The Perfect Time for Joe Flacco’s Return?

The Baltimore Ravens are set to host the Cleveland Browns Sunday afternoon, where the franchise is set to celebrate its 30th anniversary. When a plethora of Ravens legends are celebrated on the field, one key contributor to the team’s past success will be in attendance, but on the opposing sideline.

Super Bowl XLVII champion Joe Flacco is set to make his return to M&T Bank Stadium, but this time as the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. Flacco spent 11 seasons in Baltimore before being traded to the Broncos during the 2018 offseason.

During his time with the Ravens, Flacco would finish with a 96-67 record, 38,245 passing yards, and 212 touchdowns, all franchise bests. The now AFC North rival was asked this week if he believes he left the Ravens on good terms, replying, “I think so…I have nothing but love for the people in that facility and the people in the city.”

It’ll be a bittersweet sight when number 15 takes the field Sunday, but both teams enter looking to avoid a 0-2 start to the season.

Jackson’s Path to Success

Lamar Jackson enters Week 2 coming off a very productive performance in the team’s loss to the Bills last Sunday. Jackson finished the contest with 209 yards through the air and two passing touchdowns, to go along with 70 rushing yards and a score on the ground in the 41-40 defeat.

The Ravens are looking to avoid their first back-to-back 0-2 starts to a season, after a similar start last year. The game plan coming into Week 2 could be the most logical one yet, and that’s attacking with the run game. Since drafting Jackson in 2018, the Ravens have rushed for at least 100 yards in all 14 of their matchups with the Browns. In that span, Baltimore has averaged 169.6 RYPG, which is the most by any team against a divisional opponent, according to NFL Pro.

Jackson and the run game have the benefit of Derrick Henry in their backfield, who’s coming off 169 yards and two scores against the Bills. Doing so on just 18 carries, Henry should come in fresh and ready to silence some chatter coming from the Browns locker room.

The passing game will have to expand more from a week ago as well, if the Ravens look to leave with a win on Sunday. The big guys up front struggled at times, and with Myles Garrett coming to town, the Ravens offensive line is sure to have their hands full again. Getting Mark Andrews involved should be a focal point of the passing attack, with Isaiah Likely still sidelined for what appears to be at least another week. Jackson and Andrews have always had that synergy, and getting their chemistry going early will allow the rest of the weapons to get their looks as the season progresses.

The offense can’t become complacent again and needs to keep its foot on the gas through all 60 minutes of football, if the Ravens have any hopes of ending the day at .500.

Getting Joe Flacco Uncomfortable with the Pass Rush

The Browns offensive line struggled a bit in Week 1, against a less-talented Bengals defense. On 34 pass plays, the big guys up front allowed 12 pressures and a sack, all in the second half of play. There’s no question, outside of Trey Hendrickson, the Ravens pass rush is highly more effective than their AFC North Rival  Bengals. Joe Flacco is 40 years old now, and Father Time is slowly catching up to him. Getting pressure on the veteran quarterback and making him uncomfortable are obvious ways to get success on the defensive side of the ball for the Ravens.

After running 12 personnel in 50.7% of their offensive snaps in Week 1, you’d have to expect more of the same from offensive coordinator Tommy Reese. The Browns are happy with their tight end duo of David Njoku and rookie Harold Fannin Jr, and getting both guys on the field appears to be a priority. Fannin finished as Flacco’s favorite target in the loss to the Bengals, with a team-leading nine target  for seven receptions and 63 yards. It’ll be interesting to see if Joe Flacco and company see the arrival of rookie running back Quinshon Judkins, who missed time while under investigation with the league for a domestic violence issue. Getting another piece in the backfield would be a major benefit for the Browns, who finished last week with just 49 rushing yards, 29 of which came from rookie Dylan Sampson.

Getting after the quarterback could force Cleveland to turn to the run game, and I’ll take the Ravens front seven in that matchup ten times out of ten.

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