Preview: Browns host the Ravens as they continue to search for their first win

Usually after heartbreak, there are letdowns to follow. For the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens, both teams are coming off heartbreak defeats. Here’s the difference: The Ravens are 7-6 on the season and are fighting for a wild card spot, while the Cleveland Browns are still searching for their first win as they are 0-13 on the season.

The Baltimore Ravens fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers 39-38 last week. The Browns choked away a win, falling to the Aaron Rodgers-less Green Bay Packers in overtime.

3 keys to a Browns victory:

1. DeShone Kizer – The Browns played the Ravens in Week 2. They lost to them by a final score of 24-10. But that game would shed light on something the Browns were not wishing would happen. It was the beginning of a hard, painful road for the rookie quarterback out of Notre Dame, DeShone Kizer. Last week Kizer had by far his best performance on the season.

Stat line: 20/28 Completion/attempts, 214 yards, 3 touchdowns, 2 interceptions.

For Kizer, the story has been inaccuracy and inconsistency. He has struggled to put together two good weeks in a row. Will this be the week Kizer can take a step forward and put up good numbers for the second week in a row?

2. Slow down the Ravens Offense – As of late, the Ravens have been sound with the ball on offense. Quarterback Joe Flacco has returned to form. The Ravens have discovered a running game. The emergence of wide receiver Mike Wallace has helped the passing game. The Browns will more than likely be short-handed in the secondary, making their jobs even more difficult versus the Ravens.

3. Stick to your identity – The Browns have struggled to run the ball at times this season. Some games, it completely disappears and the Browns become one-dimensional. Last week versus the Packers, the Browns rushed for 136 yards. The main point is for the Browns to stick to the running game. In other words, stick to your identity.

INJURY REPORT….

Browns – DB Briean Boddy-Calhoun (Knee/DOUBTFUL), WR Matt Hazel (Hamstring/QUESTIONABLE) DB Darius Hillary (Knee/QUESTIONABLE), DB Jamar Taylor (Foot/QUESTIONABLE)

Ravens – DB Maurice Canady (Knee/QUESTIONABLE), OL Jermaine Eluemunor (Shoulder/QUESTIONABLE), OL Ryan Jensen (Ankle/QUESTIONABLE), QB Ryan Mallett (illness/QUESTIONABLE), WR Chris Moore (Hip/QUESTIONABLE), LB Za’Darius Smith (Shoulder/QUESTIONABLE), WR Mike Wallace (Ankle/QUESTIONABLE)

Kickoff is at 1 pm on CBS. The Baltimore Ravens are -7.0 favorite on the road.