If the Ravens are going to keep things moving while Lamar Jackson is out, the blueprint in Cleveland looks pretty clear: lean on Snoop Huntley’s quick-game comfort, let Derrick Henry punish a shaky run defense, and keep the whole operation simple enough to survive a tricky road spot.
That part matters, because this trip has a few built-in complications. The Browns are not the Falcons.
Cleveland brings better cornerback play, more overall defensive talent, and a pass rush that can get home without sending extra bodies. At the same time, the Browns have a major soft spot against the run, and the Ravens already showed last week they can mash a defense that was supposed to be good on paper.
Atlanta entered that game leading the NFL in run defense, and Baltimore still piled up 200 yards on the ground.
The offensive line setup should help, too. The Ravens are not trying to get cute by forcing recent trade acquisition Cam Jurgens, who is coming back from a concussion, into action.
That leaves Huntley working with the same center as last week, surging rookie Vega Ioane. The expectation is that the line stays largely the same as well, though guard Andrew Vorhees is still part of the injury-report equation.
Even with that uncertainty, the cleanest path is the obvious one.
And there’s a reason the Ravens should stay on script. Huntley is at his best when the ball comes out fast, and that’s exactly the kind of night this could become against a Browns front that ranks top four in pressure rate while blitzing at only a 20th-ranked clip.
When he’s forced to hold the ball, the problems show up fast. Huntley has a 27% sack rate when pressured, and Jared Verse and Mason Graham, if Graham is active after being questionable, could make life miserable.
The split is stark. Huntley when Pressured: 48% comp, 4.9 yds/att, 62.7 rtg. Huntley When Not Pressured: 74% comp, 6.3/att, 91.6 rtg.
That makes the first read easy: get the ball out, hit the edges, and keep hunting yards after the catch. Last week’s opening snap was an end around for Zay Flowers, and that same horizontal stress should be part of the plan again.
So should a healthy dose of screens and flat routes, especially if the Ravens are dealing with added tight end issues. Derrick Henry can be used there, too; his touchdown catch-and-run last week is the kind of thing that fits this matchup, and he is second on the team in YAC.
Henry is also carrying a massive workload already. He has 113 carries, which is more than any age-32 running back through five weeks since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger.
That pace is staggering, and at some point Baltimore will have to think about dialing it back. This week does not feel like that week.
Henry is averaging 22.6 rushes per game, and he could easily see upward of 25 touches again.
The Browns’ run defense invites that approach. They are 30th in Expected Points Added and Success Rate against the run, and injuries in the front seven have only made the issue worse.
They’re also holding opponents below 60% completions, so this is not the kind of defense you want to challenge by forcing throws outside the structure of the plan. Multiplicity on the ground was the key last week, and it should matter again Sunday.
Huntley’s matchups matter, too. Cleveland plays man coverage 44.4% of the time, the highest rate in the league by a wide margin.
The Bears are second at 31.5%, and the NFL average is 18%. That style can create chances for a quarterback to take off, because defenders are often turned away from the ball.
Huntley’s career numbers against man are strong: Huntley vs. Man: 63% comp, 8 TD - 2 INT, 8.3 Air Yd/att, 97.1 rtg.
Against zone, the picture is much less inviting: Huntley vs Zone: 70% comp, 3 TD - 8 INT, 7.1 AY/att, 79.1 rtg.
So even if Cleveland mixes things up, the Ravens should have a clear read on how to attack them. Keep Huntley comfortable, let the run game do the heavy lifting, and use his legs when the Browns’ man coverage gives him room.
Cleveland is 24th in EPA against quarterback runs and hasn’t seen much of that threat lately. That may change Sunday.
A Huntley scramble of 15 yards or more and a rushing total north of 30 yards both feel firmly in play.
In Other News...
Ravens Tight End Picture Just Opened A Big Door For Josh Cuevas
The Ravens tight end room has been one of the more closely watched parts of the roster heading into Week 6, and recent turnover there could give Josh Cuevas a real chance to get on the field. Baltimore is still sorting out how to replace the roles once filled by Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar, while Mark Andrews remains the featured option even after a stretch marked by drops and a fumble.
Matt Hibners status is now part of that equation after a hand injury left him uncertain for the upcoming game, forcing the Ravens to consider another layer of depth behind Andrews. If Baltimore needs an extra tight end in the mix, Cuevas is in position to benefit from the opening, making this a situation worth watching closely as the week moves on. [Read more 🡒]
Derrick Henry Gave Ravens Fans A Practice Moment Theyll Love
Derrick Henry has already given Baltimore plenty to feel good about after his latest outing, and a lighthearted practice moment only added to the buzz around him this week. A video shared by media showed Henry in a playful exchange with a Ravens coach during practice, a small scene that fit the energy of a player who has quickly become central to what Baltimore is trying to do offensively.
The timing matters, too, with the Ravens turning their attention to Cleveland and a defense that will have its own thoughts about Henrys style. Browns edge rusher Jared Verse has already commented on the way Henry runs, which only sharpens the intrigue around how Baltimore plans to keep leaning on its new power element as the AFC North schedule keeps tightening. [Read more 🡒]
Marlon Humphrey Is Tired Of One Weird Browns Problem
Marlon Humphrey knows exactly what kind of trip waits for Baltimore when it heads to Cleveland, and he made it clear the Browns home stadium has developed a reputation for the wrong reasons. The Ravens cornerback was speaking about the atmosphere there and the strange incidents that have punctuated recent visits, a reminder that this rivalry has become as much about surviving the setting as handling the opponent.
Baltimores timing makes the next visit even more interesting, with both teams arriving on decent run-ins and carrying competitive records into another meeting that should matter in the AFC North race. Humphreys comments only sharpen the attention on a place the Ravens have had to navigate before, and it adds another layer to a series that rarely feels routine when these teams line up in Cleveland. [Read more 🡒]