Ravens erase 20-0 deficit, beat Browns for 2-0 start
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[September 19, 2016]
CLEVELAND -- Even when they dig
themselves a deep hole the Baltimore Ravens find a way to beat the
Cleveland Browns.
The Ravens fought back from a 20-0 deficit Sunday to beat the
Cleveland Browns 25-20 and remain undefeated.
The Browns fell to 0-2 in their home opener.
Justin Tucker put the Ravens ahead at 22-20 on a 49-yard field goal
with 11:19 to play after Browns kicker Patrick Murray missed a
52-yard field goal. Tucker added a 41-yard field goal with 2:53
left.
The Browns had a chance to win on their final possession, but a pass
from quarterback Josh McCown was intercepted by Ravens linebacker
C.J. Mosley at the goal-line with 13 seconds to play.
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is now 14-2 against the Browns since
being drafted by Baltimore in the first round in 2008. He completed
25 of 45 passes for 302 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday. He also
threw two interceptions but was able to overcome those mistakes.
"You know Cleveland," Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs said. "They're
a brawler team. We anticipated that, but we just executed. We had a
good defense but they just had a better offense. At the end of the
day you have to get back to playing football and that's what we
did."
It was a devastating loss for the Browns, not only because of the
final score but also because McCown suffered a left shoulder injury
that might prevent him from playing next week on the road against
the Miami Dolphins. Also, center Cameron Erving was injured late in
the game and was taken from the locker room strapped to a body board
with an apparent neck injury.
"We started like a house of fire the first half and then we weren't
able to maintain it and finish," Browns coach Hue Jackson said.
"That's what happens in the National Football League. You have to
keep scoring."
The Browns jumped to a 20-0 lead a little more than 10 minutes into
the first quarter.
McCown, starting at quarterback because Robert Griffin III suffered
a broken bone in his left shoulder in the opener, got things going
with a nine-play, 75-yard opening drive. He completed two third-down
passes along the way and then finished it off with a 31-yard
touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Corey Coleman.
The Browns needed only one play the next time they had the ball to
take a two-touchdown lead. Running back Isaiah Crowell shot through
a hole at left guard and sprinted 85 yards to the end zone. Crowell
had 18 carries for 133 yards.
McCown hooked up again with Coleman to give the Browns a
three-touchdown lead on first-and-10 from the 11, but the Ravens
blocked the point-after attempt. Ravens cornerback Tavon Young
scooped up the ball and returned it 63 yards for two Baltimore
points. Momentum started swinging toward the Ravens.
The Browns got a scare when McCown suffered a left shoulder
injury during their scoring explosion. He went to the locker room to
be examined but returned and did not miss a snap. He kept landing on
the injured shoulder but kept getting up.
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Browns cornerback Joe Haden (23) gets hit by Baltimore Ravens
linebacker Kamalei Correa (51) while returning a punt during the
third quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Ravens defeated the Browns
25-20. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
"We all had little things that we could have done to make the
outcome different," McCown said. "We'll look at those and make the
corrections."
The Ravens added 10 points in the second quarter to cut their
halftime deficit to 20-12. Wide receiver Mike Wallace caught a
7-yard score from Flacco with 1:15 left in the first half and then
Tucker kicked a 52-yard field goal on the final play off the half.
Flacco was able to shake off two Joe Haden interceptions during his
300-yard outing.
The Tucker field goal was set up by an interception made by Ravens
safety Eric Weddle. McCown slammed his helmet on the ground in
disgust for throwing the pick once he got to the Browns sideline.
The Ravens kept rolling when the third quarter began. They moved 75
yards in six plays and finished it off with a 17-yard pass from
Flacco to Wallace.
Instead of going for two points and the tie, Ravens coach John
Harbaugh chose to go for one. Tucker made the kick to slice the
Browns edge to 20-19.
The victory was particularly satisfying for running back Terrance
West. West was drafted by the Browns in 2014 and cut last year. He
led the Ravens with 42 yards rushing.
"It was an OK day," West said. "My main goal is to help this team
win. Winning is first on my list and anything else, my personal
goals, will come with it."
NOTES: DE John Hughes, who began training camp as a starter, was a
healthy inactive for the Browns on Sunday. ... The first two catches
of the game for Browns rookie WR Corey Coleman resulted in
touchdowns. ... Ravens OLB Elvis Dumervil was inactive with a foot
injury. Albert McClellan replaced him as a starter. Dumervil also
missed Week 1. ... Alex Lewis started at left guard for the Ravens
in place of John Urschel. Urschel has a shoulder injury.
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