CLEVELAND -- When the Cleveland Browns faced the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2 of the 2017 regular season, they competed against veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, who was working his way back from an injury that spoiled much of the preseason and training camp.
Now three months later, Flacco is looking like his old self and has led the Ravens to three wins in their last four outings.
“I think he was just getting back,” Browns cornerback Jason McCourty said. “Now, you kind of see him back to his normal self, a guy that can make every throw, but really specializes getting the ball down the field. You just saw one with Mike Wallace running across the field against Detroit, and he is able to put the ball all the way outside the opposite numbers.
“Plays like that are where he is very dangerous. He is so accurate on his deep ball and giving his receivers a chance to make plays down the field. I think that is the big thing of a concern for us as a defense.”
Over the last four weeks, Flacco has completed 85 of his 131 attempts for 862 yards and five touchdowns against two interceptions, and a three-game winning streak put the Ravens (7-6) in the thick of the playoff hunt in the AFC.
“He just has a big arm,” linebacker Joe Schobert said. “He can throw the ball down the field, so everybody has to stay on top of their coverage.
“They have taken a lot more shots the last couple of weeks than they did earlier in the year. Can’t get sucked up versus the run. You get beaten over the top by guys like (Mike) Wallace and (Jeremy) Maclin. He is very capable and very good at throwing the deep ball.”
The Ravens come into FirstEnergy Stadium for an AFC North Division matchup on the heels of a heartbreaking 39-38 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field.
Up by a 31-17 count heading into the fourth quarter, the Ravens were outscored by the Steelers, 22-7, over the final 15 minutes. Despite the Ravens surrendering a late lead to the AFC North Champion Steelers, the Browns are not taking their opponent lightly, not after a 38-point showing in Pittsburgh and a 32-point average over the last four games.
“It lets you know what they are capable of,” McCourty said. “Maybe the offense hasn’t cashed in on all of the plays, but you know they have them there. You know with a guy like Mike Wallace, who has been known his entire career to be able to get deep, hasn’t lost that ability.
“You know you have to defend against that. Like you said, Collins is playing a lot more now and his ability to get to the outside and a guy like Jeremy Maclin playing a little bit more in the slot, they have the ability to become an explosive offense. It is going to be up to us as a defense to not allow them to become that.”
