There are just three defenses in the NFL that are in the top 10 of total, passing and rushing yards allowed per game – Cleveland, Denver and Houston.
As a result, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said the Browns do all aspects of defense really well. Harbaugh and the Ravens play the Browns on Nov. 16 at Huntington Bank Field.
"That defense is one of the best, if not the best defense going right now," Harbaugh said. "They have multiple top-end players. They have a great scheme. They play super hard. They're physical."
Amongst Cleveland's defense, there is also a similar respect for QB Lamar Jackson and how he strengthens the Ravens' offense. Since returning in Week 9 from a hamstring injury, Jackson has refreshed Baltimore's pass offense, throwing for 380 yards and five touchdowns and going 2-0.
"(Lamar Jackson's) a heck of a player, MVP quarterback," CB Denzel Ward said. "Sticking him in there on any team is going to improve your team and your game. You obviously see them winning and just how he's able to manage the offense and run the offense for those guys."
Jackson's ability to extend plays helped make him an MVP quarterback and someone defenses have to be wary of. For a defense, him scrambling forces them to make sure they fill the running lanes. However, Jackson also makes defenders like Ward or S Grant Delpit to guard their man longer.
For Cleveland's defense, they must be aware of Baltimore's skill to create momentum through big plays. In Baltimore's 41-17 win against Cleveland in Week 2, the Browns allowed six completions of 15 yards or more.
"He's a playmaker out there. He's able to extend plays, so it's already tough covering guys in this league," Ward said. "But, when he's able to extend the play longer than the average play, you just have to cover for that much longer and wait for guys to get open, type of thing."
WR Zay Flowers has been an explosive target for Jackson and the Ravens this season. Flowers began the season with a seven-reception, 143-yard outburst against the Bills. On back-to-back plays, Flowers first made a 39-yard catch, running past defenders to pick up extra yards. On the next play, he took a screen pass 23 yards for a touchdown.
Flowers hasn't slowed down since Week 1, even while Jackson was out injured. He has caught 43 passes for 482 yards in the eight games since Week 1. Once Jackson returned, Flowers recorded nine catches and 139 yards since Jackson returned in Week 9, getting 15.4 yards per reception in those two games.
"He's just running everywhere across the field, and you're expected to plaster until it's incomplete," Delpit said. "They're going to make a play or two, Lamar's going to escape the pocket, do some crazy stuff like we've all seen. So, we just have to do our best to stay close."
Browse photos of the Cleveland Browns practicing at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus as they prepare for their Week 11 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold (42) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Wide receiver Gage Larvadain (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Wide receiver Gage Larvadain (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Defensive end K.J. Henry (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Safety Donovan McMillon (31) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2025.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2025.
Assistant Special Teams Coach Kyle Hoke during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Tight Ends Coach Christian Jones during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Defensive end Ochaun Mathis (97) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Defensive lineman Adin Huntington (98) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2025.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2025.
Defensive end K.J. Henry (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Tight ends Coach Christian Jones during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2025.
Director of Strength and Conditioning Larry Jackson during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Defensive end K.J. Henry (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Defensive end Ochaun Mathis (97) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Safety Donovan McMillon (31) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2025.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Safety Christopher Edmonds (41) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Linebacker Cameron McGrone (48) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2025.
Defensive end Ochaun Mathis (97) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Punter Corey Bojorquez (13) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2025.
Offensive Coordinator Tommy Rees during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Offensive Coordinator Tommy Rees during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Pass Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach Chad O'Shea during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Safety Donovan McMillon (31) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2025.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 12, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2025.
Safety Donovan McMillon (31) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2025.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2025.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2025.
The linebackers during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2025.
Linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2025.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2025.
Safety Christopher Edmonds (41) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2025.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2025.
Linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2025.
Wide receiver Gage Larvadain (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2025.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2025.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2025.
Delpit has faced Jackson nine times, making him cognizant of what he can do in the pass game. He and the rest of the Browns' defense have seen a version of Baltimore's offense this season. Cleveland is aware of the task it will face against the Ravens after playing them in Week 2.
For LB Carson Schwesinger, it's his first time playing a team twice in a season. Despite being a rookie, he is confident in his talent and Cleveland's ability to perform in the latter game against Baltimore.
"In college you don't play teams twice, so doing that, I mean there's some familiarity there already," Schwesinger said. "I think, especially with these division games, we know what they're going to do. They know what we're going to do. And we have to be able to go out there and execute."
The familiarity between the two AFC North teams brings a different level of physicality and energy to each matchup, one that Cleveland's defense prides itself in showcasing through its attack-style defense. They can continue to uphold the image of their defense through limiting the success of the Ravens' pass game, and their offense collectively.
"I think people know that the Browns are going to come with a great defense," Delpit said. "I think it's just upholding that standard and earning that respect every play."
