Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens Preview

By Thomas Hanson | Saturday, October 15, 2005 | ( 0 )

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While Charlie Weis has been getting plenty of press at Notre Dame, another former Patriots assistant is trying to turn a moribund Cleveland Browns franchise into an NFL playoff contender. This week, the Browns will try to take another step in the direction as they the go on the road to face off against the struggling Baltimore Ravens.

Romeo Crennel, the former defensive coordinator of the Patriots, picked up his second win in four starts last week as he tries to rejuvenate the Cleveland Browns. The cerebral coach appears that he might at least have the Browns (2-2) defense coming together. The team has given up just 23 points in the last two contests, 13 of those against the undefeated and offensively-skilled Indianapolis Colts, and the team is up to ninth in the league in plus minus ratio at plus three after four games.

In addition, Crennel has brought his "bend but don't break" defensive philosophy to the team. Though the Browns rank near the bottom in yards given up in both categories, run or pass, the team is now 13th in the league in scoring defense.

Last week the Baltimore Ravens fell to 1-3 on the season as they were shelled by the Detroit Lions 35-17. The self-destructing Ravens committed 21 penalties for 147 yards, lost two fumbles and had another two passes picked off. The Ravens are 31st out of 32 teams when it comes to takeaways and giveaways, currently a minus nine on the season.

There is no such thing as a do or die game in mid-October but the Ravens are in desperate need of a win to right a ship that is struggling out of the gate.

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