Browns-Ravens Rivalry Heats Up with Pre-Game Trash Talk
In the hard-hitting world of NFL rivalries, the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens are adding fresh fuel to their AFC North division feud ahead of their upcoming clash. Browns safety Grant Delpit has ignited a war of words with Ravens star running back Derrick Henry, dismissing the notion that the 252-pound powerhouse is difficult to tackle.
“Not hard,” Delpit stated bluntly when asked about the challenge of bringing down Henry, a comment that quickly reached the Ravens’ locker room. Henry, who had an impressive 169-yard rushing performance in Baltimore’s season-opening loss to Buffalo, responded with characteristic brevity: “He had a quote. We’ll see on Sunday.” The exchange recalls a memorable moment from last season when Delpit and fellow Browns defensive back Denzel Ward combined for a highlight-reel tackle on Henry, after which Delpit performed the “too small” celebration gesture – a bold statement against one of the league’s most physically imposing runners.
The trash talk hasn’t been limited to just Delpit’s comments about Henry. Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy added his own inflammatory remarks by suggesting Baltimore’s secondary – a group featuring multiple first-round draft picks – presents “no challenges.” This comes despite Jeudy never having scored a touchdown against the Ravens in his career. Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton seemed unfazed by the comment, describing it as typical “bulletin board material” while questioning the need for such external motivation: “Was I not going to play hard before he said that? If you need bulletin board material to go play… that’s a problem with you.”
Both teams enter Sunday’s matchup desperate for a win after dropping their season openers. The Browns will be looking to continue their recent success against Henry, who has only exceeded 75 rushing yards once in three career games against Cleveland. Henry, however, brings a new dynamic to the Ravens offense after spending the first eight years of his career with the Tennessee Titans before signing with Baltimore in 2024. His performance in Week 1 suggests he hasn’t lost any of the power and speed that have made him a five-time Pro Bowl selection.
The matchup represents an intriguing clash of strengths: Baltimore’s potent rushing attack, newly bolstered by Henry, against a Cleveland defense that has historically contained him well. The Browns’ confidence in their ability to stop Henry stems from past success, but the running back’s comments indicate he’s taking Delpit’s dismissal personally. Meanwhile, Baltimore’s secondary will undoubtedly be motivated to prove Jeudy wrong after surrendering 394 passing yards to Josh Allen in Week 1 – a vulnerability the Browns may attempt to exploit.
As Sunday approaches, these verbal jabs add another layer to an already intense divisional rivalry. Whether Delpit can back up his bold claims about tackling Henry or whether the Ravens’ secondary can silence Jeudy remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: both teams have provided additional motivation for their opponents. In the physical crucible of AFC North football, where division games often determine playoff fates, these personal challenges have transformed an early-season matchup into a contest with both practical and prideful implications. When the whistle blows on Sunday, the talk will end, and the players will have their opportunity to let their performance settle the score.
