Ravens-Browns Preview

SCOUTING REPORT

Ravens' defense could have Cleveland clamoring for QuinnBaltimore took on the Raiders last week and pushed them all over the field on both sides of the ball, dominating the time of possession. The Ravens have won two in a row heading into this crucial AFC North matchup as their rookie quarterback matures. The Browns also got a much-needed win in Jacksonville last week, while the Steelers lost, opening up an opportunity for one of these teams to challenge Pittsburgh for the division lead.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
BAL	11-5	385	244	6-2	5-3	4-2	8-4
CLE	4-12	232	350	1-7	3-5	1-5	3-9
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Baltimore Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Flacco 63.1 3613 21 12 Smith 55.6 24 0 1

Cleveland Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Quinn 53.1 1339 8 7 Anders... 44.5 888 3 10

Baltimore Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Rice 254 1339 5.3 7 McGahe... 109 544 5.0 12

Cleveland Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Harris... 194 862 4.4 5 Lewis 143 500 3.5 0

Baltimore Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Mason 73 1028 14.1 7 Rice 78 702 9.0 1

Cleveland Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Massaq... 34 624 18.4 3 Harris... 34 220 6.5 2

Full Player Stats: Baltimore | Cleveland

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	BAL	324.0
	CLE	249.0
Yards Passing	BAL	175.5
	CLE	148.8
Yards Rushing	BAL	148.5
	CLE	100.3
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	BAL	261.1
	CLE	356.5
Pass Yds Allowed	BAL	179.7
	CLE	204.6
Rush Yds Allowed	BAL	81.4
	CLE	151.9

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Baltimore leads 9-7
Sep 21, 2008	BAL 28, @CLE 10
Nov 18, 2007	BAL 30, @CLE 33
Sep 30, 2007	BAL 13, CLE 27
Dec 17, 2006	BAL 27, @CLE 17
Sep 24, 2006	BAL 15, CLE 14
Jan 1, 2006	BAL 16, CLE 20
Oct 16, 2005	BAL 16, @CLE 3
Nov 7, 2004	BAL 27, @CLE 13
Sep 12, 2004	BAL 3, CLE 20
Dec 21, 2003	BAL 35, CLE 0
Sep 14, 2003	BAL 33, @CLE 13
Dec 22, 2002	BAL 13, @CLE 14
Oct 6, 2002	BAL 26, CLE 21
Nov 18, 2001	BAL 17, @CLE 27
Oct 21, 2001	BAL 14, CLE 24

Teams suddenly have needed to get much more creative in order to try and stop Baltimore's offense. The Ravens insist intentional eye gouging is one unusual tactic an opponent has used.

With their offense heating up, the Ravens face the Cleveland Browns on Sunday in a rematch of a controversial contest from last month between the AFC North rivals.

Baltimore (4-3) has averaged 28.0 points en route to winning two straight, moving within one game of Pittsburgh for the division lead. The offensive outburst has helped the Ravens bounce back from a three-game losing streak, which began following a 28-10 victory over the Browns (3-4) on Sept. 21.

Controversy surrounding that matchup -- Baltimore's highest-scoring game until beating Oakland 29-10 last Sunday -- incited a review by the NFL.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh sent tapes to the league's office in New York asking for a review of two separate incidents in which he thought Browns players were intentionally gouging the eyes of Baltimore running back Willis McGahee, but the NFL found no evidence to support the accusation.

McGahee was cut on his right eyelid, poked in the left eye, and forced to leave the game twice.

Baltimore, which rotates three different running backs, rushed for 151 yards in that contest and is averaging 165.5 yards per game during its last two wins, including a 192-yard effort versus the Raiders sparked by offensive coordinator Cam Cameron's innovative play calling.

Using two quarterbacks in a single-wing set, Baltimore gained 75 yards in four plays -- including a 43-yard completion from backup quarterback Troy Smith to starter Joe Flacco.

On the first two snaps Smith took, he ran between the tackles. The third time, he ran around end and pitched to Ray Rice for a 21-yard gain. Then came his pass to Flacco, who lined up as a wide receiver on the left side.

"There's a lot of other things we're practicing that we are going to show as time goes on," Harbaugh said. "We think we're creative. We think we have a chance to be an exciting offense; we think we've been that."

Rice, a rookie running back, enjoyed his most productive day in the NFL. The second-round draft pick out of Rutgers set a career high with 101 total yards, and accounted for five first downs in the second quarter alone. Rice's 15 receptions are second on the team behind Derrick Mason's 34.

Their contributions become even more vital with wide receiver Demetrius Williams sidelined for the rest of the season. Williams was placed on injured reserve Wednesday due to a bone spur around his left Achilles' tendon.

Although he caught a 70-yard touchdown pass against Oakland, the third-year wideout didn't practice last week and has long been operating at less than 100 percent. Williams played in all seven games this season and had 13 catches for 180 yards.

Losing a playmaker on offense isn't as tough when a team has a fearsome defense. The Ravens are tied with the Steelers for second in the NFL in scoring defense, allowing 15.7 points per game.

In last month's matchup with the Browns, Baltimore turned two of Cleveland quarterback Derek Anderson's three interceptions into TDs during a 50-second span of the third quarter.

Anderson has played better in recent weeks, though, throwing for 830 yards and five TDs with one interception to help the Browns win three of their last four games after an 0-3 starts.

Even with Pro Bowl tight end Kellen Winslow suspended, Anderson passed for 246 yards and a TD in a 23-17 victory over Jacksonville last Sunday.

Winslow's one-game suspension for criticizing the team's handling of his staph infection was rescinded, but he still didn't travel to Jacksonville. Winslow rejoined his teammates Monday after the Browns won for the second time this season without him.

"I'm ready to move on and just play football," said Winslow, who has 21 receptions for 187 yards and a score in the five games he has played.

With Winslow out last Sunday, backup tight end Steve Heiden led the Browns with 73 yards receiving -- 51 of them coming on a fourth-and-1 catch to set up Cleveland's second touchdown.

Winslow recorded two catches and a season-low 14 yards versus the Ravens in September. He has not caught a touchdown pass in six career games against Baltimore.

The Browns have won their annual home game against Baltimore in three of the last four years.

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