There are so many depressing elements to a future in which the Cleveland Browns play in a dome. Obviously, no longer being in the city itself will be a tough pill to swallow, but taking the team off of Lake Erie, and out of the elements altogether will make home games feel less and less like real Browns football.
So, savor the games while you can. As it happens, one should be cropping up this weekend, just the Browns’ second home game since October 5, and though there is no lake-effect snow on the horizon, there is definitely lake-effect weather on the way: Winds of up to 35 mph are expected, and there’s little doubt that will have an impact on how Week 11 plays out vs. the Ravens.
Indeed, on the ESPN morning show, “Get Up” on Friday, it was pointed out that the Browns are expecting severe wind at Huntington Bank Field this week, and that when it comes to keeping up with the Ravens, that could be a good thing.
On the gambling front, we’ve already see the point spread move in the favor of the Browns because of high expected winds.
As ESPN betting guru Joe Fortenbaugh said, pointing to a graphic that showed 35 mph as a possibility: “Wind gusts in this matchup are having an effect on both the spreads and the totals. We’ve seen the point spread go from a high of 9.0 down to 7.5, and we’ve seen the total dip significantly from 41.5 to 38.5.
“That plays right into the hands of the Cleveland Browns. If the wind affects passing, Cleveland is not passing well whether they’re in perfect conditions or indoors. That’s going to affect what Lamar wants to do offensively.”
Indeed, one of the talking points surrounding this Browns team for the past month-and-a-half, since quarterback Dillon Gabriel took over the starting role, has been the Browns’ utter inability to pass the ball. The Ravens, meanwhile, appear to have survived a second Lamar Jackson injury scare after he hurt his knee against Minnesota last Sunday.
Jackson had missed three games with a hamstring injury. In six games, he has thrown for 1,249 yards and a 70.1% completion rate, with 15 touchdowns and one interception.
At the Roto Grinders website, the Browns-Ravens game was given an “orange/yellow” weather warning by meteorologist Kevin Roth, who noted: “Winds are coming off the lake with some bite. Sustained winds around 20mph, gusts up around 30mph. Winds might taper off a hair late game, but not much. I’m putting this a touch lower on the impact scale than BUF because there’s no precip here, but winds are the primary issue in both spots regardless.”
As scary as the wind might be for what’s been a moribund Browns offense, the performance of the Ravens defense lately might be just as imposing. This was a unit that was getting shredded through five games, allowing 35.4 points, but has gotten healthier and made some adjustments.
In the last four games, Baltimore has allowed only 14.5 points per game.
Said Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees: “They do a great job schematically. You know, they have a lot of people that can play in different roles. …
“They have a veteran group up front that have good rush patterns, good gains and stunts. They use personnel in multiple ways. So, the ‘backs got to be tied into it. Our line’s got to be tied into it. Our tight ends, the pass catchers themselves. It’s always a race between them and the pass rushers to get open. And our whole group needs to understand how critical that is.”
In the days after the Packers brought in running back MarShawn Lloyd from USC, using the No. 88 pick (a third-rounder) in the 2024 draft to add him to a revamped running back room that had just seen star Josh Jacobs brought into the mix, he spoke about his strengths as a player.
One of those strengths was his versatility, coming off a season in which he tallied 1,052 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns for the Trojans.
Talking to Green Bay reporters for the first time, Lloyd explained what separated him from other running back draftees: “Honestly, I feel like, being able to be used in any way possible. I can be used on special teams. I can be used on third down. I can be used on kickoff returns. I feel like being able to have that quickness and have that shiftiness, and that explosion, I feel like that’s something I can bring.”
Unfortunately for the Packers, there is almost no evidence to support that claim, despite Lloyd having kicked around the team for the past two seasons. He has played just one game, back in Week 2 of the 2024 season, in which he carried the ball six times for 15 yards, then went out with a hamstring injury that snowballed into a series of injuries–to his hip and ankle and, eventually, to an appendectomy.
Here in 2025, things have not been much better. We’re approaching Week 11, and Lloyd has yet to play because of an apparently very persistent hamstring injury.
Put this week, there was a ray of hope when it comes to Lloyd and his mysterious tenure with the Packers: He was at practice, working out at a brisk pace.
As ESPN reporter Rob Demovsky wrote on Twitter/X: “MarShawn Lloyd and Jayden Reed appear to have ramped up their rehab. Both still on IR so no photo or video allowed but they were working up a sweat off to the side.”
This comes just two weeks after it appeared that coach Matt LaFleur was writing off the possibility of a Lloyd return. LaFleur was vague in saying that Lloyd was sent to California to “get his body right,” and when asked about the possibility of Lloyd playing again, LaFleur said flatly, “I wouldn’t count on that anytime soon.”
Lloyd is still on the injured reserve, but could have his practice window opened at any time the Packers wanted to do so. he would then have three weeks to be activated or else he’d be sent back to IR. Strange to say, but given the point in the schedule, if Lloyd is to play in 2025, it’s likely he will have to show the Packers he is ready for a role sooner rather than later.