Record: 6-9.

Most recent game: Defeated Minnesota, 30-23, Dec. 25, at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore.

Coach: Brian Billick, 67-51, seventh year.

Series record: Ravens lead, 9-4.

Most recent meeting: Ravens won, 16-3, Oct. 16, in Baltimore. At a critical juncture in both teams’ season, the Browns laid down offensively, and their defense allowed Ravens backups Anthony Wright and Chester Taylor to have their way.

League rankings: Offense is 24th (19th rushing, 21st passing), defense is fifth (10th rushing, eighth passing) and turnover differential is minus-10.

Injury report: Players who missed the most recent game: KR B.J. Sams (knee), LB Mike Smith (hamstring), TE Daniel Wilcox (ankle). Also, DE Tony Weaver (back) is hurting.

Burning issues

Kyle Boller’s stellar outings in two straight wins have complicated the franchise’s decision on his future. They are having the same effect on debate over the future of several coaches, starting with Billick. The team has won three of its past four but is 0-7 on the road.

Offensive overview

Boller awakened from a career coma the past two weeks. In lopsided wins against Green Bay and Minnesota, the quarterback completed 43 of 61 passes for 542 yards. He had six touchdowns and one interception. His passer rating for the two games was 123.8. Was it a fluke or has “the light” clicked on for the third-year pro? That’s the question the Ravens are mulling. Boller’s improved play suddenly made everything on offense better. Running lanes opened for Jamal Lewis, who still is at a career- low 3.3 yards per rush. Boller has three competent receiving targets in wideouts Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton, and tight end Todd Heap. The right side of the offensive line has changed since the first meeting, Brian Rimpf at guard and Tony Pashos at tackle.

Defensive Overview

Stopping the run has been an uncharacteristic problem. It's rooted in the loss to injury of middle linebacker Ray Lewis and strong safety Will Demps. Coordinator Rex Ryan has compensated some by utilizing an extra linebacker in place of a strong safety. The defensive pressure on quarterbacks is formidable, however. Ryan mixes up his fronts and cranks up the blitz from all angles. Terrell Suggs has been unstoppable the past few weeks, lining up as a linebacker or with his hand on the ground. The other player to game plan against is safety Ed Reed. He missed six games with a high ankle sprain suffered in the first Browns game. Now that he's healthy, he is his usual game-changing force. Ryan also has been using Deion Sanders in blitz schemes. He doesn't show a sack, but his pressure has been effective.

Special teams overview

The team will be pleased to get back return specialist B.J. Sams, who missed the Minnesota game with a knee injury. In his place, Chester Taylor fumbled a kickoff, and Mark Clayton was ineffective fielding punts. Sams is a serious threat. Kicker Matt Stover has turned around a season that began with three missed field-goal attempts. Since that first game, Stover is 27-of-28, missing from 43 yards. Punter Dave Zastudil is ninth in the AFC in gross average (43.3 yards) and 11th in net (36.2).

Players to watch

Tight end Todd Heap: On a level with San Diego's Antonio Gates and Kansas City's Tony Gonzalez among the league's best tight ends, Heap hurt the Browns in the first meeting with six catches and a touchdown.

Safety Ed Reed: Last year's league defensive player of the year missed six games with an ankle injury but is healthy now and eager to post his first turnover of the season.

Linebacker/defensive end Terrell Suggs: A pass-rushing force who leads the team with seven sacks but also has two interceptions, four forced fumbles and one recovery.

Small world

Ravens punter Dave Zastudil is from Bay Village and played for Ohio University. . . . Current Browns who previously played with the Ravens include quarterback Trent Dilfer, cornerback Gary Baxter, punter Kyle Richardson and quarterback Derek Anderson. . . . Current Ravens who previously played with the Browns include kicker Matt Stover and offensive tackle Orlando Brown. . . . At least 10 former Browns personnel followed the Ravens to Baltimore in 1996 and are still with the franchise. . . . Browns General Manager Phil Savage was Ravens director of scouting and player personnel director. . . . Browns assistant player personnel director T.J. McCreight previously worked for the Ravens in personnel.