Browns face playoff atmosphere in final game

The Cleveland Browns will not be playing in the postseason, but their final regular-season game might feel like a playoff game. The Browns will be on the road when they face a Baltimore Ravens team that needs a victory to win the AFC North. The Browns have struggled in the first half of road games this season, falling behind in Houston before losing and in Denver before pulling out the victory. "We'll treat this like it is our playoff game," Browns interim head coach Gregg Williams said Monday, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "We will treat it that way because that is how intense the game is going to be. Because they are going to be that intense; we are going to be that intense. It will be fun. It will be fun to see." The game will be a challenge for Browns rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield, because he will be facing a Ravens team that ranks first in the NFL in both total defense and scoring defense, allowing just 17.5 points per game. "They've played well all year long,'' said Williams. "They've played dominant. They have all year long, not only on the defensive side of the ball, but also on the offensive end and special teams. "We have our work cut out for us, I will tell you that. Even though you see the option stuff and even though you see some of the things that (Ravens quarterback) Lamar Jackson is doing. You see the physicality of their defense, you see the physicality of their offense and you see the physicality of their special teams. It reminds me of the old days here in the National Football League. We have to come ready to go." After going winless last season, the Browns (7-7-1) have a chance to finish with a winning record this season. Williams was on the staff last year when the Browns went 0-16 last season, and he sees the change. "The real thing is that the focus of the players and the understanding of especially a young team,'' Williams said. "I've had this opportunity come up before with some other young players that where I've been able to help, and we've been able to help them understand that you have to do your job and you have to block out the outside distractions. You have to focus and rally together and play for each other. "They've done a very good job of not only just doing their job but supporting each other. I think people see that in team execution over individual execution. They have done a very good job with that." The Browns are making the key plays that make the difference between winning and losing. "I thought we played (well enough) to win games, and that's how close and tough the league is," Williams said. "It comes down to anywhere from three to four to five plays a game. "Now, we are making more of those plays determining outcomes of the game, and then the more you make the easier it is to make. The more you make, the easier it is to buy in to understanding of this is how we play as a team. A team wins the game, not individuals." to go." --CB Denzel Ward suffered a concussion in Sunday's game, and interim head coach Gregg Williams does not know whether Ward will be out of the concussion protocol in time for the Ravens game. It was his second concussion in the past three weeks. --WR Jarvis Landry attempted his second pass of the season on Sunday, and he recorded his first completion -- a 63-yard pass to Breshad Perriman. --RB Nick Chubb rushed for 112 yards on Sunday. It was his second consecutive 100-yard game and his fourth of the season. --WR Breshad Perriman had just two catches on Sunday, but he had 76 receiving yards. He has just 13 receptions for the season but is averaging 22.7 yards per catch. --LB Genard Avery had only four total tackles on Sunday, but he made them count, collecting 2.5 tackles for losses, including a sack.