Three Keys to Browns’ Victory Over Ravens: Can Cleveland Finally Get Over the Hump?
The Cleveland Browns will play host this week to a familiar opponent, the Baltimore Ravens. Just like the Browns, the Ravens have struggled so far this season, and Cleveland will have an opportunity to spoil a season comeback.
It wasn’t pretty when the Browns played Baltimore in week two, losing 41-17. This Browns team will be very different from the week two unit. The Browns have a new quarterback since then, a running back who has developed and nothing else to lose.
Here are three keys to the Browns pulling off an upset.
1. Don’t let Lamar Jackson extend plays
Easier said than done, but everyone knows that Lamar Jackson is at his most dangerous when he can extend plays.
Cleveland has one of the best defensive lines in football, and they will be needed to play like it again. Collapse the pocket, and have surefire tackling against Jackson, that’s the easiest way to ensure long plays.
It’s when someone gets out of their lane while pass rushing that Jackson can take advantage. He’s the best in the league at finding a crease and breaking a tackle, so if you allow him to, he’ll do it.
Expect rookie of the year candidate Carson Schwesinger to be playing plenty of spy technique too. With a disciplined pass rush, the Browns have been able to keep Jackson in check, and could do it again here.
2. Keep Dillon Gabriel going on bootlegs and rollouts
Whatever your thoughts are on Dillon Gabriel, he’s going to be the guy in Cleveland for at least a few more weeks. With Tommy Rees taking over play calling last week, Gabriel made several clear improvements.
He threw a pair of touchdowns, and had some of the better throws we’ve seen out of him so far, earning a rookie of the week nomination.
Gabriel was at his best when he was able to roll out of the pocket clean, and had time to look for an intermediate level throw. He was able to get Jerry Jeudy involved on several throws like that, and showed a lot of good things in that system.
He was at his worst when he had to stay in the pocket, struggling to get through progressions and taking six sacks.
If Cleveland can keep this new system, and keep him developing in it, there may still be hope for the rookie quarterback to break through this season.
3. Find Quinshon Judkins some green grass
The offense looks so much more natural when the rising star rookie back Quinshon Judkins is able to get going. Unfortunately, that seems to be harder and harder each week.
He’s only gone over 100 rushing yards once this season, and over the past four games, he has two under 40 yards. This includes a career-low 19 yards against the New England Patriots.
As with most of the play calling so far this season, the Browns running attack has become boring and predictable. They try to find room right up the middle, but if Judkins can’t break a few tackles, there is nothing there.
Cleveland has to find ways to open lanes for Judkins. If the gaps open up the middle it can be viable, but if not, they should attack the outsides or run a few delays to try something. Judkins can be a home run hitter for Cleveland, he just needs a sliver of grass.
Steelers Make Final Call on Elevating Asante Samuel Jr. for Week 11 Matchup
The Pittsburgh Steelers elevated a defensive back from their practice squad for Week 11. But it wasn’t newly signed Asante Samuel Jr.
The Steelers announced Saturday they promoted defensive back D’Shawn Jamison and linebacker Mark Robinson for the matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. The pair will revert back to the practice squad after the game.
Jamison will be making his Steelers debut Sunday. If he plays a snap, it will be the first time the defensive back is on the field for an NFL regular season game since 2023.
Robinson will be dressing for his eighth game this season. He made his Steelers season debut in Week 10 versus the Los Angeles Chargers.
Samuel will have to wait at least another week to make his 2025 debut. The veteran cornerback officially joined Pittsburgh’s practice squad Tuesday.
Steelers Don’t Elevate Asante Samuel Jr. for Week 10
Pundits considered Samuel one of the top free agents for the 2025 class until he needed to undergo spinal fusion surgery in April.
The surgery corrected an issue he had been dealing with since his birth that was made worse after a collision during practice last year.
Samuel remained a free agent until the Steelers added him to their practice squad this past week. It’s not clear how much time he will need to be in football shape. Steelers Nation, though, hopes it’s not long.
Samuel played in his most recent NFL game on September 29 of last year.
In four seasons with the Chargers, Samuel posted 37 pass defenses and six interceptions. He also had 176 combined tackles, including three tackles for loss.
Steelers Promote D’Shawn Jamison, Mark Robinson
Jamison began his career as an 2023 undrafted free agent for the San Francisco 49ers. When he didn’t make the 49ers roster out of training camp, he then signed with the Carolina Panthers.
As a rookie, Jamison played in 15 games, starting one contest during 2023. He posted 10 combined tackles and one pass defense while playing 107 defensive snaps. Jamison also appeared on special teams for 155 snaps.
Last year, the Panthers released Jamison after the preseason. He joined the Steelers practice squad a few weeks later, where he remained for the rest of the year. The Steelers never promoted or activated him from the practice squad.
Jamison has also spent all of 2025 on Pittsburgh’s practice squad. Again, Sunday will be his first opportunity to play since with the Panthers in 2023.
The Steelers drafted Robinson at No. 225 overall in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Robinson came on strongly as a rookie and appeared to potentially be the solution at inside linebacker for the team.
But the Steelers signed Cole Holcomb in 2023 and then Patrick Queen during 2024. The team also drafted Payton Wilson last year.
In August, the Steelers released Robinson. The New England Patriots signed him to their practice squad. After appearing in three games, though, the New York Jets signed Robinson to their active roster off the New England practice squad.
The Jets waived Robinson after three contests, which led the linebacker back to Pittsburgh.
In seven games this season, Robinson has posted five combined tackles. He’s played 96 special teams snaps and four on defense.
Over his first three years with Pittsburgh, Robinson had 45 combined tackles, including one for loss, three forced fumbles and one sack in 38 games.
