The Cleveland Browns are preparing for their first road game of the 2025 season, heading to Baltimore for a divisional showdown in Week 2. The Ravens — last year’s division champs — present a challenge in all three phases of the game, from a strong special teams unit to a balanced offense and a physical defense.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski praised the Ravens’ roster depth, pointing out their dangerous weapons on offense. Baltimore is led by dual-threat quarterback Lamar Jackson, who is supported by RB Derrick Henry, WR DeAndre Hopkins, WR Zay Flowers, and TE Mark Andrews. Add to that a tough defense, and it’s clear this won’t be an easy matchup for Cleveland.
The Key Question: How to Limit Lamar Jackson?
Stopping Lamar Jackson requires all three levels of the Browns’ defense to stay disciplined. Jackson’s ability to scramble, extend plays, and take advantage of designed quarterback runs means defenders must account for an extra gap on every snap.
CB Denzel Ward noted that the coaching staff emphasized playing through the whistle, as Jackson often buys time and creates explosive plays late in the down.
In Week 1 against the Bills, Jackson reminded everyone of his unique skill set — rushing for 70 yards on six carries, including a 10-yard touchdown, while also completing 14 of 19 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns. His longest run went for 19 yards, and his longest pass was a 39-yard strike to Zay Flowers.
Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz broke down the challenge:
“It puts greater responsibility on everybody, because you add another element to the run game that doesn’t need a blocker. You need to tie in your secondary a little bit more. You need to double duty some people. They got to be able to scrape some gaps and things like that. It just adds another layer to it. And, I mean, Baltimore’s really good at it, and Lamar Jackson’s really good at it.”
Why It Matters
Containing Lamar Jackson won’t be easy. His dual-threat ability forces defenses to stay sharp at every position, from the defensive line holding gaps to the secondary staying disciplined on deep passes. If the Browns want to steal a divisional win on the road, slowing down Jackson will be the top priority.
👉 Bottom Line: Lamar Jackson is always going to make plays — the key is making sure he doesn’t take over the game. The Browns will need a complete defensive effort to keep him in check on Sunday in Baltimore.
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