The Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens suffered the loss of their best running backs so early into the season for…different reasons. The Browns lost key offseason signee Ben Tate to injury in just their first game of the season. Meanwhile, the Ravens (eventually) cut their former No. 1 running back Ray Rice due to his domestic violence case. Surprisingly, even without their stars, Cleveland and Baltimore are both bringing in two strong rushing offenses ahead of their Week 3 showdown (we preview this pivotal AFC North game for you here).
This game will be as close as it can get, and what may end up as the decisive factor is the running game. With that in mind, I want to breakdown why I think the Browns rushing game has the edge on the Ravens’.
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Comparing the Browns’ and Ravens’ Rushing Offense
Overview
Cleveland’s passing game isn’t at its best without top receiver Josh Gordon (suspension) and elite tight end Jordan Cameron (injury). Luckily, they have their trusty running attack to bail them out of tight spots. The Browns have a 56-44 pass-run ratio through two games and are averaged 5.1 yards on their 60 rush attempts. They also rank eighth in the league with 30 carries per game.
[sc:NFL240banner ]Meanwhile, the Ravens are getting a better passing performance from Joe Flacco with 511 yards and three touchdowns so far and have not needed their run offense to carry the load as much. Flacco has connected well with leading receiver Steven Smith Sr. for an average of 14.5 yards per catch, while throwing two touchdowns to Owen Daniels. With a more reliable outing from their quarterback, we may see more pass than run from Baltimore.
That said, this is the Baltimore Ravens – rushing is part of who they are. So which team has the edge at halfback coming into Week 3? Let’s start with a look at the two starting backs’ replacements.
Ben Tate’s Replacements
Ben Tate made an immediate impact suiting up as a Brown. He had 41 yards on just his first six carries in Week 1, but suffered a knee sprain that derailed what may have been an explosive Browns debut. Still, the Browns held their own even without Ben Tate due to a couple of capable rookies taking care of the backfield.
In Tate’s absence, Terrance West took up the No. 1 running back position and exploded for a 100-yard performance in his NFL debut against Pittsburgh. In the meantime, fellow rookie Isaiah Crowell also delivered with two scores on just five carries in Week 1. Over their first two games, the two back ups have produced 254 yards on 51 carries, good for 4.9 yards per carry.
Nevertheless, Tate is only expected to miss two to four weeks of action, and the Browns’ early Week 4 bye couldn’t come at a better time. A fully healthy Tate will be able to tear it up and down the field when he’s ready to suit up. The presence of the two rookie running backs also add to the Browns’ already formidable rushing game.
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Ray Rice’s Replacements
While the Browns expect Ben Tate to fully recover and return to action, the Ravens already cut their former leading running back Ray Rice due to issues with domestic violence.
The team may be better off for it in more ways than one. Bernard Pierce and Justin Forsett have split the Ravens’ carries in Rice’s stead and have produced a combined 239 yards on 47 carries and a score in two games, almost two yards better per carry (5.09 YPC) than Rice’s 2013 rate (3.1 YPC).
Writer’s Verdict
Bottom line? Both of these rush attacks look primed for strong seasons even with their respective starters missing some (or all) of the season. Cleveland’s Terrance West has looked to be the most dynamic back of the bunch, and will only get better as he gets more comfortable in the league, so that gives the Browns as slight edge in terms of what they can do even before Tate returns.
For the Ravens to get the most out of the often-plodding Pierce and Forsett, they need Flacco to test defenses down field and open up gaps for the run game. So when it comes down to simply needing a first down in an obvious run down-and-distance, the Browns have the edge.
Who do you think has the better run game? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter and don’t miss this great game in the AFC North.
