Joe Flacco’s Homecoming: Can the Browns Overcome the Odds in Baltimore?
Joe Flacco returns to Baltimore as the Browns face the Ravens in a pivotal AFC North clash. Can Cleveland pull off the upset?
The Cleveland Browns are looking to bounce back from a narrow 17-16 defeat in their season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals. Cleveland’s defense held Cincinnati to only seven yards in the second half, but missed kicks and untimely mistakes proved costly. Now the Browns face an even greater test against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium, with both teams searching for their first win of the year.
The storyline practically writes itself. Joe Flacco, the longtime Ravens quarterback who won a Super Bowl in Baltimore, will step into the stadium again. This time, he will be wearing brown and orange and trying to deliver an upset victory for a team desperate to avoid a 0-2 start inside the AFC North.
Flacco’s Cleveland debut was solid. He threw for 290 yards and a touchdown while completing 68 percent of his passes. Both of his interceptions came off deflections. Rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. emerged as a reliable option with seven catches for 63 yards, while rookie running back Dylan Sampson showed his versatility with 93 total yards, most of them through the air. Veterans Jerry Jeudy and David Njoku will need to elevate their production if the Browns hope to keep pace with one of the league’s most explosive offenses.
Myles Garrett looked dominant again, recording two sacks. Rookie linebacker Carson Schwesinger led the team with eight tackles in his NFL debut, filling the communication role of relaying defensive calls. In the secondary, Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome limited Cincinnati’s receivers, but the challenge becomes even more daunting against Baltimore.
Stopping Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry will be key for the Browns
The Ravens enter the matchup after a heartbreaking 41-40 loss to Buffalo in which they squandered a 15-point lead late. Lamar Jackson was dynamic once again, combining with running back Derrick Henry and wideout Zay Flowers for nearly 500 yards of offense. Baltimore’s collapse came from turnovers and an inability to finish drives, but the unit remains one of the most dangerous in football.
Defensively, Baltimore is led by linebacker Roquan Smith and perhaps the most talented secondary in the league. Kyle Hamilton, Marlon Humphrey, Jaire Alexander, Nate Wiggins, and Malaki Starks can suffocate even the best passing attacks. For Flacco and the Browns, creating big plays through the air will be difficult, and establishing the run may be even harder. Cleveland averaged only two yards per carry in Week 1, and now faces a tougher test against a physical Ravens front.
Cleveland’s defense will need to slow Jackson and Henry to stay competitive. Henry rushed for nearly 2,000 yards last season while averaging nearly six yards per carry. Jackson has long been a thorn in the side of Cleveland, winning eight of his 13 career games against them. He has thrown 18 touchdowns, run for six more, and been sacked 27 times by the Browns, the most he has endured against any team. That track record underscores the challenge Cleveland faces.
Rookie Schwesinger will play a key role. He is tasked with shadowing Jackson on designed runs and scrambles. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz emphasized that discipline and tackling are critical. Safety Grant Delpit and others have voiced confidence in limiting Henry as well. Talk is cheap, but Cleveland’s defense has shown flashes that back up its words, including holding Cincinnati to fewer than 150 total yards last week.
A must-win feeling for Cleveland
The Browns know the stakes. Starting 0-2 in the division would put them at a significant disadvantage in a crowded AFC North. The team has reason for confidence, having won four of its last seven against Baltimore, including a 29-24 victory last season. Yet Cleveland has only one win in Baltimore since 2020, highlighting how difficult this road trip will be.
Cleveland will try to control the clock, protect Flacco, and rely on Garrett to disrupt Jackson. The formula for victory is clear. Cleveland needs to win the turnover battle, limit explosive plays, and convert scoring chances that were missed a week ago. Special teams must also rebound after rookie kicker Andre Szmyt missed a field goal and an extra point in the opener.
The Ravens are favored and have the roster advantage, but divisional games rarely follow the script. For Flacco, the return to Baltimore adds another layer of intrigue. The veteran quarterback is no stranger to big moments, and if he can lead Cleveland to victory in his old home, it would mark an early-season turning point.
Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. on CBS. For the Browns, the mission is simple. Silence Baltimore’s crowd, contain Jackson and Henry, and prove they can be more than spoilers in a loaded division.
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