The Browns didn’t just beat the Ravens in Week 6 - they showed the rest of the AFC North exactly where Baltimore can be cracked.
Cleveland’s comeback win came with a defensive plan that handled the Ravens’ ground game and, more specifically, Derrick Henry. The veteran back has been less of a force this season, and the Browns made sure that weakness showed up in the biggest moments.
One of the key plays came when Emmanuel McNeil-Warren stopped Henry short of the goal line with a heads-up effort. Then linebacker Carson Schwesinger ripped the ball loose, giving Cleveland’s offense a short field that turned into a crucial scoring drive.
ESPN analyst Bill Barnwell pointed to the same issues that have followed Henry into this season. “Despite his size, Henry's game has always been more about creating explosives with his speed than overpowering people in phone booths. Right now, he's not doing either, though,” wrote Barnwell.
Henry’s problems in tight spaces and with ball security were on display against Cleveland, and those are not exactly new concerns. He has long been more dangerous once he gets rolling than when he’s asked to create something in a phone booth, and defenders have found that the ball can come loose if they get the chance to attack it.
The Ravens’ offense also looks different without Lamar Jackson. Tyler Huntley is not Lamar Jackson, and that changes how defenses can approach Baltimore. With Jackson out of the picture, opponents can key more heavily on Henry and force the Ravens to find answers elsewhere.
That’s part of why Baltimore no longer looks as untouchable as plenty of people made it out to be before the season started. The roster looked strong on paper, but the Ravens were also dealing with a first-time head coach, an injury-prone quarterback, and a history of underperforming.
In Other News...
Browns Suddenly Have A First Round Twist Fans Need To Watch
The Browns have given themselves a very different kind of draft conversation this fall, one shaped more by wins than by the usual search for a top pick. Because of the extra first-round selection they got from the Los Angeles Rams, Clevelands 2027 draft outlook is suddenly crowded near the same part of the board, with the two clubs sitting close together in the opening round.
For a team that has spent plenty of time in the draft lottery conversation, that kind of setup is worth watching. The current 2027 order already reflects a few traded picks around the league, and the Browns own spot is now lined up just behind the Rams, creating a twist that could matter if the front office starts thinking beyond the weekly grind and toward how those first-round assets might be used. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Just Got A Real AFC North Opening To Exploit
Lamar Jacksons thumb injury has changed the shape of the AFC North in a hurry, and it comes at a time when the Browns are still hanging around despite their loss to Pittsburgh. Baltimores offense has been built around Jacksons ability to carry games and keep pressure on the rest of the division, so any extended absence would ripple well beyond one roster and into the race Cleveland is trying to stay in.
For the Browns, the timing matters because they are not out of the picture, and they have the kind of draft capital that can make the next few weeks interesting. With the trade deadline approaching, Cleveland has room to consider adding help if it wants to press its advantage while the division is suddenly less stable than it looked a week ago. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Offense Just Put Clevelands Discipline Problem In The Spotlight
Kevin Stefanski did not try to pin Sundays offensive mess on one player or one breakdown. After the Browns absorbed eight sacks in a recent loss, the head coach pointed to a broader problem, saying the issues stretched from protection to play calling and even into the run defense. For a team sitting at 5-3, the frustration is less about one bad afternoon than the way a promising season can get tugged off course by lapses in discipline and execution.
Stefanskis message was plain: the responsibility is collective, and the fix has to be, too. He said there is room for the Browns to improve and move forward, but only if they learn from a performance that left too many openings for the opponent. That leaves Cleveland with a familiar midseason challenge, turning an ugly loss into something useful before the mistakes start to define the stretch run. [Read more 🡒]