The Browns suffered some big losses in the first quarter, but held on and beat the Ravens on the road.
What a return! After a terrible start to the game, the Cleveland Browns beat the Baltimore Ravens 33-31 and remained in the race for the AFC North. Let’s move on to the full summary of the game.
1st trimester
The Browns got off to the worst start anyone can have in a game: On quarterback Deshaun Watson’s first pass attempt, he attempted to throw the ball in the flat to the running back, but S Kyle Hamilton He rushed and punched the ball for a 19-yard touchdown, giving the Ravens a 7-0 lead.
After the offense got the ball back, Watson was out of bounds and the offense had to punt quickly.
Then the Ravens offense tore apart the Browns defense on their first drive, capped by a 39-yard touchdown run by running back Keaton Mitchell that gave Baltimore a 14-0 lead less than five minutes later. the start of the match.
On the ensuing kickoff, running back Pierre Strong carried the ball to the Browns’ 33-yard line.
Two runs from RB Jerome Ford provided a first down, but on the next play, Watson’s pass to WR Amari Cooper was too long, unlike his passes a week ago against Arizona.
A few plays later, Watson finally got his first completion when he found WR Elijah Moore down the left sideline 19 yards into Baltimore territory.
On the next play, WR Cedric Tillman missed a blindside block on DE Kyle Van Noy, and after the play, Van Noy received a 15-yard penalty for crossing paths with Tillman.
A dropped pass from TE David Njoku set up 3rd-and-7 from the 18-yard line, but Watson’s pass to Tillman in the end zone was covered and incomplete. K Dustin Hopkins put the Browns ahead with a 36-yard field goal, making the score 14-3.
On Baltimore’s next drive, quarterback Lamar Jackson collided with his running back on the handoff on a second play, resulting in a loss and a 3rd-and-10 layup. S Juan Thornhill came in with a third stoppage, but CB Denzel Ward was cited for illegal contact on WR Odell Beckham and a first down.
A few plays later, Mitchell gained 32 yards on a script down the left sideline. Jackson nearly hit Mitchell on third down for a wheel route touchdown, but LB Sione Takitaki had tight coverage to force the incompletion. K Justin Tucker kicked a 37-yard field goal to make it 17-3.
Cleveland took the lead with a three-pointer on its next drive after Watson quickly recovered a sack from DE Jadeveon Clowney on third-and-2.
2nd quarter
The Ravens took the lead three times early in the second quarter, the first time the defense was able to drive them off the field without scoring.
After a few runs by Ford for another first down, Watson hit Cooper over the middle for 17 yards to reach midfield. A few plays later, facing a 3rd-and-6, Watson scrambled and ran for a first down the right sideline.
Ford then broke a tackle and ran down the right side for a 28-yard gain to the 13-yard line.
However, a catch by RT James Hudson brought the offense back on 1st-and-20, and they ultimately had to settle for a 28-yard field goal to make it a 17-6 game.
Jackson got the Ravens’ next drive started with a 16-yard completion to WR Zay Flowers down the left sideline. Flowers followed this with a 14-yard catch-and-run, again beating CB MJ Emerson.
A few plays later, on 3rd and 2, a false start pushed Baltimore back to a 3rd and 7. The defense brought it home and Flowers tackled S Juan Thornhill, but Jackson overthrew his receiver and forced Baltimore to punt the release unit.
However, Cleveland had 12 men on the field, so on 4th and 2, John Harbaugh sent the offense back down the field. Cleveland fired Jackson, but Emerson was arrested for his defensive behavior, leading to another losing streak.
The defense then attempted another third-down sack, and this time they held. Baltimore brought Tucker out for a 55 yard field goal that was BLOCKED by DT Jordan Elliott! LB Anthony Walker got the ball and returned it 27 yards to the Ravens 38-yard line.
A 4-yard run by Ford put it on 2nd and 6 after the two-minute warning. Watson found Cooper wide open just short of center and he sprinted to the 6-yard line for a 28-yard gain.
On first-and-goal from the 6-yard line, Watson attempted to keep the ball but suffered a one-yard loss and set up second-and-goal from the 7-yard line while carefully holding his ankle.
Ford used the following handoff to score 3rd-and-goal from the 5-yard line. On third down, Watson found no one and threw the ball away. Hopkins came off the bench and kicked a 23-yard field goal with a minute left to make it 17-9.
On first down, Jackson fought back, but as he approached the sideline, he was leveled by Emerson and kicked out of bounds.
On the next play, Jackson attempted to throw the ball down the right sideline, but it was intercepted by CB Mike Ford!
This gave the Browns the opportunity to score more points in a very short period of time. They only got within range for a 60-yard field goal attempt by Hopkins, but called a timeout and attempted a “Hail Mary” with P.J. instead. Walker. His pass was well outside the end zone and ended the half.
3rd quarter
game, 17-yard drive lasted 3:17 for Baltimore.
After a sack started the Browns’ next drive, Watson found Cooper 25 yards over the middle, and a few plays later Njoku had a 23-yard catch-and-run.
