Nov 26, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (4) catches a touchdown pass during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

Lamar Jackson reaches rushing milestone as Ravens defeat Chargers

Lamar Jackson became the fastest quarterback to reach 5,000 rushing yards and the Baltimore Ravens forced four turnovers while recording a 20-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night at Inglewood, Calif.

Zay Flowers caught a touchdown pass and also ran for one for Baltimore (9-3), which won for the sixth time in the past seven games. The Ravens possess the top record in the AFC heading into next week’s bye.

Justin Herbert completed 29 of 44 passes for 217 yards with one touchdown and one interception for the Chargers (4-7), who lost their third straight game. Keenan Allen caught 14 passes for 106 yards and Gerald Everett had a scoring reception for Los Angeles.

Jackson was 18-of-32 passing for 177 yards with a touchdown, and rushed for 39 yards on 11 carries. He has 5,011 career rushing yards in 82 games.

The previous fastest quarterback to 5,000 was Michael Vick (104 games). Jackson’s rushing yards are fourth most by a quarterback, trailing Vick (6,109), Cam Newton (5,628) and Russell Wilson (5,232).

Los Angeles moved within 13-10 on Herbert’s 3-yard pass to Everett with 8:32 left in the contest. A 35-yard keeper by Herbert was the key play on the drive.

Normally reliable Justin Tucker was wide left on a 44-yard field-goal attempt for the Ravens with 2:57 left. But Los Angeles gave the ball back to Baltimore with 1:54 remaining.

On third-and-3, Flowers came in motion and took the handoff from Jackson and exploded through a big hole for a 37-yard scoring run to give the Ravens a 10-point lead with 1:36 left.

The Chargers again gave the ball back to Baltimore with 53 seconds left and the Ravens ran out the clock.

Khalil Mack recorded two sacks for Los Angeles, which was outgained 361 to 279.

The Chargers opened the game with Cameron Dicker’s 39-yard field goal before Baltimore moved ahead on Jackson’s 3-yard pass to Flowers with 10:41 left in the first half. Tucker tacked on a 42-yard field goal with 1:12 remaining as the Ravens took a 10-3 halftime lead.

Tucker booted a 48-yard field goal on Baltimore’s first third-quarter possession to make it a 10-point margin.
The Chargers had a chance to decrease their deficit but a 19-play, 72-yard drive ended with Jadeveon Clowney sacking Herbert and recovering the ensuing fumble at the Ravens’ 23-yard drive with 12:31 left in the game.

–Field Level Media

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews (89) fights a tackle from Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson (55) in the first quarter of the NFL Week 11 game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023.

Ravens place star TE Mark Andrews (ankle) on IR

The Baltimore Ravens placed three-time Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews on injured reserve on Saturday due to his ankle injury.

The move means Andrews will miss at least four games.

Andrews was injured on Nov. 16 against the Cincinnati Bengals and underwent surgery on Tuesday.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said earlier this week that it was possible Andrews could return this season.

Andrews has 45 receptions for 544 yards and six touchdowns in 10 games (nine starts) this season.

The 28-year-old Andrews enjoyed his best season in 2021 when he had 107 receptions for 1,361 yards. He had nine touchdown grabs that season, one off his career best from 2019.

Overall, Andrews has 381 career receptions for 4,857 yards and 40 touchdowns in 87 games (42 starts).

Baltimore also elevated inside linebacker Josh Ross and safety Andrew Adams from the practice squad for Sunday night’s road game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

–Field Level Media

Nov 16, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA;  Baltimore Ravens running back Gus Edwards (35) celebrates with quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) after scoring a second half touchdown  against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Ravens cruising, out to add to Chargers’ bruising

The Baltimore Ravens look to build on being in the top seed position in the AFC when they face the wilting Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night at Inglewood, Calif.

The Ravens (8-3) have won five of their past six games as they run into a Chargers’ squad that has lost five games by three or fewer points this season.

While Los Angeles (4-6) is two games out of the final wild-card spot, Baltimore is atop the conference but aware there’s more work to be done.

“It’s good,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said of the No. 1 seed. “It’s where you want to be at this point, but it doesn’t mean anything until after the last game. We gotta keep winning.”

