Baltimore Ravens aim win vs Cleveland Browns to move on from Houston Texans’ loss – NFL Preview
The Baltimore Ravens had enough time to consolidate their ability and strength following a humiliating loss to strongly emerging rivals - the Houston Texans - from American Football Conference (AFC) South division on past weekend to take on the Cleveland
Browns this Sunday (Nov 04) with an aim of sweeping the two-game series of this season with one game already won by the visitors.
It will be a total AFC North showdown and the Ravens on top of the division's rankings have all what it takes to inflict another serious wound to injured and struggling Browns this weekend.
The Ravens maintain a superb 5-2 record, although their loss against the Texans reflected their poor showing in the game. The Browns, however, have a dismal season so far with only two wins (2-6) to their credit.
Also, it will be a competition between experience versus youth, given the Browns are studded with young stars. They are the only team to have so many rookies, as many as fifteen, while their rivals the Ravens have many veterans who are almost approaching
maturing of their careers.
Safety Ed Reed has played football more than a decade, quarterback Joe Flacco has plenty of experience as an offence leader and Terrell Suggs is back to action after speedy recovery from a partially torn Achilles tendon. So, all the veterans form a formidable
force that can challenge any opposition in their way to victory, let alone the Browns.
The Browns’ home-field advantage is least likely to count in their favour given the team is in dire as far as clicking to form or getting their act together is concerned.
Obviously, the rookie appearance puts a majority of their players to a disadvantage. Quarterback Brandon Weeden, for example, has improved to an extent on a self-help basis but still he ends up making mistakes. A little help can rectify them but apparently
no one from coaching department has so far worked with him on this front.
It is even more challenging for coach Pat Shurmur, who along with some other top officials at the headquarters, are concerned about their prospects with the Browns given the team have been sold to a new owner, Jimmy Haslam, who is raring and nearing to take
over the franchise, which may risk career of Shurmur and some other officials in the longer-run. The current form of the Browns does not bode well with their hopes of staying longer with the team in any capacity.
Back to this weekend’s game, a win will be really tough for the Browns. If they win, it will be another major upset for the Ravens following their miserable loss to the Texans.
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