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Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns week 1 Ebony Bird round table

By Richard Bradshaw

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 22: Sione Takitaki #44 of the Cleveland Browns attempts to tackle Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens during the game at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. Baltimore defeated Cleveland 31-15. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 22: Sione Takitaki #44 of the Cleveland Browns attempts to tackle Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens during the game at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. Baltimore defeated Cleveland 31-15. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – DECEMBER 22: Gus Edwards #35 of the Baltimore Ravens attempts to run the ball past Sione Takitaki #44 of the Cleveland Browns during the game at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 22, 2019, in Cleveland, Ohio. Baltimore defeated Cleveland 31-15. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – DECEMBER 22: Gus Edwards #35 of the Baltimore Ravens attempts to run the ball past Sione Takitaki #44 of the Cleveland Browns during the game at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 22, 2019, in Cleveland, Ohio. Baltimore defeated Cleveland 31-15. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

Darin MacCann:

I’m probably a little higher on this Cleveland Browns team than most in the Ravens Kingdom.

They have vastly improved their cartoonish tackle situation from a season ago with the additions of veteran tackle Jack Conklin and rookie first-rounder Jedrick Wills. They’ve also significantly upgraded their coaching staff, particularly at the top with the seemingly-competent Kevin Stefanski taking over for an overmatched Freddie Kitchens.

They have one of the best one-two running attacks in the league with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, dynamic receivers in Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry and a quarterback in Baker Mayfield who I believe can win games with the right tools around him, and a proper mindset in that helmet of his.

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But…

The back of that defense is bad. Get past a formidable defensive line (which can indeed cause problems with their pass-rush prowess if the team gets out to a lead) and you will find an injury-addled, inexperienced group that is settling in with a new staff and facing one of the most unusual offenses in the league with the Ravens.

If the Ravens can control the ball, which I believe they can in this early match-up, I believe it will just be too much for Cleveland to overcome. Put Mayfield in obvious passing situations against these corners and a Don Martindale defense, and I just don’t see the Browns being able to win, especially this early in the season — with a rash of injuries and new systems on both sides of the ball.

Game predictions
• Mark Andrews has two touchdown receptions and more than 80-yards. Ebony Bird’s Ian Schultz convinced me this week that Cleveland doesn’t appear to have that guy who can match up with Andrews, and it made sense to me.

• Gus Edwards, the almost-forgotten man in this Ravens backfield, will rip off a run of more than 35 yards en route to a 70-yard-game. The Ravens will amass more than 220-yards on the day.

• The young safeties, Chuck Clark and DeShon Elliott, each contributes to a turnover. Also, each will get burned at one point for a big play. Growing pains, folks.

Final score
Ravens 34 Browns 20

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