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Browns-Ravens Preview

Sep 24, 2010 - 8:58 PM By TOM CASTRO STATS Senior Editor

The Baltimore Ravens defense appears dominant once again. That won't be enough to compete for the AFC North title if the team's offense doesn't start to produce.

The Ravens, who have not allowed a touchdown but are coming off a disheartening loss, look to get back on track when they face the winless Cleveland Browns in their home opener Sunday.

Baltimore (1-1) has given up 24 points, tied for third-fewest in the AFC. Unfortunately, that total is four more than the Ravens have scored, and it cost them against Cincinnati last Sunday.

The Ravens limited the Bengals to 253 yards and five field goals but lost 15-10.

Baltimore's Joe Flacco struggled for the second straight week, throwing four interceptions and going 17 of 39 for 154 yards. In the Ravens' opener, a 10-9 win over the New York Jets, Flacco lost a fumble and threw an interception.

For now, coach John Harbaugh is sticking with his third-year quarterback.

"Hey, four interceptions is too much," Harbaugh said. "It's not just the quarterback. Joe would be the first to tell you he wants to play better. (But) I'm not going to single one guy out. It's a long season. He's going to play a lot better, I guarantee you that."

The offseason additions of wide receivers Anquan Boldin and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, along with a willingness to throw the ball downfield, have not yet produced the Ravens' desired results of an improved offense. Buffalo (17) is the only AFC team to score fewer points.

Flacco connected with Derrick Mason for a 31-yard touchdown in the third quarter to give the Ravens a one-point lead, but the quarterback mostly struggled against a strong Cincinnati pass rush.

"You move on. You take it game by game and you go get ready for the Cleveland Browns and that's what we've got to do," Flacco said. "I don't think anyone feels good about it. I know I definitely don't. ... We didn't do enough on the offensive side of the ball to win the game. We know that, and we've got to get better."

The Ravens rushing attack was better last week after being mostly shut down in Week 1, gaining 109 yards behind Ray Rice's 87 yards on 16 carries.

Baltimore hopes its ground game can continue to emerge this week against a Browns team giving up 129.5 rushing yards per contest - 25th in the league. The Ravens have typically run the ball well versus Cleveland (0-2), averaging more than 142 yards on the ground in the last seven meetings.

Baltimore has taken the last four matchups and pounded Cleveland 34-3 at M&T Bank Stadium on Sept. 27, then won 16-0 on the road Nov. 16.

Flacco threw for 342 yards and went 25 for 35 in the first meeting last season, and was 13 of 18 for 155 yards in the second.

The Browns haven't been much better than the Ravens offensively, losing their first two games despite giving up only 33 points as they have been plagued by penalties, turnovers and mistakes.

Making matters worse, quarterback Jake Delhomme is likely to sit out a second straight game due to a sprained ankle that forced him to miss another week of practice. Browns coach Eric Mangini has not yet ruled Delhomme out, but it appears backup Seneca Wallace will face the Ravens and make his second start in a row.

"I don't know," Mangini said Friday when asked if Delhomme will be inactive. "He's very aggressive with his rehab. It's like everything else he does, he does it very aggressively and each day it gets a little better. I have total confidence to operate the plan if he is available. We'll just have to see."

Delhomme injured his ankle in a 17-14 loss to Tampa Bay in Week 1, and was inactive as the Browns fell 16-14 to the Chiefs last Sunday.

Cleveland gained only 55 yards and three first downs - one came on a penalty - after halftime last week, and the Browns were limited to 73 yards rushing. That may not bode well against Ray Lewis and the Ravens, although Baltimore did allow 116 and 94 yards on the ground in its first two games, respectively.