It's time again to look into our crystal ball, where we see ... regular officials! Here's what else we expect to see at M&T Bank Stadium tonight: 1. The Brownswill not score on their opening possession.The Browns havebeen outscored 21-6 in the first quarter this year, and although the Ravensdefense has shown its cracks, it will shut down the Browns on their openingdrive. Overall Cleveland averages 19 points a game, which ranks 28th in theleague.2. Ray Rice willrush for 100 yards.Rice averages96.9 yards against Cleveland, but that's mainly because of a whopping 204-yardrushing effort in Cleveland last season.In eight career games against the Browns, he's topped the 100-yard markonly twice. The Browns rank 22nd in rushing defense, allowing 122.7 yards agame. The Ravens have stayed with their young offensive line all season, withrookie Kelechi Osemele at right tackle and first-year player Ramon Harewood atleft guard, and their run blocking has been solid.3. The Ravenswill have a pass play of 40 yards.The Browns arestill without Joe Haden, their top cornerback who is serving a four-gamesuspension for a violation of the league's policy on performance-enhancingsubstances. Ravens receiver Jacoby Jones said he tries his best to "blowthe top off" the defense, and with Haden out, the opportunity will bethere for Joe Flacco to go deep to Jones and Torrey Smith. 4. Tyrod Taylorwill play.Coach JohnHarbaugh has said that he wants to get Taylor on the field more this season totake advantage of the backup quarterback's athleticism. So far, he's appeared only in mopup duty inthe rout of Cincinnati. Tonight, either in that role, or showing a newoffensive wrinkle in a Wildcat-type formation, Taylor will see the field.5. The Ravensdefense will have at least two interceptions.Browns rookiequarterback Brandon Weeden has had his growing pains, with a league-high sixinterceptions through three games. Granted, four of those game in his firstcareer start, and he's thrown only two since. But tonight, he'll be missing histop receiver, Mohamed Massaquoi, out with a hamstring injury. Will Ed Reed getanother pick? He has 10 in his career against the Browns, tied for the mostagainst any opponent.6. The Ravenswill have at least three sacks.Pressure has beena major issue for the Ravens in the early going. The Ravens have eight sacksthrough three games, with Dannell Ellerbe and Haloti Ngata leading the way with2 12 each. But now facing a rookie quarterback who is missing his topreceiver, the Ravens will turn up the heat.7. Browns RBTrent Richardson will average less than 4 yards per carry.The Browns wouldbe wise to try to make this a grind-it-out game with long drives led byRichardson, the tank of a running back who was the No. 3 overall pick in theApril draft. But the Ravens have been stronger against the run than the passthis season. Led by Ngata in the middle of the defense, the Ravens have allowed3.3 yards a carry, the fifth-lowest average in the league. Richardson, who ranfor 109 yards against the Bengals, has averaged 3.5 yards a carry.8. The regular officials will draw huge cheers... and then some boos. The replacementofficials are gone. When the regular zebras hit the field, they will draw hugecheers, maybe even a standing ovation. When has that ever happened? But theywill see a defensive holding, or a face mask, or some other call the fans don'tlike, and they will be booed. They are, after all, still refs.9. The Ravenswill lead by 10 or less at halftime....True, it'sanother nationally-televised game for the Ravens, and big AFC North matchup aswell. But it will a challenge for them to be as fired up for the 0-3Browns as they were for New England, oras emotionally charged as they were playing hours after Torrey Smith's brotherdied. Look for them to start slowly before finding their stride.10. .... but thenwill pull away. Ravens 34, Browns 16Coming four daysafter the emotional win over New England, this game could carry all the makingsof a trap if it were in Cleveland. But as they did against the Bengals, theywill pull away to their 13th straight win at M&T Bank Stadium and can enjoythe long weekend with a 3-1 record.
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