The Cleveland Browns are preparing for the division rival Baltimore Ravens in Week 8 action inside Huntington Bank Field.
The Cleveland Browns are preparing for the division rival Baltimore Ravens in Week 8 action inside Huntington Bank Field.
The Ravens are on a roll right now, having won five games in a row after losing the first two games of the season, and come to Cleveland with one target in mind: the Super Bowl.
For the Browns, it'll be just another attempt to salvage a potentially lost season after losing six of the first seven games of the season and losing quarterback Deshaun Watson for the season with an Achilles injury.
As backup Jameis Winston prepares to lead the offense - maybe for the rest of the way - defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz knows the defense will have its work cut out for it in slowing down Ravens' signal-caller Lamar Jackson, running back Derrick Henry, tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely and wideout Zay Flowers.
Schwartz also knows anything short of a win on Sunday is a failure.
“I mean, you lose the game … there’s no consolation prizes, there’s no participation trophies. There’s no, you know, ‘Well, you did a good job.’ You didn’t win the game,” Schwartz said, per Daryl Ruiter of 93.3 The Fan.
In his second season in Cleveland leading the defense, Schwartz has put his mark on the unit, and in 2023 it was tops in the league in several statistical categories. But this season it's had its struggles, and Schwartz knows there is room for improvement.
“We were good on third down. We were good at stopping the run. We contained their passing game. So there are some encouraging signs. But, you know, happy, satisfied … none of those things come into play,” Schwartz said.
