<
        >

          NFL Nation

          Is there any way Justin Forsett doesn't have a big day against Browns?

          The last time Justin Forsett faced the Browns, he gained 119 yards and averaged 7.0 yards per carry. Tommy Gilligan/USA TODAY Sports
          • Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff WriterOct 8, 2015, 11:30 AM ET
            Close
              Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.
            Follow on X

          OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- In a span of a couple of weeks, the Baltimore Ravens' Justin Forsett went from being a struggling running back to a can't-miss fantasy play.

          Forsett got back on track in his last game, rushing for more against the Pittsburgh Steelers (150 yards) than he did in his first three games (124 yards). On Sunday, he is gearing up for another big game against the Cleveland Browns.

          Is there any way that Forsett doesn't produce huge numbers against the Browns? The statistics certainly say no.

          • Forsett gained 119 yards in his last game against Cleveland. He averaged 6.5 yards per carry in two meetings against the Browns last season.

          • The Ravens have averaged 144 yards rushing against the Browns since John Harbaugh became coach. Baltimore has averaged 35 rush attempts against Cleveland over that time.

          • The Browns have allowed the second-most rushing yards in the NFL this season. In four games, Cleveland has given up at least 90 yards to three backs: Chris Ivory (91 yards, two touchdowns), Dexter McCluster (98 yards) and Latavius Murray (139 yards and one touchdown).

          The other factor is the Ravens are expected to be without their starting wide receiver Steve Smith (back) and starting tight end Crockett Gillmore (calf). The challenge for the Ravens' run game is opening up lanes against a Browns defense that should stack the box.

          "We have to step our game up," Forsett said. "I know just because the last couple of weeks we haven’t been successful, we wanted to be in the run game. We already have a chip on our shoulder. We’re motivated to go out and show that we can be consistent, and that’s our mindset anyway.”

          For the Browns, the coaches and systems have changed. Their troubles against the run have remained.

          In eight seasons, Cleveland has gone through five defensive coordinators: Mel Tucker (2008), Rob Ryan (2009-10), Dick Jauron (2011-12), Ray Horton (2013) and Jim O'Neil (2014-current). Over that time, only the Buffalo Bills have given up more rushing yards. The Ravens have done the most damage against Cleveland, rushing for 200 more yards than any other team against the Browns in that span.

          "I think the challenge is clearly on the front seven this game," Browns coach Mike Pettine said.

          The Browns could be catching the Ravens at the wrong time. Last Thursday night, Baltimore's ground game looked like the one that ranked No. 8 in the NFL last season.

          The Ravens offensive line cut the backside pursuit. The receivers were blocking downfield. Forsett was decisive on his runs. Forsett’s 150 yards are the second-most the Steelers have allowed since Mike Tomlin became head coach in 2007.

          But Ravens coach John Harbaugh wants more.

          "I don't think we're where we need to be with the run game yet," he said. "That's something we need to continue to work on really hard."

          Typically against the Browns, the Ravens find a way to hit their stride.