Ravens vs. Browns: 5 things to watch, including Ja’Kobi Lane, Cam Jurgens and third-and-long

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AFC North football does not always make sense. About a month ago, a Lamar Jackson-Deshaun Watson matchup in mid-October seemed unlikely, but that was mainly a Deshaun Watson issue.

In Week 1, as Jackson dazzled in a win over the Indianapolis Colts, Watson struggled in Cleveland’s 34-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He needed a Browns win in Week 2 to keep his fan support from cratering — and got one. Then another. And another.

Now, as the Ravens (4-1) prepare to open divisional play on Sunday against the Browns (3-2), it’s Jackson who’s the question mark. Watson’s just-mediocre-enough play has kept Shedeur Sanders on the bench all season. But an ankle injury has sidelined Jackson for nearly two weeks, turning a road bump in Cleveland into a potential pothole.

“It’s an AFC North game, so we know it’s going to be physical,” Ravens defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver said Thursday. “And, regardless of records, it usually comes down to the end, so it’ll be a dogfight.”

Here’s what to watch in the Ravens’ Week 6 matchup at Huntington Bank Field. All stats are courtesy of Sports Info Solutions, Pro Football Focus and the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, unless otherwise noted.

1. History alone can’t guarantee a big day for the Ravens’ pass rush. But it does point to that possibility.

Over Watson’s four career regular-season games against the Ravens — two with the Houston Texans and two with the Browns — he has been sacked on 17 of his 127 drop-backs (13.4%). Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield’s NFL-worst sack rate this season is just 11%.

This season, playing behind another iffy offensive line, Watson has been sack-prone once again. The New York Jets got to him eight times in their 17-12 win Sunday over Cleveland, pushing Watson’s 2026 sack rate to 10.4%, behind only Mayfield among qualifying quarterbacks.

On Sunday, the Browns could be without starting right tackle Tytus Howard, who’s been limited in practice this week by a knee injury. The Ravens rank 14th in pressure rate (37.3%) but just 20th in sack rate (5.2%).

“We’re just trying to get consistent in all aspects of our game,” Weaver said. “I think, particularly against this opponent, it becomes even more critical because [of] how dangerous Deshaun can be with his legs. It’s something we’re obviously stressing, and I know our guys are harping on it and focusing on it as a collective, too.”

2. No defense has been worse this season on third- and fourth-and-long than the Ravens’. But help should arrive Sunday, from within and without.

After the Atlanta Falcons went 4-for-6 on Sunday, Ravens opponents have 15 first downs on their 33 plays of third-and-7 or fourth-and-7 or longer. The Ravens (45.5%) are the NFL’s only defense that has allowed a conversion rate above 40%.

“There were times where we had pressure and he made nice plays,” coach Jesse Minter said Monday of Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. “There were times where we kind of screwed up a couple things in man coverage. Again, I give those guys credit, but those are areas that we can definitely improve in and focus on.”

Outside linebacker Trey Hendrickson’s return should be a boon. He leads the Ravens in pressure rate on late downs (29.2%) but hasn’t played since Week 3 because of a finger injury that required surgery.

The Browns aren’t exactly dangerous, either. Cleveland is 5-for-37 on third- and fourth-and-long opportunities, a league-worst 13.5% conversion rate. On Watson’s 34 such drop-backs, he’s 10-for-24 for 107 yards and two touchdowns and has taken five sacks.

3. The Ravens’ top three wide receivers have played together for less than a half this season. Now, with rookie wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane set to return Sunday, the offense could look different in Cleveland.

In the first half of the Ravens’ season opener against the Colts — the last time that Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and Lane all shared the field — the offense used 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end and three wide receivers) on 58.3% of its snaps, averaging an impressive 8.3 yards per play.

In the Ravens’ four full games since, 11 personnel have been featured on over half of their snaps just twice, and never higher than a 53.5% usage. Their production in those three-receiver sets has slipped, too, averaging just 6.1 yards per play.

Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle has proven adaptable this season, mixing and matching personnel and formations to great effect. But, with tight end Durham Smythe lost to a season-ending Achilles tendon injury, the Ravens could lean more into receiver-heavy groupings than they ever have with Jackson at quarterback.

“Obviously, Ja’Kobi coming back adds another weapon for us in our room, so definitely looking forward to spreading the ball out more and seeing what our room can do,” Minter said Wednesday. “But definitely proud of what we have been putting on tape so far.”

4. Over 17 games last season, the Ravens had just two different starting offensive line combinations. Five games into this year, they already have four.

Injuries have sidelined left tackle Ronnie Stanley, center Jovaughn Gwyn and right guard Andrew Vorhees, leading to new lineups in each game since Week 2. Here’s how they’ve lined up, from left to right:

• Week 2: Stanley, John Simpson, Gwyn, Vega Ioane, Roger Rosengarten
• Week 3: Carson Vinson, Simpson, Gwyn, Ioane, Rosengarten
• Week 4: Stanley, Simpson, Ioane, Vorhees, Rosengarten
• Week 5: Stanley, Simpson, Ioane, Emery Jones, Rosengarten

Week 6 could bring a new combination. Center Cam Jurgens, acquired in a trade from the Philadelphia Eagles last week, practiced Wednesday and Thursday and could clear the NFL’s concussion protocol in time for Sunday’s game. His Ravens debut would push Ioane back to right guard.

“He’s put himself in a really good position,” Minter said of Jurgens on Wednesday. “We’ll make sure that all the medical stuff goes the way we want it to go, and if it does, he’ll be ready. If not, then we’ll be ready to play without him.”

5. The Browns were widely expected to be one of the NFL’s worst teams. Instead, at 3-2, they’re the first team with a winning record the Ravens will have faced this season.

According to FTN, the Ravens have played the NFL’s easiest schedule through five weeks, with no opponents ranked among the league’s top 16 overall. Even Cleveland’s 3-2 record belies its overall profile, as the Browns rank 26th in FTN’s efficiency metrics.

But the level of difficulty will rise quickly. From Week 7 until their Week 13 bye, the Ravens will face the Cincinnati Bengals (No. 5), Buffalo Bills (No. 3), Jaguars (No. 2), Los Angeles Chargers (No. 29), Carolina Panthers (No. 9) and Texans (No. 11).