What to watch for, presented by House of Blues

09.23.2009

M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore will be the sight of the 21st meeting between the Browns and Ravens Sunday afternoon. The Ravens hold a 13-7 overall series lead and are on a two-game winning streak against the Browns. The teams have alternated season series sweeps over the last three years.

As the game unfolds, here are several things to keep an eye on:

In two regular season games this season, kicker Phil Dawson has reached two career milestones. After surpassing 900 career points with the Browns, Dawson tied Don Cockroft for second place on the franchise's all-time field goals list. With a 47-yard field goal in Denver, Dawson reached 216 for his career. He is 18 away from tying Lou Groza for first all-time.

Browns wide receiver/kick returner Joshua Cribbs is one return touchdown away from passing Eric Metcalf for first in Browns history. In his five years in the NFL since coming out of Kent State University, Cribbs has returned five kickoffs and two punts for touchdowns.

His latest touchdown was a 67-yard punt return against the Vikings in the season opener.

Browns running back Jamal Lewis, who was drafted by the Ravens out of Tennessee holds the single-game rushing records for both teams in the series' history. Lewis rushed for a then league record 295 yards against the Browns on September 14, 2003. He gained 92 yards against the Ravens on November 18, 2007. In four games against the Ravens since signing with the Browns, Lewis has rushed for 261 yards on 76 carries. He has two rushing touchdowns in those games.

Lewis has his hands full this week. Most backs do. The Ravens are on an impressive 37-game streak of not allowing a 100-yard rusher.

Braylon Edwards has 11 career 100-yard receiving games, which ties him with Gary Collins for fourth in Browns history. He would tie Paul Warfield for third with one more 100-yard receiving game. Ray Renfro and Webster Slaughter are tied for first with 14 100-yard receiving games as a member of the Browns.

Brady Quinn is comfortable throwing to different receivers at all points around the field. Quinn hit six different receivers for a reception and found Edwards six times for 92 yards against the Broncos. Five of the six passes from Quinn to Edwards went for 14 or more yards.

To call Ravens free safety Ed Reed a ball hawk would be an understatement. In seven seasons with the Ravens, Reed has totaled 52 tackles and seven interceptions against the Browns. Of those seven interceptions, Reed has returned three for touchdowns. He returned an interception 106 yards for a touchdown in a nationally-televised game against the Browns in 2004.

When Haloti Ngata and Terrell Suggs tackled Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, it marked the 14th consecutive game in which the Ravens defense has registered at least one sack.

The last win for the Browns over the Ravens came on November 18, 2007. The Browns won the game 33-30 in overtime in Baltimore. Dawson kicked a 51-yard field goal off the support of the crossbar to tie the score and added a 33-yarder to win the game. The Browns are 3-7 against the Ravens on the road.

The Browns head to Baltimore with an 0-2 record after a 27-6 loss to the Broncos. The Ravens are 2-0 and in first place in the AFC North after their 31-26 win in San Diego. The Chargers failed to convert on fourth-and-two from the Ravens 15-yard line in the final minute last Sunday as Ray Lewis stormed into the backfield and dropped Darren Sproles for a loss.

CONNECTIONS

Browns punter Dave Zastudil is in his eighth NFL season and spent the first four years of his career with the Ravens after being selected in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL Draft. Zastudil punted 327 times as a Raven and averaged 41.65 yards-per-punt. As a Brown, Zastudil has averaged 43.99 yards-per-punt.

When Quinn looks over the middle for a wide receiver Sunday, he will see a familiar face in the Ravens secondary. Quinn and Ravens second-year safety Tom Zbikowski played together at Notre Dame. Zbikowski played safety and returned kicks for the Fighting Irish during their run to the 2006 Fiesta Bowl.

Browns safety Brodney Pool and Ravens wide receiver Mark Clayton played together at the University of Oklahoma. Pool and Clayton were members of the 2004 Big XII Championship team that made it to the National Championship Game. Ravens offensive lineman Chris Chester also played on the 2004 conference championship team.

Browns defensive back Mike Adams and Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco are two of three former Delaware Blue Hens in the NFL. Adams is in his sixth NFL season, third with the Browns, while Flacco is a second-year standout for the Ravens.

Former Northeast Ohio standouts Troy Smith (Glenville) and Haruki Nakamura (Elyria/St. Edward) are members of the Ravens. Smith is Flacco's back-up at quarterback, while Nakamura lines up at strong safety.

MEDIA

Fans can watch Sunday's game at 1:00pm ET on local CBS affiliate WOIO-TV 19. Gus Johnson will handle the play-by-play duties while former Bills special teams player Steve Tasker will provide color analysis.

The game is also available along the Browns Radio Network with Jim Donovan, Doug Dieken and sideline reporter Andre Knott on the call.