A pass interference call on the next play set up first and a field goal from the 10-yard line as Cleveland continued to try to make quick work of it.
Two plays later, Watson broke away from the run and found WR Elijah Moore for a 10-yard touchdown, making it a 24-17 game with 8:57 left.
The Browns defense then stunned the Ravens when DE Ogbo Okoronwo deflected a pass high out of the air, and Newsome caught it on the run for the first pick to make it 31-30!
The second-half special teams woes continued, however, as out of nowhere Hopkins kicked the extra point left, which didn’t go well, to keep Baltimore on top 31-30 with 8:16 left. The defense forces another stop and scores with about 5 minutes left.
The ball ended up in the end zone for a touchback, with the game in the hands of the offense and a score of some kind was needed.
The drive began with a false start on Hudson, finishing first and fifteenth. Njoku caught an 11-yard pass, then Ford went a few yards to set up third-and-2.
Watson completed a lateral pass to Ford to move the chains, but the offense still needed to pick up the pace a bit . Watson was hit from behind and fumbled on the next play.
Wyatt Teller recovered and remained with the Browns, but was now 2nd and 19. Watson scored on a 17-yard run to Cooper, setting up 3rd-and-2 at the Browns’ 39-yard line before the two-minute warning.
Ford took over the middle for a first down. Watson gained 16 yards on the next play and broke a series of tackles as the Browns called their second timeout of the game and were now close to field goal range.
The ground game continued to progress, prompting Hopkins to attempt to repair his earlier mistake. The 41 yard field goal was GOOD and the Browns won 33-31!
Next, the Browns will face the Steelers in Cleveland.
Fast hitters
QB Deshaun Watson: 20 of 34 for 213 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT.
RB Jerome Ford: 17 carries, 107 yards.
RB Kareem Hunt: 10 carries, 32 yards, 1 touchdown. WR Amari Cooper: 6 receptions, 98 yards.
TE David Njoku: 6 receptions, 58
TE David Njoku: 6 receptions, 58
Disaster struck again to open the fourth quarter, when WR James Proche muffed the kick and allowed Baltimore to recover at the 12-yard line.
Cleveland’s defense hoped to force a three-and-out, but on 3-and-9, Jackson’s incomplete pass was again negated by a defensive hold, this time on CB Greg Newsome, making it first-and-goal at the 6th. construction site line. On the next play, a Ravens catch sets up 1st-and-goal from the 16-yard line.
A few plays later, again on third down, Jackson rolled right and his pass to the end zone was picked off by S Rodney McLeod — but another catch, this time on JOK, gave Baltimore another series on down, now 1st and goal. from the 5-yard line.
This time, Baltimore brought the ball in: first a 4-yard run by RB Gus Edwards, and then Edwards ran it in on the next play to make it a 31-17 game. It was a 7-play, 17-yard drive that lasted 3:17 for Baltimore.
After a sack started the Browns’ next drive, Watson found Cooper 25 yards over the middle, and a few plays later Njoku had a 23-yard catch-and-run.
A pass interference call on the next play set up first and a field goal from the 10-yard line as Cleveland continued to try to make quick work of it.
Two plays later, Watson broke away from the run and found WR Elijah Moore for a 10-yard touchdown, making it a 24-17 game with 8:57 left.
The Browns defense then stunned the Ravens when DE Ogbo Okoronwo threw a pass high in the air, and Newsome caught it on the run for the first pick to make it 31-30!
The second-half special teams woes continued, however, as out of nowhere Hopkins kicked the extra point left, which didn’t go well, to keep Baltimore on top 31-30 with 8:16 left.
The defense forced another stop and punted with about five minutes remaining. The ball went into the end zone for a touchback, with the play in the hands of the offense requiring a score of some sort.
The race began with a false start from Hudson, who finished 1st and 15th. Njoku caught a pass for 11 yards, then Ford ran a few yards to set up 3rd and 2. Watson completed a sideline pass to Ford to move the chains, but the offense still needed to accelerate.
Watson was hit from behind and fumbled on the next play. Wyatt Teller recovered to keep it with the Browns, but it was now 2nd and 19.
Watson got a 17-yard completion to Cooper and had it third-and-2 at the Browns’ 39-yard line on the way to the two-minute warning.
Ford brought the transport to the center to take down the first. Watson scrambled 16 yards on the next play and broke a series of tackles as the Browns burned their second timeout on the play, now at the edge of field goal range.
The ground game continued to progress, leaving Hopkins trying to make up for his earlier mistake. From 41 yards out, the field goal was GOOD and the Browns won 33-31!
The Browns next face the Steelers in Cleveland.
Fast hitters
QB Deshaun Watson: 20 of 34 for 213 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT.
RB Jerome Ford: 17 carries, 107 yards.
RB Kareem Hunt: 10 carries, 32 yards, 1 touchdown. WR Amari Cooper: 6 receptions, 98 yards.
TE David Njoku: 6 receptions, 58
