In the first half, Baltimore had no answers for Browns’ quarterback Josh McCown.
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With the Browns having won their last two home openers, McCown used one of the team’s rookies, first-round pick Corey Coleman (104 yards, five catches, two touchdowns), to get the Browns quickly on the board. “That takes a lot when you have that kind of first quarter”.
STUNNING START: Nobody expected the Browns to do what they did in the first 15 minutes, which ended with them leading 20-2. Crowell’s run is the second-longest in franchise history and the longest ever surrendered by the Ravens.
In an emotional weekend that saw the passing of long-time assistant coach Clarence Brooks, the Ravens found a way to pull off a road victory against a division rival that seemed all-but-impossible early in the game.
The defense also started to get some pressure on the Browns offense. After the penalty, McCown threw a lame-duck interception on the next play.
It’s possible that the Ravens had underestimated the Browns, who suffered a 29-10 loss to the Eagles on September 11. “There are going to be tough situations and that’s why over the years, these games have just taken us to that next level”. To end the drive Flacco found wide receiver Mike Wallace in the end-zone for their second touchdown connection of the day (and third of the season). The Browns also have injuries in the secondary, which could be a problem, given Mike Wallace’s sudden resurgence in Week 1 for the Ravens.
Following the touchdown both teams’ offense sputtered and neither could get much going.
Justin Tucker’s 49-yard field goal with 11:19 to play gave the Ravens their first lead at 22-20. Tucker added a 41-yard field goal with 2:53 left.
Returning to the field where he fractured his hip for the second time in 2014, Pitta ran superb routes and gained positive yards after the catch. When Pryor got up, he tried to flip the ball to the official, but it fell out of his hand and hit a defensive back, resulting in a freakish taunting penalty.
The Browns’ third touchdown of the game was set up by the defense, as two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Joe Haden intercepted Flacco’s pass that was intended for veteran wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. on a second-and-six play from Baltimore’s 29-yard line. Questionable: LB C.J. Mosley (thigh), WR Breshad Perriman (calf), CB Jerraud Powers (ankle), LB Za’Darius Smith (ankle), G John Urschel (shoulder). McCown completed to wide receiver Terrell Pryor at the Ravens 10-yard line, but the play was negated by a taunting penalty against Pryor for flipping the football at safety Lardarius Webb after the play.
Browns running back Isaiah Crowell (18 carries, 133 yards) had an 85-yard TD and was barely touched on the play, bursting through a gaping hole between the tackles.
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There is a lot to talk about following this disappointing result, so let’s look at four takeaways from another loss to the Ravens.