Baltimore has played one more game than the other four one-loss teams in the AFC. The Ravens’ bye is next week.

That break should come in handy as quarterback Lamar Jackson is dealing with a left ankle injury sustained in a 34-20 home victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Nov. 16.

Jackson insists the ankle is fine and won’t be an issue against the Chargers. He was a full-go Wednesday.

Jackson passed for 264 yards and two touchdowns and added 54 on the ground versus the Bengals. He has 535 rushing yards to become the first quarterback to ever exceed 500 in each of his first six NFL seasons.

Jackson won’t have top target Mark Andrews, however. The star tight end injured his left ankle and underwent surgery Tuesday.

That leaves Jackson looking for Zay Flowers (team-high 53 catches) and Odell Beckham Jr. (24). Beckham had 116 receiving yards against Cincinnati for his first 100-yard effort since 2019.

“I believe my chemistry with all the receivers is coming along well,” Jackson said. “We have to keep locking in at practice and keep building more. The playoffs are rolling around, the end of the season is rolling around. We’ve just got to keep stepping in the right direction.”

The Chargers are tied for the 13th-best record in the AFC.

Los Angeles fell 23-20 to the host Green Bay Packers last weekend and dropped a 41-38 home decision to the Detroit Lions the previous week.

“The only thing we can focus on now is the next one,” Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert said Wednesday. “We’re not going to let these past ones affect our next performance.”

Los Angeles coach Brandon Staley has come under fire for the plethora of close setbacks.

“You’ve seen us play at a high level in spurts and stretches, but we haven’t had that complete performance consistently enough,” Staley said. “When every game that we’ve lost is so tight, you’re going to go back to a few plays, in all three phases of your team, and you’re going to magnify all of those little mistakes.”

Herbert has a solid touchdown-to-interceptions ratio of 19 to 5 but has topped 300 yards passing just once in the past seven games.

Keenan Allen leads the NFL with 83 receptions. He has topped 1,000 receiving yards for the sixth time in his career and has seven touchdown catches, one shy of his career-best total set in his rookie season.

Defensively, the Chargers placed Joey Bosa on injured reserve Wednesday due to a right foot sprain. He will miss at least four games.

Fellow pass rusher Khalil Mack had two sacks against Green Bay to raise his season total to 11, fourth in the NFL.

Ravens safety Geno Stone is tied for the NFL lead with six interceptions.

Harbaugh said that Baltimore receiver Rashod Bateman departed Wednesday’s practice with a foot injury and should be fine. Beckham (shoulder) and cornerback Arthur Maulet (illness) sat out the session.

Cornerback Marlon Humphrey (calf) and left tackle Ronnie Stanley (knee) returned to practice as limited participants. Both players sat out against Cincinnati.

For the Chargers, tight end Nick Vannett (concussion) sat out practice. Allen (shoulder) was among the limited participants.

Baltimore has won the past three regular-season meetings. The Chargers beat the Ravens 23-17 in an AFC wild-card game in Baltimore on Jan. 6, 2019.

–Field Level Media

Nov 16, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) throws during the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Joe Burrow hurt as Bengals fall to Ravens in injury-plagued game

Lamar Jackson completed 16 of 26 passes for 264 yards and threw a pair of touchdown passes to lead the Baltimore Ravens past the visiting Cincinnati Bengals 34-20 on Thursday.

Gus Edwards added a pair of touchdown runs for the Ravens (8-3), who won their fifth game in six outings.

The game was marred by the loss of Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow to a wrist injury in the second quarter.

Jackson came out on fire, completing passes of 14 yards to Mark Andrews and 33 yards to Zay Flowers on the opening drive. Those passes set the stage for a 3-yard touchdown run by Edwards.

Cincinnati responded with a 50-yard Evan McPherson field goal.

Burrow injured his right wrist while leading his team on a go-ahead touchdown drive midway through the second quarter. Burrow bent over in obvious pain after throwing a 4-yard pass in the flat to Joe Mixon, who ran it into the end zone to put the Bengals up 10-7 with 5:49 left in the half. Burrow finished the game 11-of-17 for 101 yards and the touchdown to Mixon.

