The Ravens are set to take a big ol' bit of NFL cupcake when the Browns come to Baltimore, blogger sneers.
View full sizeOne Baltimore Sun blogger calls the Browns the "NFL cupcakes" that will satisfy the Ravens' sweet tooth this Sunday.
Vensel opened today's blog talking about the ludicrosity of a couple of Plain Dealer types suggesting it is possible that the Browns, who have a history of beating teams they shouldn't, might actually emerge from M.T. Stadium victorious this Sunday. No way, insists Vensel:
Most important, the Ravens are head and shoulders better than the Browns — think Jared Gaither next to Ray Rice — who just might be the worst team in the NFL.
With Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace, the Browns are stuck between a rock and another crappy quarterback. Their No. 1 receiver, Mohamed Massaquoi, has more vowels in his last name (five) than catches in 2010 (three). And their defense is allowing 130 rushing yards per game.
No wonder they have lost to the Chiefs and Buccaneers, who had 25 losses combined last season. But hey, how about those special teams, which Ravens coach John Harbaugh called an “all-star group?”
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to beat the Browns up. OK, maybe I am a little bit. Sorry, Cleveland.
But the Ravens, coming off that Steve-Buscemi-ugly offensive performance against the Bengals (a 15-10 loss), have been fed an NFL cupcake. It’s the perfect opportunity for them to get Joe Flacco back on track, rediscover the running game and flex their muscles heading into the following week’s showdown in the Steel City.
If the Browns do manage to win and the Ravens choke on a cupcake, better hope someone in Baltimore knows that hind-lick maneuver.
Cribbs notes
The Kansas City Chiefs avoided kicking to Browns standout Joshua Cribbs about as tenaciously as a politician avoids responsibility. It worked, too. Cribbs, accepted league-wide as the one man on the Browns who can turn a game around all by himself, had one kickoff return for 19 yards and one punt return for five yards against the Chiefs.
Edward Lee of the Baltimore Sun writes that the Ravens won't employ the same tactic.
"No, we're not going to shy away from anybody," said rookie David Reed, who leads the team in special-teams tackles with four this season. "We're going to go at him and contain him."
That assignment has not been terribly easy for the Ravens, who have had a tortured history with Cribbs. Two of the Browns' top three single-game kickoff return records were registered by Cribbs at the Ravens' expense.
He compiled 245 yards on seven kickoffs to help lift the Browns to a 33-30 overtime victory on Nov. 18, 2007. The following season, he gained 237 yards on seven kickoffs, including a 92-yard touchdown in a 37-27 loss.
"In many ways, he's such an explosive player, one of the best in the league," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "Their special teams – I've said this before – but their special teams are like an all-star group. They've just got a bunch of core players. The specialists are all good, and Cribbs is the main guy. And we're going to have our hands full."
The question, then, is whether they'll be kicking to Cribbs on kickoffs or punts. One is good. One, not so good.
You can pick your friends ...
OK, so the Ravens are a teensy bit better than the Browns. But with quarterback Joe Flacco playing like a confused high school sophomore (hey, there's a reason half of the Baltimore sports talk radio audience was calling for Marc Bulger -- MARC BULGER -- to replace him in the Bengals game and beyond), are they so much better than the Browns that picks like these from the Baltimore Sun sports staff are warranted?
Kevin Cowherd: Ravens 21, Browns 3: Ravens offense starts clicking and the defense keeps humming.
Jamison Hensley: Ravens 31, Browns 10: Cleveland is improved from a year ago, but the Ravens' offense wants to put on a show for the home crowd.
Edward Lee: Ravens 24, Browns 10 Seneca Wallace is no Peyton Manning, but he's the type of elusive quarterback who can present problems. Still, it would take a major self-implosion on the Ravens' part to lose to the Browns.
Ken Murray: Ravens 24, Browns 12: Wrong time, wrong place for a Cleveland upset.
Mike Preston: Ravens 24, Browns 10. The Browns are a semi-pro team with a lame duck head coach.
Peter Schmuck: Ravens 30, Browns 6: Joe Flacco needs to build some momentum for Pittsburgh. Browns will cooperate.
WJZ's Mark Viviano: Ravens 33, Browns 6: Joe Flacco and the offense come to life at Cleveland's expense.