The Browns just gave this game to the Ravens blowing a 27-20 lead heading into the 4th quarter and it cost Derek Anderson his starting job.  Anderson completed 17 of 33 passes for 219 yards with 2 TD passes and 1 interception.  The pickoff was crucial however as the Browns were only losing 30-27 when he threw it.  Terrell Suggs returned the pickoff 42 yards for a TD sealing the Browns’ fate in this game. Braylon Edwards caught 4 passes for 86 yards with a TD reception but he dropped a couple of more passes including 1 that would have been a sure TD pass.  The Browns’ defense was awful in this game allowing 429 yards to the lowly Ravens’ offense including 193 yards rushing on 41 carries (4.7 ypc) and it’s almost impossible to win that way….and the Browns didn’t.  Still, it was fun to watch Joshua Cribbs get his groove back on in this game.  He returned 3 punts for 41 yards (13.7 avg) and 7 kickoffs for 237 yards (33.9 avg) including a 92-yarder for a TD.  The Browns fell to 3-5 on the season with this loss and this won will hurt for a long time.   Getting swept by the Baltimore Ravens hurts on so many levels for Browns’ fans.

These two teams met in week #3 of the season and the Ravens won 28-10 by dominating the Browns in the 2nd half.  This game should be a little bit different as both teams are playing well right now.  The Ravens have won their last two games by a combined score of 56-23 while the Browns have won 2 of their last 3 games outscoring opponents 69-45.  The Ravens will definately go with what works for them and that’s running the football as they are averaging 142.4 yards rushing per game.  That’s bad news for the Browns who are allowing 141.6 yards rushing per game and 4.7 yards per carry.  Look for Willis McGahee, Ray Rice and Le’Ron McClain to all get a taste of the action against the Browns this week.  If the Browns can contain the Ravens’ running game they should be more than able to win this game because Joe Flacco (3 TD passes, 7 interceptions) could have trouble against a Browns’ secondary that has 9 interceptions this season.

It will be interesting to see how the Browns attack the Ravens on offense.  The Ravens are only allowing 64.3 yards rushing per game (2.8 ypc) so the Browns will find it hard to open up running lanes for Jamal Lewis.  With that in mind it might be smart to give Jerome Harrison some playing time getting him the football in space on the perimeters of the defense.  The Browns have only allowed 11 sacks this season so Derek Anderson will likely have time to throw the football he just needs to limit his mistakes as the Ravens made him pay for every one of them the first time they played.

PREDICTION:  CLEVELAND BROWNS 17, BALTIMORE RAVENS 13