Burrow spent several minutes in the medical tent before jogging off the field and to the locker room for further treatment. TV images showed significant and immediate swelling in the area of his right wrist.

While Burrow was being treated, the Ravens appeared to take the lead on a 68-yard Jackson-to-Flowers touchdown pass down the left sideline. But Odell Beckham Jr. was call for holding Chido Awuzie. Later in the drive, a Jackson pass over the middle was deflected by Germaine Pratt and into the hands of Nelson Agholor, who raced into the end zone for a 37-yard touchdown.

Jake Browning came in for Burrow and managed to generate one first down, but the Bengals later punted. Browning finished the game 8-for-14 for 68 yards and a touchdown as Burrow’s replacement.

Jackson then marched the team 80 yards in seven plays in just 67 seconds, adding to their lead when the quarterback fired a 10-yard pass in the end zone to Rashod Bateman. Baltimore took a 21-10 lead to the locker room at the half.

The Ravens won the game despite losing tight end Mark Andrews to an ankle injury on their first drive.

Browning engineered a 10-play, 67-yard drive to open the second half, capped by a 26-yard field goal from McPherson.

Adding insult to the loss and the Burrow injury, the Bengals lost their top cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt late in the first half when he aggravated his quad on the Bateman touchdown as he slipped in the end zone.

Beckham also left the game with a shoulder injury on a Logan Wilson hit midway through the fourth quarter.

The game was halted for several minutes at the start of the fourth quarter due to a drone flying inside the stadium.

–Field Level Media

Nov 16, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews (89) runs after a catch during the first quarter against Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson (55) at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Ravens TE Mark Andrews (ankle) exits early vs. Bengals

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews sustained an ankle injury on the first drive of Thursday night’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Andrews was tackled by Logan Wilson at the Cincinnati 4. Andrews was tended to for several minutes on the field before slowly making his way off the field to the medical tent

The Ravens ruled him out for the night soon after.

Andrews had two catches for 23 yards before his exit. The sixth-year pro, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, leads Baltimore with six receiving touchdowns this season.

Later, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson ran on third down toward the Baltimore sideline before pitching the ball out of bounds for an incomplete pass. Wilson also made the tackle at the ankles. Jackson went to the medical tent before returning on the next series.

–Field Level Media

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) throws in the first quarter of a Week 2 NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.

Week 11 TNF: Bengals-Ravens Preview, Props, Prediction

Two teams reeling from Sunday losses at home will try to regroup and claim a key AFC North win when the division-leading Baltimore Ravens host the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday night.

The Ravens (7-3) blew a golden opportunity to put more distance between themselves and the Steelers, Browns and Bengals, losing leads of 17-3 and 31-17 at home to Cleveland in a 33-31 loss. The setback snapped a four-game win streak.

Cincinnati (5-4) also had a four-game win streak snapped when it fought back from a 27-17 hole in the final three minutes, only to watch rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud lead Houston down the field for a game-winning field goal.

QUICK PICK
The Ravens’ stout defense collapsed in the second half against the Browns, but Baltimore can make life very difficult for Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow in the pocket. Both teams are banged up, but the absence of Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins is a significant blow. It could be a repeat of Baltimore’s 27-24 victory at Cincinnati in Week 2.

Prediction: Ravens 27, Bengals 24

TRENDING
The Ravens opened as 4.0-point favorites at BetMGM, where the line has shifted to 3.5 with the Bengals backed by 55 percent of the spread-line bets and 53 percent of the money. Cincinnati’s +150 moneyline has also been popular at the book, drawing 68 and 63 percent of the action, respectively.

The story has been similar at BetRivers, where the Bengals have been backed by 67 percent of the spread-line bets and 78 percent of the money. However, the public has sided with Baltimore’s moneyline at 62 and 61 percent, respectively.

The Over/Under has moved from 43.5 to 46 points at BetMGM, with the Over backed by 74 percent of the money.

