How the Browns Can Slow Down Derrick Henry in Week 2

The Cleveland Browns are preparing for their first road game of the 2025 season as they head to Baltimore to face the Ravens on Sept. 14. After a heartbreaking 17-16 loss to the Bengals in Week 1, the Browns will look to bounce back with an important AFC North victory.

Last season, Cleveland split the series with Baltimore — securing a home win but falling short in the Week 18 matchup on the road. Now, the Browns face another test, this time against a Ravens team that features one of the most dominant running backs in football: Derrick Henry.

Here are three keys to the game for the Browns in Week 2.

1. Containing Derrick Henry

When you talk about the Ravens’ offense, it all starts with Derrick Henry. The 6-foot-2, 252-pound back still has the rare combination of size, speed, and power that makes him nearly impossible to bring down one-on-one. In Week 1 against Buffalo, Henry reminded the league why he’s still a game-changer — rushing for 169 yards and scoring two long touchdowns, both over 30 yards.

The Browns know this story well. Henry gashed them for 211 yards and two touchdowns across two meetings last season, including a monster 138-yard performance in Week 18. However, Cleveland did find success once — holding him to just 73 yards in Week 8, one of his lowest outputs of the year.

To replicate that success, the Browns must swarm Henry at every level of the defense. Myles Garrett and Maliek Collins will play a critical role up front, sealing running lanes and forcing Henry to hesitate at the line of scrimmage. Linebackers will then need to rally quickly to prevent him from gaining yards after contact — where Henry is at his most dangerous.

As defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz put it:

“We need to be physical on the defensive line and at the linebacker level, because you have an extremely strong, extremely big running back that can go North-South. You give that guy a head of steam, it’s tough on your defense.”

2. Establishing the Run Game

While stopping Baltimore’s run game is priority one, Cleveland must also prove they can run the ball effectively on offense. In Week 1 against the Bengals, the Browns’ ground attack was virtually nonexistent, managing just 49 rushing yards and an abysmal 2.0 yards per carry. The longest run of the day? Only five yards.

Guard Joel Bitonio admitted the offensive line missed key assignments, allowing defenders to clog rushing lanes before Jerome Ford and Dylan Sampson could even get going. Against a stout Ravens defense, that simply can’t happen again.

Baltimore’s front seven looked sharp in Week 1, limiting Buffalo to 3.5 yards per carry and continuing their dominance from last season, when they led the NFL by allowing only 80.9 rushing yards per game. If Cleveland’s offensive line doesn’t clean up its blocking, the Browns’ backs will struggle to make an impact.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski knows what’s at stake:

“For us to play well, we have to be able to run the ball better than we did in Week 1. We have to perform better as players, and we have to give them a better plan as coaches. It’s all the little things that add up when you talk about having rushing success.”

3. Balance the Offense

The Browns can’t afford to be one-dimensional. If the Ravens know Cleveland can’t run the ball, they’ll sell out to stop the pass and force Deshaun Watson into tough situations. Establishing balance early — mixing in efficient runs with timely play-action passes — will keep Baltimore’s defense guessing.

If the Browns offensive line steps up, opens running lanes, and gives Watson time in the pocket, Cleveland will have a much better shot at putting points on the board.

Final Thoughts

This matchup comes down to physicality. Can the Browns’ defense gang-tackle Derrick Henry before he builds momentum? Can the offensive line give Ford and Sampson a chance to establish the run?

If Cleveland checks both boxes, they’ll not only have a chance to earn their first win of the season, but also make a statement in the AFC North race.