PASS DEFENSE SPECIAL TEAMS

The Ravens struggled to get to Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton and have just six sacks over their past six games. They’re no longer blitzing more than every team in the league but have not generated consistent pressure rushing four. DE Yannick Ngakoue has just one sack and one quarterback hit in six games, well short of the impact the Ravens hoped for when they acquired him.

The Ravens suffered a rare bad day against the Cowboys. Kicker Justin Tucker missed from inside 40 yards for the first time in 70 attempts, and they allowed a 66-yard kickoff return that set up a short touchdown drive. Tucker has made 21 of 23 attempts on the season, with his other miss coming from 61 yards. Punter Sam Koch ranks sixth in the league with a net average of 43 yards.

The Ravens are on the upswing coming off a steadying win over the Cowboys. Jackson seemed elated to be back after a 10-day quarantine, and more starters will come off the reserve/COVID-19 list to face the Browns. They know they probably need to win out to guarantee a playoff spot. They also probably believe they’re superior to the 9-3 Browns based on that blowout to start the season.

This is Cleveland’s weakness despite the presence of an elite pass rusher in Garrett and a Pro Bowl-caliber cornerback in Denzel Ward (who will miss Monday’s game with a calf injury). The Browns rank 23rd in pass defense and have allowed opposing quarterbacks to average 6.4 yards per attempt. They had little luck covering Brown, Andrews and Snead in Week 1.

The Browns have won four straight and won over many skeptics with their victory against the Titans. They have a good coach in Kevin Stefanski. They’ve figured out how to minimize Mayfield’s mistakes. They’ll feel motivated to sink the Ravens’ playoff hopes after years of subservience to their AFC North rival. What could go wrong? Well, the Browns are just 2-3 against winning teams.