PROP PICK
Ravens RB Keaton Mitchell Under 36.5 Rushing Yards (-115 at DraftKings): The Over on this prop has been the most popular at the book, but we’re going against the public. The rookie out of East Carolina backed up a breakout performance against Seattle with 34 yards against Cleveland. However, he had a long of 39 and lost 5 yards on his only other two carries. In a backfield that includes Gus Edwards and Justice Hill, look for the Ravens to lean heavily on their veteran duo in a critical divisional game.

THE NEWS
The game against Cincinnati marks the end of a three-game homestand for Baltimore while Cincinnati is in a stretch of four games where Thursday is the only road contest.

The Bengals’ defense is looking for a better effort after surrendering 17 plays of at least 20 yards in Sunday’s loss to Houston.

“You’ve got to cram a whole game plan into really about two and a half days,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said. “And so the team’s got to understand that. We walked off the field Sunday, it was a Wednesday afternoon, post-practice is really the point of the week you’re at. And so, you’ve got to get your bodies right after a physical long game like we had.

“Baltimore had the same thing. I mean, it really similar styles of games that were just played. And our guys have to get themselves ready and our coaches have to do a good job preparing them in a short span this week.”

KEY STAT
Zay Flowers needs just one catch for 51 on the season, which would break a tie with Torrey Smith for the all-time Ravens rookie record. On defense, Ravens safety Geno Stone leads the NFL with six interceptions.

INJURY REPORT
Both teams are dealing with a multitude of injuries heading into a game on only three days of rest.

Ravens starting right tackle Morgan Moses (shoulder) has missed two straight games, but he was a full participant in practice this week. Meanwhile, Pro Bowl cornerback Marlon Humphrey (calf), starting left tackle Ronnie Stanley (knee) and linebacker Trenton Simpson (concussion) were hurt in Sunday’s loss to the Browns. Stanley and Simpson have been ruled out, while Humphrey is doubtful.

Wide receiver Devin Duvernay (hamstring) also sat out practice Wednesday and is questionable. Linebacker Kyle Van Noy (groin) and guard John Simpson (illness, shoulder) did return to full practice by Wednesday.

“I think we’re dealing with it right now. We’ve done a good job of that,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said of the injury woes. “We’ve been on the road (a lot). We’ve (played) very tough teams in very physical games, and I feel like our guys have handled it very well.

“We have to continue to do it. That’s probably the main point right now: It’s how we handle that and how we approach it. Our job is to handle it better than our opponents do.”

Higgins will miss his second consecutive game with a hamstring injury and will be joined on the Cincinnati sideline by edge rusher Sam Hubbard (ankle) and rookie wide receiver Andrei Iosivas (knee).

Bengals star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson hyperextended his left knee when Houston receiver Noah Brown rolled into him on the play before the game-winning field goal. Hendrickson practiced in full by Wednesday, but is considered a game-time decision.

THEY SAID IT
“We live, we grow, we get better. Every team is tested, and we’re getting tested. So I’m excited for (Thursday).” –Ravens tight end Mark Andrews, who enters Thursday just one touchdown shy of matching Todd Heap for the team’s all-time mark of 41.

–Field Level Media

Nov 5, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA;  Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews (89) runs with the ball against the Seattle Seahawks during the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jessica Rapfogel-USA TODAY Sports

Banged-up Ravens, Bengals meet for vital division clash on TNF

Two teams reeling from Sunday losses at home will try to regroup and claim a key AFC North win when the division-leading Baltimore Ravens host the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday night.

The Ravens (7-3) blew a golden opportunity to put more distance between themselves and the Steelers, Browns and Bengals, losing leads of 17-3 and 31-17 at home to Cleveland in a 33-31 loss. The setback snapped a four-game win streak.

Cincinnati (5-4) also had a four-game win streak snapped when they fought back from a 27-17 hole in the final three minutes, only to watch rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud lead Houston down the field for a game-winning field goal.

“We live, we grow, we get better. Every team is tested, and we’re getting tested. So I’m excited for (Thursday),” said Ravens tight end Mark Andrews, who enters Thursday just one touchdown shy of matching Todd Heap for the team’s all-time mark of 41.

The game against Cincinnati marks the end of a three-game homestand for Baltimore while Cincinnati is in a stretch of four games where Thursday is the only road contest.

