Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns recap: Back in first place of AFC North with late rally

It was a frustrating opening quarter for the Browns, who went down 10-0 immediately. The defense pitched a shutout the rest of the game, though, and forcing a fumble in the fourth quarter led to Cleveland’s first touchdown of the game to tie things up at 10-10. They drained some clock and tried a field goal, but it was no good from 48 yards out.

The defense forced a punt, and Cleveland got a shot to lead a two-minute drive. They executed with a big catch by WR Jerry Jeudy, and this time, Szmyt hit the game-winner for the 13-10 win and first place in the AFC North!

Let’s get to the full game recap.

1st Quarter – Ravens vs. Browns

The Ravens received the opening kickoff, and just like we’ve seen this season, opposing teams took their first drive right down the field on the Browns’ defense. RB Derrick Henry had runs of 11 and 17 yards, and QB Tyler Huntley completed a couple passes. Then, facing a 3rd-and-6 at the Browns’ 17 yard line, Huntley completed an 8-yard pass to WR Ja’Kobi Lane to set up a goal-to-go situation at the 9 yard line.

Huntley used his legs to improvise and run for 7 yards, but Henry was bottled up on second down to set up 3rd-and-goal at the 1 yard line. Huntley gave it to Henry, but S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren chopped him down for a loss of 1 yard. Baltimore went for it on fourth down, and off of the playaction fake, Huntley found backup TE Josh Cuevas open in the back of the end zone for a touchdown to put the Ravens up 7-0.

Unfortunately, Cleveland’s opening drive didn’t last long: a first down incompletion, and then after a 5-yard run by RB Jaleel McLaughlin (starting for the injured Quinshon Judkins), Watson was sacked on third down by DE Calais Campbell after the defense dropped zone coverage into the Browns’ route patterns. After the punt by P Corey Bojorquez, Baltimore took over at their own 39 yard line.

Cuevas lined up at guard, but off the line, on the next play, and Huntley found him wide open on a catch-and—run crosser for 30 yards, plus 15 yards tacked on due to a roughing the passer penalty on DT Maliek Collins. Two runs by Henry only netted 1 yard, setting up 3rd-and-9 in the red zone. Huntley’s throw for WR Rashod Bateman was off the mark, so K Tyler Loop came on and hit a 34-yard field goal to put the Ravens up 10-0.

On the Browns’ second drive, they got a first down after a quick pass for 9 yards to WR Jerry Jeudy, but nothing was going after that. A run and Watson combined for no gain on the first two downs, and on third down, a free rusher came on a twist, forcing Watson to throw the ball in the dirt. Bojorquez’ punt went out of bounds at the 22 yard line. Also of note: S Grant Delpit was officially ruled out for the rest of the game with a concussion.

The Ravens had two penalties (one declined) to close out the first quarter on offense.

2nd Quarter – Ravens vs. Browns

Baltimore couldn’t get going and punted. The Ravens’ gunner made a terrific diving save to prevent the ball from going in the end zone, batting it back to the 4 yard line. RB Audric Estime picked up 7 yards for some breathing room, and then on second down, another run made it 3rd-and-1. Watson kept it on the sneak on third down to move the chains. The drive went no where after that: a screen to TE Harold Fannin was doubled and thrown in the dirt, then Watson had no where open on second down, so led McLaughlin to having his head taken off by S Kyle Hamilton for just a yard, and then his scramble on third down didn’t get to the line to gain.

Bojorquez boomed a 62-yard punt to get the ball to the 17 yard line. Baltimore went three-and-out, giving another shot to the Browns’ offense. Cleveland finally found some traction, getting another first-down throw to Jeudy and a few nice runs. However, on 3rd-and-3 at the Ravens’ 40 yard line, a false start pushed Cleveland back, and then Watson’s third down attempt for Fannin was broken up. This time, Bojorquez got off a punt that was downed by WR Malachi Corley at the 2 yard line.

Two runs to Henry were stuffed, but on 3rd-and-10, Huntley got off a slant to Lane, with LB Carson Schwesinger just missing it, for 10 yards and a first down. Later, facing another 3rd-and-10, Cleveland brought the blitz, but Flowers came on the crossing route to beat Schwesinger for 17 yards and another first down.

After the two-minute warning, Collins came up the middle to sack Huntley for a loss of 8, this time setting up 3rd-and-18 as Cleveland took their firs timeout. Huntley scrambled, but only got 10 yards as the Browns took their second timeout leading up to the punt with 1:38 remaining. The Browns’ offense stalled again: an incompletion, a sack, and another incompletion to punt the ball right back to Baltimore. Bojoruqez’ punt went out of bounds at the 32 yard line with 1:12 remaining and each team having one timeout.

Baltimore got three short completions to get a first down out to their own 43 yard line, and then took their final timeout with 0:26 remaining. The defense forced a stop from there, keeping it a 10-point deficit heading to the half. The Ravens out-gained the Browns 163-46 in the first half.

3rd Quarter – Ravens vs. Browns

The Browns received the opening kickoff of the second half, and things didn’t look good when Watson was sacked for a loss of 5 yards up the middle. But two plays later, he found Fannin for 9 yards, setting up 4th-and-1. Cleveland went for it, and the fullback handoff to FB Michael Burton got 2 yards for a first down. A pass to WR Concepcion went for 17 yards, and a scramble by Watson set up 3rd-and-4 at the Ravens’ 28 yard line.

