The Browns get another divisional test in Week 6, and this one carries real weight. Baltimore comes to Cleveland after both teams spent the offseason making coaching changes, and for the first time this year, the winner will own sole possession of first place in the AFC North.
A familiar franchise, a very different sideline. The Ravens passed on the chance to hand the job to current Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald, who would have been next in line after John Harbaugh if he had stayed.
Instead, Baltimore landed on Jesse Minter. Minter, who worked on the Michigan Wolverines staff with current Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh, was the Chargers’ defensive coordinator last season.
That move has carried over into the rest of the staff, too. Baltimore’s offensive coordinator, Declan Doyle, has already put himself on the radar as a future head coaching candidate based on how the Ravens’ offense has looked this season.
And that offense has been the clearest difference from last year. Todd Monken, the current Browns head coach, improved Baltimore’s attack during his time there, but this group looks even more dangerous.
Doyle has earned credit for that jump, and having Lamar Jackson operating at an MVP level obviously changes the entire picture. Pair Jackson with Derrick Henry, and you’ve got one of the league’s best quarterback-running back combinations.
Baltimore can hit fast and hit often. Zay Flowers is starting to come into his own, and rookie tight end Matthew Hibner is growing into a dependable option in the passing game. Even with an interior offensive line that’s still unsettled, this remains one of the league’s top offenses.
The Ravens’ only loss came against the New Orleans Saints, in a game Baltimore essentially handed away. Outside of that, this looks like a better team than the one from last season. The defense still has question marks, but there’s no shortage of talent there.
More than anything, this team seems to have found a way to handle the tight games that used to trip it up. In the last two years, Baltimore often found a way to lose close ones. This season has looked different, with wins over the Dallas Cowboys in Brazil and, most recently, an overtime victory over the Atlanta Falcons without Lamar Jackson.
If the Ravens get healthier, they look built for a deep playoff run in a wide-open AFC.
In Other News...
Shedeur Sanders Just Sparked A New Browns Quarterback Debate
Shedeur Sanders opened the 2025 season as the Browns' backup quarterback behind Deshaun Watson, but the early weeks have already brought a different kind of scrutiny. Watsons strong play in the first few games kept the depth chart intact, even as Sanders continued to wait for a real chance to prove he belongs in the conversation on the field.
Now Sanders has made a notable move off it, hiring agent Adie von Gontard of Young Money APAA Sports after previously going without representation. The timing adds another layer to a quarterback picture that already has attention in Cleveland, even though Sanders has seen only limited playing time and no official trade or roster move has been announced. [Read more 🡒]
Jerry Jeudy Trade Buzz Just Put Browns In A Tough Spot
Marvin Harrison Jr.s move from Arizona to Houston for 2027 draft picks has added another layer to the trade conversation around Jerry Jeudy, and it comes at a time when Cleveland has reasons to listen if the right offer surfaces. The comparison between Harrison and Jeudy this season only sharpens the picture, because Jeudy remains the more established receiver in a Browns offense that has had to weigh present production against future flexibility.
For Cleveland, the bigger question is not whether Jeudy has value, but what kind of market a receiver like him can create if teams are willing to pay up. Draft capital remains the most obvious return, though the possibility of a player swap gives the Browns another path if they decide they need immediate help rather than another pick to stash for later. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Could Be Misreading Jerry Jeudys Trade Market
The Browns are at least listening on Jerry Jeudy as the trade deadline approaches, and the asking range reportedly centers on a draft pick in the early third to fourth round neighborhood. It is a notable turn for a receiver the team added with the expectation that he could be part of the long-term answer, even as his production has slipped this season and Cleveland has younger wideouts waiting for bigger roles down the line.
Still, the bigger question is whether the market is going to meet the Browns where they want to be. Jeudys name carries enough pedigree to draw interest, but teams around the league tend to be careful about paying up for a receiver whose recent form does not match the price tag being floated. If Cleveland is reading the market too aggressively, it could find itself holding a player it was ready to move without the kind of return it had in mind. [Read more 🡒]