CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns receiver Jarvis Landry isn’t discouraged about Cleveland’s 1-2 start or sputtering offense. Nor is he worried that he is on pace for only 40 catches. There is no concern in his voice as the Browns prepare for the defending AFC North champion Ravens.

Instead, Landry is confident and encouraged, which he shared with coach Freddie Kitchens last Sunday night after Cleveland’s loss to Los Angeles -- telling Kitchens the Browns are still going to be a great team.

“Having four opportunities from the 4-yard line and not getting it done, that is discouraging to anybody,” Landry said after Thursday practice. “(That) was a moment where I kind of took a step back. ... This is one of those things that are going to catapult us to something new."

Kitchens’ postgame message to the Pro Bowl receiver was rather straightforward.

“He said we are going to get you the ball,” Landry said of Kitchens. “(We will) start getting guys the ball and making plays.”

With the Browns traveling to Baltimore, Kitchens has a prime opportunity to not only grab a share of the AFC North lead but also to also prove his words true by getting Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. opportunities to expose a struggling Ravens secondary. Through three weeks, Baltimore ranks 16th in total defense but is allowing 290 passing yards per game, good for 27th.

Over the past two games, Baltimore has given up 723 yards through the air.

According to Pro Football Focus, its secondary graded 56.8 overall against Arizona and 48.3 versus Kansas City. Combine that with injuries to corner Jimmy Smith, who missed Week 3 due to injury, and corner Marlon Humphrey’s questionable status for Week 4, and there is a case Baltimore is the league’s weakest secondary.

That means Beckham, Landry, Kitchens, Baker Mayfield and the entire Browns offense should finally pop Sunday.

Let’s take a look at how Cleveland can attack the Ravens’ vulnerable defensive backs.

Run a lot of quick-hitting verticals

Bad secondaries give up big plays. It is that simple. The Ravens are no exception. Baltimore has allowed 14 pass plays of 10 or more yards through three games. Any play greater than 10 yards is considered an “explosive play.” The Ravens are surrendering a big play on 12 percent of defensive snaps. The league-worst is 17 percent, belonging to Oakland.

In comparison, Baltimore’s rush defense is third-best, allowing just 60 yards per game. The Ravens are stingy on explosive runs also, having only given up four runs of 10 or more yards.

If Cleveland is going to beat Baltimore, it’ll have to throw the ball, and getting vertical is the best way to do so. Here are a few examples of Baltimore repeatedly getting beat deep.

On this play, Kansas City receiver Mecole Hardman (17) is in the slot with one safety high. Baltimore is running Cover Three (three defensive backs each covering a third of the field deep), and Chiefs quarterback Pat Mahomes makes them pay. A simple vertical gashes the Ravens for an 83-yard touchdown.

Sure, Mahomes beats most defenses deep, but the Ravens are making a habit of this.

Against the Cardinals in Week 2, Baltimore continued getting exploited by the long ball. Here, Arizona has a tight formation to the top in 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends), only to run a vertical concept with the two tight ends. Kyler Murray hits Maxx Williams down the seam for an easy explosive play.

Browns tight end Ricky Seals-Jones is eager for the opportunity to get vertical versus Baltimore if his number is called.

“They run a lot of one-high (looks) so you are able to mix in some shots,” Seals-Jones said. "I think everything is there if we play our game.”

Whether it is Seals-Jones, Demetrius Harris or Pharaoh Brown, there is opportunity for Browns tight ends to establish themselves Sunday in the absence of David Njoku, who is on injured reserve.

Again, here is another vertical the Ravens could not defend two weeks ago. Luckily for Baltimore, pressure got to Murray or this pass would’ve popped.

On both looks, Arizona receiver Christian Kirk (13, at the left side of the Arizona line) beats Ravens corner Anthony Averett, crossing the field as the third man inside a verticals concept.

It’s more than just verticals that cause Baltimore problems. The Ravens are struggling on most deep routes, as shown on this play when Larry Fitzgerald (inside receiver on the left side) gets free with no defenders near him.

Notice where he catches the ball. Though he did not run down the seam, he catches the ball on the right hash, illustrating Baltimore’s mishaps covering that area of the field.

Thus, the seams will be open, just as they were last year in Week 17 when Baker Mayfield connected with Jarvis Landry, on an inside vertical route. It was the second time the Browns scored on seam route that game.

Target the slot early and often

Slot receivers are crushing the Ravens.

In Week 2, Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald caught five passes for 104 yards, all from the slot. Due to coach Kliff Kingsbury’s air-raid, four-wide heavy offense, fellow Arizona slot receiver Kirk grabbed six balls for 114 yards.

Kitchens will have some favorable matchups when deciding where to line up Beckham and Landry. According to Pro Football Focus, Ravens cornerbacks Averett and Cyrus Jones grade at 38.7 and 54.8, respectively. Starting corner Brandon Carr grades out at a 76.3 (out of 100). Averett and Jones are seeing extended playing time due to Jimmy Smith’s absence.

If Smith sits again, expect Landry and Beckham both to take advantage of their favorable matchups.

First, Kitchens and Mayfield need to be on the same page and take the easy yards Baltimore gives them. On the next play, the Ravens’ pre-snap alignment signals man-to-man coverage, an easy completion from Murray to Fitzgerald (in left slot).

On the very next play, Baltimore stays in the same base defense, so Murray hits Fitzgerald again in the slot. Simple, but effective.

It didn’t really matter what coverage the Ravens ran against Arizona as Murray piled up yardage play after play. Where the Cardinals failed in Week 2 was red zone execution, kicking three field goals.

Versus Cover 2 (two defensive backs each taking half of the field deep), Kingsberry again designs a route for the slot receiver to get open.

Lastly, Kirk (in the right slot) wins again here versus a mixed coverage by Baltimore. The Ravens are running man-to-man defense with one free safety over top, but their two linebackers are dropping into a “hole” defense. Murray reads the field perfectly and threads the ball between the two Ravens.

Beating Baltimore through the air works.

Fans will want to see Nick Chubb run the ball and Browns coaches will preach the football cliche of “balance,” but the film, data and personal all signal advantage Browns.

So come Sunday, they should let Baker rip it.