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Browns vs. Ravens: Joe Haden seeking to avenge September loss in Baltimore

Browns' cornerback Joe Haden believes he can make a difference against the Ravens.

Ron Schwane-US PRESSWIRE

The last time the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens met, Cleveland cornerback Joe Haden could only watch as Baltimore won, 23-16. Haden is back playing for the Browns, and he believes he can make a difference against the Ravens this week.

When Cleveland and Baltimore met in Week 4, Haden was serving the third of his four-game suspension for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy. Watching quarterback Joe Flacco carve up the Browns' secondary for 356 yards was tough for the third-year player out of Florida, via the Akron Beacon Journal:

"I wished I was out there. My dudes, they were fighting, playing hard. At the end of the day, we still could've won that game. So just knowing that when I'm out there, just to make a couple more plays [could be the difference]. Like we always say, we end up losing by such a little margin, that if two or three plays swing our way, it's a whole different ballgame."

In the Ravens' Week 4 win, wide receiver Torrey Smith caught six passes for 97 yards and a touchdown. As the outside corner, Haden knows he faces a challenge in covering Smith this week:

"He's a real good challenge. He's definitely a deep threat. He's a really good receiver, has really good hands and Flacco can throw it however far he can run."

The Browns were 0-4 while Haden was serving his suspension, and the team is 2-1 since his return. This season, Haden has compiled 23 tackles, four pass breakups and two interceptions.

Cleveland and Baltimore meet Sunday at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET, and the game will be televised on CBS.

Photographs by spatulated, Triple Tri, and chrischappelear used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.