be a dominant player. Suggs is second on the team with seven sacks. He has benefited from the Ravens ball-control offense, which has kept him and the entire defense fresh late in games. Suggs will play a key role keeping Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield under constant pressure.
GAME PLAN: The Ravens revamped offense behind rookie Lamar Jackson has been impressive. Jackson has rushed for 605 yards, the most among all NFL quarterbacks. In his last six games alone, Jackson is 5-1 with 466 rushing yards, which ranks as the NFL’s eighth-most overall since Week 11. Baltimore needs to get its running game revved up to set the tone against a Cleveland defense that is ranked 29th in the league.
The Ravens defense is ranked No. 1 in the NFL and has helped put the team back in the playoff race. Baltimore is tied for sixth with 43 sacks on the year. One of the keys for Baltimore will be shutting down Browns running back Nick Chubb to make quarterback Baker Mayfield try and win the game through the air. Hyde has been impressive and is ranked ninth in the NFL with 972 yards with eight touchdowns.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Ravens secondary vs. Browns QB Baker Mayfield. The Ravens will try to confuse Mayfield with multiple blitz packages and different looks in the secondary. Mayfield, however, will not be intimidated. He was 25 of 43 for 342 yards with a touchdown and interception in the first meeting between the teams. “He’s grown. He’s a good player,” Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said. “I don’t compare; who cares how much he’s grown since the last time we played him? It’s not our job to determine that or to measure that. Our job is to compete against him and try to stop him – him and the whole team, and that’s the challenge. Their offense revolves around the quarterback, Baker Mayfield. He’s playing very well.”
–Ravens QB Lamar Jackson vs. Browns DE Myles Garrett. Jackson leads the Ravens rushing attack that is ranked second in the NFL with 2,145 yards. The Ravens have developed more balance over the past several weeks, but Jackson will look to control the tempo with the run-pass option. He has to be wary of Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, who is tied for sixth in the NFL with 12.5 sacks. Two of Garrett’s three forced fumbles led to Browns touchdowns. Cleveland wants to shut down the run game and force Jackson to make plays through the air.
