For Ravens FB Patrick Ricard, every time the Browns and Ravens play, he said it feels like a high school football game because of how well the teams know each other.
Since 1999, Cleveland and Baltimore have played each other 53 times, with their 54th matchup in the rivalry set for Nov. 16 at Huntington Bank Field. The Ravens have been on the wrong side of the result in three of their last four trips to Cleveland. Ricard said the game will come down to a battle of attrition due to the familiarity between the Browns and Ravens.
"We play each other twice a year, and mostly everyone has been on the same team for a while," Ricard said. "It's kind of like [seeing] who can be the most physical and who will quit first."
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh knows about the physicality of AFC North games not only from coaching in the division since 2008 but also growing up watching Browns games. He has seen firsthand what games in the division in November can also bring weather-wise, especially at Huntington Bank Field.
"It's an AFC North game. It's going to be one of those – it's going to be cold; it's going to be rainy; it's going to be windy," Harbaugh said. "It's going to be on the shores of Lake Erie. We're used to this. This is Cleveland, and this is how these games go. We just have the utmost respect for how they play. So, we have to be at our best."
Ravens TE Mark Andrews attributed the nature of the games between Cleveland and Baltimore to the character of AFC North football. The familiarity that each team in the division has with one another breeds physicality.
Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's attack penetration defense is suited to that brand of football. Cleveland's defense has 27 sacks and 11 takeaways this season, including recording multiple sacks and getting a takeaway in each of its last three games.
"It's always going to be a close fight, and they have talented players and a good team, and for us on offense, we have to be ready to go," Andrews said. "They have an extremely havoc-causing defense. So, for us, (we need) to be on our p's and q's and doing our job to the highest of abilities is going to be key."
The Browns' aggressive-style defense showed in stopping the run game in Cleveland and Baltimore's last matchup in Week 2.
The Browns' defense held QB Lamar Jackson and RB Derrick Henry to their lowest rushing outputs this season and limited Baltimore to 45 net rushing yards. Jackson only scrambled twice, picking up 13 yards. The Browns never let Henry use his powerful running ability, limiting him to 23 yards on 11 carries.
"They got after us pretty good [in that game]. I think we ran 21 times for like 45 yards, which is unacceptable," Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken said. "You have to fight to fix it, and we have. And that happens. This is the NFL, you have good teams (and) good defenses, but we've got to do a better job at running (the ball)."
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.
Part of the reason for Cleveland's stifling defense against Baltimore's rushing attack was the defensive line. Players like DT Mason Graham and DE Myles Garrett showed their ability to get into the backfield and make tackles near the line of scrimmage. Graham and Garrett both had five tackles and combined for three tackles for losses in the game while Garrett recorded 1.5 sacks.
The trend has held true this season for the Browns' defense as a whole. Garrett leads the NFL in tackles for loss with 17 and Cleveland's defense has 67 tackles for loss, averaging 7.44 per game.
"They're very physical. They get up the field, (and) they penetrate," Ricard said. "Obviously, they have (Myles) Garrett, so that's a huge challenge in itself right there. So, it is just one of those defensive lines where you have to just get on them right away, don't let them get going because when they get going, they get a head full of steam. They can reset the line of scrimmage and make it more difficult for us."
Garrett is a focus on Cleveland's defensive line for the Ravens. In his last three games, Garrett has seven sacks, eight quarterback hits and nine tackles for loss. Andrews acknowledged that Garrett isn't the only player who is going to cause problems on the Browns but is someone Baltimore's offense has to plan around.
"It's extremely important (to chip Myles Garrett) and I think all 11 guys are going to be keying on that," Andrews said. "Obviously he's one-of-one. He's probably (one of), if not, the best athlete of all-time on defense, if not the best defensive end of all-time. So, we need to be ready for him but it's really a big challenge for us all around."
As Baltimore tries to climb to the top of the division, it will have to deal with Garrett and the Browns' defense. However, the Ravens will also have to handle the challenges that come from playing in the AFC North and in Cleveland.