Baltimore claimed a 27-24 victory at Cincinnati in Week 2.

Zay Flowers needs just one catch for 51 on the season, which would break a tie with Torrey Smith for the all-time Ravens rookie record. On defense, Ravens safety Geno Stone leads the NFL with six interceptions.

The Bengals’ defense is looking for a better effort after surrendering 17 plays of at least 20 yards in Sunday’s loss to Houston.

Both teams are also dealing with a multitude of injuries heading into a game on only three days of rest.

Ravens starting right tackle Morgan Moses (shoulder) has missed two straight games while Pro Bowl cornerback Marlon Humphrey (ankle), starting left tackle Ronnie Stanley (knee) and linebacker Trenton Simpson (concussion) left Sunday’s loss to the Browns and did not return.

“I think we’re dealing with it right now. We’ve done a good job of that,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said of the injury woes. “We’ve been on the road (a lot). We’ve (played) very tough teams in very physical games, and I feel like our guys have handled it very well.

“We have to continue to do it. That’s probably the main point right now: It’s how we handle that and how we approach it. Our job is to handle it better than our opponents do.”

The Bengals lost star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson to a hyperextended left knee when Houston receiver Noah Brown rolled into him on the play before the game-winning field goal.

Hendrickson is expected to miss Thursday’s game, while Hendrickson’s bookend, edge Sam Hubbard, is dealing with a right ankle injury and missed last Sunday’s loss.

Rookie receiver Andrei Iosivas suffered a knee injury but finished the game Sunday against Houston.

The Bengals also missed the services of star receiver Tee Higgins, who is nursing a hamstring injury suffered Nov. 8 in practice. He also sat out last Sunday’s game vs. Houston.

“You’ve got to cram a whole game plan into really about two and a half days,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said. “And so the team’s got to understand that. We walked off the field Sunday, it was a Wednesday afternoon, post-practice is really the point of the week you’re at. And so, you’ve got to get your bodies right after a physical long game like we had.

“Baltimore had the same thing. I mean, it really similar styles of games that were just played. And our guys have to get themselves ready and our coaches have to do a good job preparing them in a short span this week.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 12, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA;  Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt (27) celebrates after scoring a second half touchdown  against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Browns rally from down 14 to shock Ravens

Dustin Hopkins drilled a game-winning 40-yard field goal as time expired as the Cleveland Browns completed a stunning comeback for a 33-31 victory over the host Baltimore Ravens on Sunday afternoon.

Hopkins redeemed himself after missing the point-after following Greg Newsome II’s 34-yard pick-6 with 8:16 remaining that pulled Cleveland (6-3) within 31-30.

Gus Edwards had provided Baltimore (7-3) with a 31-17 advantage with 11:34 to play when he scored on the ground from 1 yard out, but the Browns responded emphatically.

Deshaun Watson directed a six-play, 75-yard drive that took just 2:37, capping it with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Moore.

Just 41 seconds after Moore’s scoring catch, Newsome came down with the pick, and Cleveland rode that momentum to the surprising victory.

Watson completed 20 of 34 passes for 213 yards with the TD and one interception for the Browns, who got 107 yards on 17 carries from Jerome Ford. Amari Cooper had six receptions for 98 yards.

Lamar Jackson finished with 223 yards, a touchdown and two picks on 13-for-23 passing as the Ravens saw a four-game winning streak come to an end.

Zay Flowers had five catches for 73 yards for Baltimore, which didn’t have any of its four rushers accumulate more than 41 yards.

Jackson gave the Ravens some breathing room on the opening drive of the second half, closing a six-play, 78-yard march with a 40-yard scoring strike to Odell Beckham Jr. that put Baltimore ahead 24-9.

Cleveland followed with a monster drive that ate 10:09 of clock, and it ended successfully as Kareem Hunt punched in a 3-yard score. Watson then rushed into the end zone for a two-point conversion that cut the Browns’ deficit to eight.

Hopkins kicked a pair of second-quarter field goals — from 28 and 23 yards — to pull Cleveland within 17-9 by halftime.

