BEREA - There was something different in the sound of Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh's voice when he conducted a conference call with reporters that cover the Browns.

It might have been because he had just come from having lunch with owner Stephen Bisciotti. Owners can sour a coach's stomach with one menacing stare.

More than likely it was because of the way things have been going for the Ravens, who have lost four of the last five games. Taking a 4-4 record into Monday night's road game against the Browns isn't the way Harbaugh envisioned the season playing out after a 34-3 win over the Browns that gave the Ravens a 3-0 record in September.

Harbaugh was congenial during a conference call prior to the September game. He came across as subdued earlier this week.

"We have a chance to have a good season from where we're at, but we have to have a good second half and win a bunch of games," Harbaugh said. "It's not a great spot to be .500 and try to do that from."

The situation in Baltimore is plain for anybody to see. A loss to the 1-7 Browns on national television would virtually put an end to serious playoff intentions. The embarrassment alone would be devastating.

The Browns are trying to gain some sense of respectability. Coach Eric Mangini, in particular, is trying to show whoever owner Randy Lerner hires as the all-seeing, all-knowing guru of football operations that he deserves another season on the job.

Harbaugh isn't in trouble and should return as coach next season, barring something unforeseen. But there's no question that he has to jump start a team that had consecutive losses to New England, Cincinnati and Minnesota before routing Denver. The Ravens lost to Cincinnati for a second time last Sunday.

"We don't have a macro answer," Harbaugh said. "We look at all those things in-house. Whatever issues you have football-wise, like any team you try to address them and become better.

"We lost in the last 30 seconds to New England. We lost in the last two seconds to Minnesota. We had the lead within a minute against Cincinnati at home and we let them go down and score, and then we got hammered last week."

Even with an expected win over the Browns, the Ravens could be in trouble of missing the playoffs. They're dangerously close to slipping out of the AFC North Division race, trailing 6-2 Pittsburgh and 6-2 Cincinnati.

The schedule doesn't get easier after the Ravens face the Browns (how could it get easier?). Baltimore has back-to-back home games against undefeated Indianapolis and Pittsburgh. The Ravens have to go to Green Bay and later in the season will be at Pittsburgh.

Harbaugh knows that this is the time of the year when the Steelers find another gear. If it's November, you can usually expect the Steelers to be taking control of the division.

"We've got urgency just because of our issues and problems," Harbaugh said. "The good thing is that we have three division games left, two against the Steelers and one against the Browns. We have an opportunity, and we'll have to play really well in all these games if we're going to have a chance of winning them."

It's hard to believe that the Browns will be able to hand the Ravens another defeat. The Browns don't run the ball well, while the Ravens are adept at stopping the run. The Ravens have stability at quarterback in Joe Flacco, while the Browns will try Brady Quinn at quarterback for a second time this season.

"The Browns had a bye week, so they've had two weeks to get ready for us," Harbaugh said. "We have our own issues and problems. We're excited to play on Monday night and going to Cleveland because it's a great atmosphere."

Somehow, you get the feeling that Harbaugh isn't sweating this one out.

mmclain@tribtoday.com