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Revenge on minds of resurgent Browns

Nov 2, 2008 - 2:08 PM BALTIMORE (4-3) AT CLEVELAND (3-4), 1:00 pm EST

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- The Cleveland Browns will have more than revenge on their minds this weekend.

Winners of three of their last four games, the Browns host the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday in a key NFC North clash.

Cleveland has lost just once since a 28-10 defeat at Baltimore in Week Three, a loss that dropped the Browns to 0-3 and seemingly out of the AFC playoff picture.

However, the Browns have inched back into the playoff picture in the past month, helped by a huge 23-17 upset victory at Jacksonville last weekend.

In the crowded AFC, Cleveland (3-4) still has a number of teams to hurdle, starting with the Ravens, who rode a stellar defensive effort to victory over the Browns in the first matchup.

Derek Anderson threw a pair of interceptions that led to two Baltimore touchdowns in a 50-second span in the third quarter, erasing Cleveland's 10-7 halftime lead.

Against the Jaguars, the Browns squandered a 10-point lead but got a pair of field goals by Phil Dawson 38 seconds apart in the fourth quarter to secure a critical victory.

"If we fall to 2-5, that's a big hole to climb out of," Anderson said. "But to get to 3-4 and a chance next week with Baltimore coming in, we could get this thing going."

The defense has sparked Cleveland's turnaround, having allowed just 57 points in the past four games. Massive defensive tackle Shaun Rogers had nine tackles, a sack and a blocked field goal against Jacksonville.

The Browns are expected to welcome back tight end Kellen Winslow, who was suspended for last weekend's game for complaining about the team's treatment of his recent illness.

The Ravens showed a new wrinkle in last weekend's 29-10 victory over the Oakland Raiders - their second victory in a row.

Rookie quarterback Joe Flacco threw a 70-yard touchdown pass to Demetrius Williams and ran 12 yards for a score. Flacco also lined up at wide receiver and hauled in a 43-yard pass from backup quarterback Troy Smith.

"That's a one-time thing," Flacco said. "I didn't want to make a fool out of myself. Yeah, I would have liked to have scored a touchdown."

The Ravens, who are tied with Pittsburgh for the second-fewest points allowed in the NFL with 110, had four sacks and an interception while limiting Oakland to 10 first downs.

In the first matchup with Cleveland, Baltimore registered three interceptions and five sacks against Anderson.