It looked like McLaughlin had a burst for 13 yards on third down, but it was called back due to a holding penalty on RG Austin Barber. Concepcion got some yards back on third down, but it set up a 48-yard field goal by K Andre Szmyt to make it a 10-3 game with 7:48 left in the third quarter.

Baltimore faced a 3rd-and-6 to start their drive, and Huntley’s pass to Lane over the middle got the first down. Cleveland’s defense held tight after that, forcing a punt back to the 10 yard line. McLaughlin had a run for 9 yards on first down, but then the quick bubble screen to Concepcion was blown up by Hamilton for a loss of 3 yards after WR Tylan Wallace failed to get a block. Then on third down, Watson tried scrambling against a three-man rush and was sacked instead, leading to a punt and Baltimore taking over at their own 40 yard line.

The Browns’ defense continued playing tough, as this time DT Sam Kamara began things by tackling Henry for a loss of 1 yard. Huntley made a mistake on second down, trying to throw back to the middle of the field, but CB Denzel Ward just missed the pick. On 3rd-and-11, Huntley went across the field again, but this time it worked as he bought time and found Flowers for 32 yards.

On the next play, off of playaction, DE Isaiah McGuire came off the edge and Huntley had to duck and take the 9-yard sack. Huntley dropped the snap on second down, and picked it up as he was tackled for a loss of 3 yards, setting up a 3rd-and-22 heading to the final quarter.

4th Quarter – Ravens vs. Browns

Back at the 42 yard line, the Ravens needed to get some yards to get in more comfortable field goal range. Huntley did just that by connecting with Cuevas for 11 yards. The 49-yard field goal was wide left! That gave the Browns the ball at their own 39 yard line, their best starting field position of the game.

Once again, Cleveland got a good first down gain with an 8-yard pass to TE Blake Whiteheart, but a second-down run by Estime went for a loss of 2 yards. On 3rd-and-4, Watson appeared to connect with WR Denzel Boston on the edge for a quick hitter, but CB Nate Wiggins ripped the ball away for an incomplete pass. Bojorquez came on to punt, angling it out of bounds at the 23 yard line with 12:45 to go.

After a run by Henry, he FUMBLED, with Schwesinger appearing to rip the ball away and CB Tyson Campbell recovering at the 35 yard line.

Cleveland got another 8-yard run by McLaughlin on first down, but on second down, it was another negative play as Estime was blown up by Hamilton for a loss of 2 yards. On 3rd-and-4, Watson fired a short laser to Concepcion, but he held on and made his way through the defense for 15 yards to the 14 yard line. Two plays later, an end around to Concepcion was cut off by Wiggins, forcing a 3rd-and-7. Watson tried to hit Concepcion on the slant over the middle, but pass interference was called on Baltimore on what appeared to be a phantom call.

On 1st-and-goal at the 6 yard line, Estime got 4 yards. On 2nd-and-goal at the 2 yard line, he punched it in for the touchdown to tie the game at 10-10 with 8:33 to go!

Baltimore began their drive at the 16 yard line after the return man dropped the initial catch. Two runs by Henry made it 3rd-and-3, and then Ward busted up the third down pass over the middle, forcing another punt. Concepcion returned the punt 13 yards up to the Browns’ 40 yard line with 6:59 remaining.

The Browns’ drive began with a 12-yard flip to Wallace, and then McLaughlin gained 4 yards on a run. Watson scrambled for 5 more yards, setting up 3rd-and-1 at the Ravens’ 39 yard line. Watson tried to adjust the play, and it led to a delay of game, making it 3rd-and-6. No matter, though, as Watson stuck it to Jeudy over the middle for 13 yards to the Ravens’ 31 yard line. They then faced a 3rd-and-8, and Watson threw the ball away to avoid a sack. That brought Szmyt on from 48 yards, and he missed it wide left, ending his streak of 25 consecutive field goals made. The game remained tied 10-10 with 3:40 to go, as Baltimore took over at the 38 yard line.

On second down, McNeil-Warren dropped an interception that was thrown right at him, as it could’ve been one going the other way for six. With new life on 3rd-and-8, Huntley tried to run, but only got a few yards. Baltimore sent the punt unit on, then tried to rush the offense back, but took a delay of game. The Ravens punted, and the ball went to the end zone for a touchback at the two-minute warning.

After getting one first down, Watson found Jeudy across the field for a big 33-yard catch-and-run to the Ravens’ 29 yard line!

After a few run plays and the clock running, Szmyt came on for a shot at redemption from 42 yards out. The Ravens blocked it, but it was because they jumped offsides. From 37 yards out, Szmyt nailed it, and the Browns won 13-10!

Quick Hitters

• QB Deshaun Watson: 16-of-26 for 164 yards.
• WR Jerry Jeudy: 4 catches, 69 yards.
• WR KC Concepcion: 4 catches, 37 yards.
• WR Denzel Boston: 1 catch, 15 yards.
• TE Harold Fannin: 1 catch, 9 yards.
• 3 sacks by the defense.
• What a unique game. The defense gave up their usual opening touchdown, then completely shut the Ravens down the rest of the way. The offensive gameplan looked poor for much of the game this week, but they took advantage of some late-game momentum, including the tying touchdown and getting in position for two field goals late (one miss, one-game-winner). They pulled it off, and are 4-2 and in sole possession of first place in the AFC North, with a 2-0 record in the division. Crazy.

Up next, the Browns travel to Tennessee to take on the Titans.