Browns at Ravens game preview…with analysis by Ron Benamor

Happy Holidays to all our valued readers and friends here at RFM…

The 10-4 Ravens host the Cleveland Browns (4-10) at M&T Bank Stadium at 1:00 PM on Christmas Eve…

The Ravens will be without the services of stalwart WR Anquan Boldin, who is out for knee surgery to repair a small meniscus tear…This certainly changes the offensive game plan for the Ravens over the next two regular season games… It is being said by the team that Boldin will be okay in time for the playoffs… but it’s difficult for me to buy into that….

LAST MEETING—Ravens beat Browns 24-10, Dec. 4

LAST WEEK—Browns lost to Cardinals 20-17 OT; Ravens lost to Chargers 34-14

BROWNS OFFENSE—OVERALL (29), RUSH (30), PASS (22)

BROWNS DEFENSE—OVERALL (14), RUSH (31), PASS (3)

RAVENS OFFENSE—OVERALL (15), RUSH (16), PASS (16)

RAVENS DEFENSE—OVERALL (3), RUSH (2), PASS (5)

Cleveland is expected to start Seneca Wallace at QB ahead of injured Colt McCoy (concussion). … Browns LB D’Qwell Jackson, who leads team with 138 tackles, played his college ball at Maryland. … Cleveland RB Peyton Hillis ran for 144 yards on 22 carries with TD in last game at Baltimore, a 24-17 defeat. … Ravens seeking to complete first 8-0 season at home. … Baltimore QB Joe Flacco 7-0 vs. Browns with eight TDs and four INTs. … Ravens have won six straight AFC North games. … Baltimore RB Ricky Williams needs 64 yards to reach 10,000 in career. … Ravens signed K Shayne Graham on Wednesday. He is expected to replace injured Billy Cundiff (calf). … Ravens S Ed Reed has 10 career INTs vs. Cleveland, the most against any opponent. 

Here’s featured staff writer Ron Benamor with a closer look at the implications of this game:

“A second chance”…

49er’s head coach Jim Harbaugh gave his brother John an early Christmas, a second chance at home-field advantage and a first round bye. Without a doubt, the Ravens biggest issue this season has been playing on the road. Baltimore is 3-4 on the road; and all four of their losses have come on the road. Baltimore slipped up big time Sunday with a 34-14 loss to San Diego, but were given an early Christmas present when San Francisco pummeled Pittsburgh the following night. Now, if the Ravens win their final two games against the Browns and Bengals, then Baltimore will host a playoff game and have a first-round bye. Flacco on the sudden turn around—“We’re obviously in a better position because of what happened last night (in the 49ers win over the Steelers). We’ve just got to keep our wits about us, go out there and continue to play the way we’ve been playing.” Ravens fans know that home-field advantage is a monumental factor for a Super Bowl run. Baltimore is unbeatable at home this season, winning by an average of 13 PPG. If the road to Indianapolis goes through M & T, the Ravens could find themselves playing for the Super Bowl. However, if the Ravens win out they wont only have home field, but the oh-so coveted first round bye. A bye week would give Ravens personnel an extra week to heal. With recent injuries to Ray Lewis, Lardarius Webb and most recently, Anquan Boldin, a bye-week would be a blessing.  Boldin will be undergoing knee-surgery to repair a torn meniscus and will be out for two-weeks, just in time for the playoffs. Coach John Harbaugh acknowledged that a first round bye would help his injured wideout stating, “He will be back for the playoffs, whichever round we have to play in,” Harbaugh said. “It will be a little tighter if we have to play in the first round.” The Ravens will essentially be playing in a playoff atmosphere in the final two games. With big implications on the line, look for the Ravens coaches and veterans to step up their intensity and execution in these last two games. Baltimore will most likely execute and deliver come Saturday against the dreadful Cleveland Browns. Baltimore rarely loses at home, and with playoff implications I don’t see them losing to the Browns. However, the biggest test will lie at Paul Brown stadium New Years day against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Ravens will likely need a victory to secure the second seed. To make matters tougher, Cincinnati will likely be fighting for a wild-card spot. Baltimore is currently sporting a losing record at Cincinnati with a record of 3-5. If Baltimore wants to reverse the trend of road troubles, they are going to have to win.  The Ravens have to take in the win or go home mentality in the final stretch of the regular season. “We’ve just got to take care of business,” Suggs said. “We’re playing two teams that know us very well, two division foes, so it’s going to be interesting. We’ve got to go back to doing what we do best, and that’s playing Raven football.”