Ravens News & Game Capsule

The countdown begins as the NFL calendar turns to December. Among the teams seeking to strengthen their position in a tight AFC playoff race are the Baltimore Ravens (8-3), who are tied for the AFC’s best record with the Houston Texans (8-3), New England Patriots (8-3) and Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3). Ravens head coach JOHN HARBAUGH, who has led Baltimore to the postseason in each of his first three seasons, including a trip to the AFC Championship Game (2008 season), is aware of what awaits.

"We expect it to be a tight race," says Harbaugh. "We just want to uphold our end of the bargain. What you have to concern yourself with is winning. That’s the bottom line for us. We can’t be concerned with what the other teams do. We have to be concerned with what we do. It’s this week. That’s what you have to focus on. This week becomes everything. It becomes all-consuming in a tight race like this."

(Click on the 'Jump' to see the Game Capsule on the Ravens-Browns game)

BALTIMORE RAVENS (8-3) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (4-7)

SERIES

STATS

NOTES

RAVENS: Club has registered 5 consecutive wins vs. AFC North…Ravens have won 4 of past 5 at Cle…For career vs. Browns, QB JOE FLACCO is 6-0 & has completed 102 of 151 passes (67.5 pct.) for 1,238 yards with 8 TDs vs. 3 INTs & 101.9 passer rating…RB RAY RICE averages 111.7 rush yards per contest at Cle. (3 games). Leads AFC RBs & ranks 2nd in NFL with 54 rec. in ’11 (DARREN SPROLES, 62)…WR ANQUAN BOLDIN (698) needs 2 receptions to reach 700 career. Boldin tied career-best with 3 TD catches vs. Browns on 9/26/10. 23 of rookie WR TORREY SMITH’s 31 catches have been for 1st downs (74.2 pct.). Ranks 2nd among NFL rookies with 613 rec. yards (A.J. GREEN, 745)…TE DENNIS PITTA posted 1st TD catch of career last week…Defense tied franchise record with 9 sacks last week & leads NFL with 38 sacks…LB TERRELL SUGGS posted 2nd game of season with 3 sacks last week. Suggs (9) needs sack to reach double-digit sacks for 4th time in career (12 in ’03; 10.5 in ’04; 11 in ’10)…DE CORY REDDING had career-high 2.5 sacks last game…CB LARDARIUS WEBB aims for 3rd straight game with INT…S ED REED has 10 INTs vs. Browns, most against any opponent…BROWNS: Club has won 2 of past 3 at home…In past 3,QB COLT MC COY has completed 53 of 85 passes (62.4 pct.) for 568 yards with 3 TDs & 83.8 passer rating…In past 2 games vs. Ravens, RB PEYTON HILLIS is averaging 89.5 rush yards per game (179 total). Hillis (96) needs 4 catches to reach 100 career. In past 2 at home, RB CHRIS OGBONNAYA is averaging 102.5 rush yards per game (205 total)…Rookie WR GREG LITTLE (2nd round, No. 59) leads NFL rookies with 47 receptions. Registered 1st TD catch last week. WR JORDAN NORWOOD is averaging 24 yards per catch in past 2 (120 total). Had career-best 69 rec. yards last week, incl. 24-yard TD catch (1st of career)…Defense allows NFL-low 174.7 passing yards per game…Rookies DL JABAAL SHEARD (4.5) & DL PHIL TAYLOR (4) have combined for 8.5 sacks…LB D’QWELL JACKSON leads team with 100 tackles…CB JOE HADEN had sack, INT & FF in last game vs. Bal…KR-WR JOSHUA CRIBBS registered 92-yard KR-TD vs. Ravens on 11/2/08.