Control, explode, maintain: How Ravens topple Browns in opener

The Baltimore Ravens kick off the 2020 season vs. the Cleveland Browns. If they control, explode, and maintain the game, they should walk away with a win.

For the 2020 Baltimore Ravens, the key to their success is pretty similar to that of the 2019 Baltimore Ravens — control the ball, make explosive plays on both offense and defense, and maintain the edge until the final whistle. In their season-opening clash against their division rival Cleveland Browns, this formula might be even more important.

In their first bout last season, Cleveland got out to a lead and used battering ram back Nick Chubb to rock the Ravens to sleep — very similar to the Ravens’ season-busting loss to the Tennessee Titans and their star running back, Derrick Henry. The Ravens feel like they shored up an uncharacteristically-leaky run defense with additions Calais Campbell, Derek Wolfe, and Patrick Queen, but, still, the Ravens would prefer to play the role of front-runner for obvious reasons.

I mean, who wouldn’t?

Let’s take a look at this formula for the Ravens, with particular emphasis on how it is important to utilize this against the Browns in this year’s opener. The Browns, as mentioned before, have a formidable — if not elite — running attack, led by Chubb and Kareem Hunt, and pass-rushing threats that can make coming from behind a daunting challenge. Think back to last year’s two games. The Browns drummed the Ravens in the first tilt by grabbing and holding the lead, and the Ravens took the lead against the Browns right before halftime of their rematch last season and took the air out of that Browns defense in the second half en route to the win.

The same goes for this season. So, let’s examine the Ravens three-pronged path to victory against the Cleveland Browns — control, explode and maintain.