Baltimore found itself up 14-0 just 4:47 into the game thanks to an 18-yard pick-6 from Kyle Hamilton and Keaton Mitchell’s 39-yard touchdown run.

Hopkins got the Browns on the board with a 36-yard field goal later in the first quarter, but Justin Tucker answered with a 37-yarder to make it 17-3.

–Field Level Media

NFL Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey

Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey injures ankle vs. Browns

Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey is questionable to return to Sunday’s game against the visiting Cleveland Browns due to an ankle injury.

Humphrey went down on a passing play — an 11-yard completion to Cleveland tight end David Njoku — with 5:11 remaining in the third quarter. He had dropped back in coverage before making a cut to move toward the action, but he then stumbled to the turf without being touched.

After being taken to the blue medical tent, Humphrey went back to the locker room. He had three tackles, including one for loss, before exiting.

Entering Sunday, Humphrey had 11 tackles and a pass defense in five games (all starts) this season.

Humphrey, 27, is a three-time Pro Bowl selection.

–Field Level Media

Oct 1, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) runs with the ball beside Baltimore Ravens cornerback Brandon Stephens (21) in the fourth quarter at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Ravens put win streak on line vs. rival Browns

The Baltimore Ravens are starting to run away with the AFC North.

Baltimore is riding a four-game winning streak and will attempt to continue distancing itself from the rest of the division Sunday when it faces the visiting Cleveland Browns.

After surrendering 14 points in the fourth quarter of an ugly 17-10 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 8, the Ravens (7-2) caught fire, going on to outscore opponents 130-49 over the next four weeks.

In last Sunday’s 37-3 rout of the Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore amassed 515 total yards of offense, with 298 of those coming on the ground.

Rookie Keaton Mitchell ran for 138 yards and a touchdown on nine carries, while fellow running back Gus Edwards found the end zone on two of his five touches. Quarterback Lamar Jackson also got in on the action by rushing 10 times for 60 yards.

The Ravens are quickly emerging as one of the teams to beat in the AFC, but the last thing coach John Harbaugh wants is a group that starts to become complacent.

“What the standings are now are not important,” Harbaugh said. “It’s what the standings are after the last regular-season game that matter. Our guys really understand that.”

If the season were to end today, all four teams in the AFC North would secure a playoff berth, as the Browns, Steelers and Bengals are all 5-3. That makes Baltimore’s current stretch crucial, as the Ravens are set to face Cincinnati just four days after the meeting with Cleveland.

But Harbaugh insists that the Ravens are focused on the Browns and the Browns only.

“We got to take care of business. First things first. We have the Browns,” Harbaugh said. “It’s gonna be all about the Browns, and that’s it.”

Focusing solely on Cleveland is probably the right move, considering just how good the Browns’ defense has been through the first nine weeks of the season.

Cleveland allows the fewest yards per game (234.8) and third-fewest points per game (17.4) in the NFL. The only defense better? It belongs to Baltimore, which ranks second in total defense (262.6 yards allowed per game) and first in scoring defense (13.8 points allowed per game).

The Browns’ defense was at its best last weekend, shutting out the Cardinals for a 27-0 Cleveland victory. Arizona scratched across just 58 yards of total offense, the third-fewest allowed in a game in Browns’ franchise history.

It was a different story when Cleveland faced the Ravens earlier this season, though, as Baltimore rolled to a 28-3 win on Oct. 1 when Cleveland was without quarterback Deshaun Watson (shoulder).

Browns linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. expects Sunday’s game to be much more competitive.

“We just gotta execute better. Whether it’s corrections or just being … fundamentally sound and doing what we do better, that’s just what it has to be,” Walker said. “We gotta do a much better job this game than we did the first game.”

Cleveland could be without cornerback Greg Newsome II, who missed Wednesday’s practice due to a groin injury. Offensively, wide receiver Marquise Goodwin (concussion) and tight end David Njoku (knee) were among those out.

Defensive ends Ogbo Okoronkwo (groin) and Alex Wright (knee) were limited for the Browns. Watson practiced in full.

Defensive tackle Michael Pierce missed Baltimore’s Wednesday session due to an illness. Receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was out, too, partly because of a knee injury.

–Field Level Media