CLEVELAND — At the midway mark of the NFL season, the Browns (2-6), to a player and coach, can say without question, that they have gotten better in many facets of the team and franchise.
Sunday’s home showdown with division rival and first-place Baltimore (5-2) will be another opportunity to prove whether the statements are fact or fiction. The Browns are coming off a 7-6 home win in ugly, rainy, and windy conditions last Sunday against San Diego.
Trent Richardson scored the game’s only touchdown, a first quarter 26-yard scamper.
Pat Shurmur’s team has won two of their last three games, but has lost nine straight to the Ravens.
“I think you build confidence when you win football games. The last few weeks we won a couple. When you’re trying to build something, you can look at the season in quarters and halves and we’ve got a half a season left to play. We’ve got some division games in there to play. We need to go out and just fight to win each game each Sunday,” Shurmur commented.
The Ravens have been idled for 10 days since their 43-13 beating at the hands of the Texans. It was the franchise’s worst loss since a 31-point blowout at Pittsburgh in 2007.
“I think they’re an outstanding football team. They’ve played against some pretty good offenses and I think they’re going to be a challenge just based on who they have out there,” Shurmur said.
Brandon Weeden has shown slow, steady progress since week one. He hasn’t committed a turnover in ten quarters and has thrown 1,900 yards while completing 55% (165-299, 9 TDs 10 interceptions).
More importantly he has found his go-to wide receiver. Josh Gordon has emerged to be Weeden’s favorite target. The rookie has ten catches and a team-high four touchdown catches in the last four games. He averages a little more than 22 yards per catch.
The Browns will get a huge boost to their defense. Phil Taylor practiced all week and should be in uniform. He hasn’t played at all this season, after suffering a torn pectoral muscle in the off-season.
The Ravens built up an early lead and hung on Sept. 27 when they beat the Browns 23-16 in Baltimore. Quarterback Joe Flacco threw for 356 yards with a touchdown and interception.
A Baltimore win would mean a season sweep of the Browns for the fifth straight year.
The Browns will be off next week before heading to Dallas to take on the Cowboys on Nov. 18.
“I’d like us to be able to be more explosive and more efficient running and passing. I think when you have guys, skill players, that have a little bit of a taste of success and they have talent, they’ve got their health, there’s a reason for them to continue to keep pushing. I’m looking for that,” Shurmur went on to say.
Sunday’s kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. from Cleveland Browns Stadium. FOX 8’s P.J. Ziegler will have complete highlights and a wrap-up tonight on FOX 8 News at 10 p.m.
