The Baltimore Ravens blew another double-digit lead in Sunday’s loss to the Cleveland Browns.
The Ravens led 10-0 at halftime but never scored again as the Browns rallied with three scoring goals in the second half. Andre Szmyt’s 37-yard field goal as time expired gave the Browns a 13-10 victory.
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The win moved the Browns into first place in the AFC North. This is the last of a season in which the team has been first for over 12 years. They are now 4-2 overall and 3-0 in Cleveland.
Szmyt appeared to have blocked his first game-winning attempt, but the Ravens were offside. He easily completed the rekick, which was his second game-winner of the season, with his 56-yarder to beat the Steelers in Week 4.
Szmyt had missed a previous field goal attempt – his first failure since last season – in the fourth quarter, before becoming the hero.
The Ravens, who were without Lamar Jackson on Sunday, have now missed 16 games in which they led by 10 points or more since the start of the 2020 season. Baltimore fell to 4-2.
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Jackson’s replacement, Tyler Huntley, led the Ravens in scoring on their first two possessions in the first quarter – then was held scoreless the rest of the game. The Ravens’ Tyler Loop missed a 49-yard field goal attempt early in the fourth quarter.
Derrick Henry looked like he was on his way to a big game, running for 11 and 17 yards on his first two carries of the game. But the Browns’ inconsistent run defense stopped him afterward (30 rushing yards on his next 15 carries).
Henry lost a fumble at his own 35-yard line early in the fourth quarter, forced by Cleveland’s Carson Schwesinger. The Browns converted it into their only touchdown of the game – a rushing score from Audric Estime.
The Browns, who had just 46 yards in the first half, finally kicked a field goal on their first possession of the second half, converting a 4th-and-1 play to put themselves within field goal range.
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It was tough offensive sledding for Deshaun Watson and the Browns for most of the game, but they came alive in the fourth quarter — and survived a scare. Before Szmyt’s miss, the referees initially ruled Watson was stripped on a sack with just under four minutes left in a tie game, but replay showed he threw an incomplete pass.
Watson hit Jerry Jeudy with the key play of the final drive: a 33-yard catch and run on third down, deep on their own side of the field. The conversion put the Browns within field goal range with just over 30 seconds left, massaging the clock to set up Szmyt’s game-winning field goal as time expired.
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Browns head coach Todd Monken said he gave Jeudy a game ball. Jeudy led the Browns with 69 receiving yards, accounting for nearly 30 percent of their 237 total yards on the day.
Even with the early struggles on Sunday, Todd Monken’s return to Baltimore was a success. The former Ravens assistant has the Browns in business in a competitive AFC North, even after missing the game in Week 5 against the Panthers.
Teddy Ricketson
The Browns are in first place in the AFC North.
Cleveland kicker Andre Szymt blocked a 42-yard field goal attempt, but it was clear the Ravens were offside.
After closing from five yards out, Szymt made the 37-yard field goal to give the Browns the victory.
Teddy Ricketson
Cleveland faced third-and-5 at its own 38-yard line. Deshaun Watson threw a pass to Jerry Jeudy and the wide receiver raced 33 yards for a huge gain.
The Browns receiving the field goal and now Cleveland is going to run down the clock and try to get into a good position for their kicker.
Teddy Ricketson
The Ravens offense has barely been able to do anything since the start of the second quarter. After a missed basket, Baltimore was unable to take advantage.
The Ravens elected to punt. Cleveland gets the ball back after the two-minute warning with the game still tied at 10.
Teddy Ricketson
Andre Szymt had made 25 consecutive field goals.
With 3:40 left in the game, he attempted a 48-yard shot, but missed wide left.
This game remains tied 10-10 as regulation time expires.
Teddy Ricketson
After scoring a game-tying touchdown, Cleveland’s defense continued to hold on. The Browns forced Baltimore into a three-peat.
Cleveland gets the ball back with about 7 minutes left in regulation.
Teddy Ricketson
Cleveland took advantage of field position after Derrick Henry’s fumble. Audric Estime bulldozed his throw into the end zone for the two-yard touchdown.
After the extra point, this game is tied at 10 with 8:33 left in regulation.
Teddy Ricketson
The Browns defense is doing its best to give the team new momentum.
Cleveland forced Derrick Henry to fumble the ball and the Browns recovered.
Cleveland takes over at the Baltimore 35 with 11:58 to play.
Teddy Ricketson
Baltimore’s missed field goal could have been the spark Cleveland needed.
Deshaun Watson had eight yards on first down. Then Audric Estime lost two yards and Watson had an incompletion.
Facing fourth-and-4 and down 7, the Browns elected to punt.
Teddy Ricketson
Baltimore is still without a point since the fourth quarter.
Ravens kicker Tyler Loop attempted a 49-yard field goal and it kept curling. He ended up missing the kick wide left.
Baltimore still leads 10-3 with 14:13 left.
Teddy Ricketson
Baltimore backup quarterback Tyler Huntley is doing his best to get the Ravens offense on the field.
On third and 11, Huntley got a pass to Zay Flowers who recovered it for a 31-yard gain. A new series of downs and the Ravens are on the verge of a field goal for Tyler Loop.
Teddy Ricketson
After Baltimore’s fifth consecutive punt, Cleveland had a punt of its own.
After a 9-yard run on first down, Watson completed a pass to KC Concepcion for a loss of three, then was sacked for a loss of two, forcing the Browns to punt.
Teddy Ricketson
Baltimore’s first possession of the second half ended the same way the Ravens’ final four first-half drives did: in a punt.
After scoring on their first two drives of the game, Baltimore has now launched five drives in a row.
Teddy Ricketson
Cleveland’s early risk of a fourth down paid off. The Browns used the conversion to move down the field and into field goal range.
Kicker Andre Szmyt made the 48-yard field goal.
The Browns trailed 10-3 in the third quarter.
Teddy Ricketson
Cleveland head coach Todd Monken wasn’t going to open the second half with a three-and-out. On fourth-and-1 at their own 37-yard line, the Browns elected to roll the dice and go for it.
Fullback Michael Burton put his head down and bulldozed his way through for a gain of two and another set of downs.
Teddy Ricketson
Baltimore scored on its first two drives, and that’s been the entirety of the offense in this one so far.
The Ravens take a 10-0 lead into halftime and the Browns will get the ball back out of the break.
Teddy Ricketson
The Browns offense has been horrible so far. After forcing a Baltimore punt, the Cleveland offense returned it immediately with a three-and-out.
Deshaun Watson had two incompletions on either side of a sack. The Browns have 46 yards and three first downs in this game so far.
The Ravens get the ball back with 1:12 left in the first half.
Teddy Ricketson
Cleveland’s special teams unit had a great punt and Baltimore took over virtually in its own end zone.
The Ravens were able to gain some distance, picking up 29 yards, but the drive still resulted in a punt.
Baltimore leads 10-0 with 1:25 left in the first half.
Teddy Ricketson
Cleveland’s fourth drive of the game lasted five plays and the Browns gained 22 yards.
The team even attempted a tricky double pass, but it was well defended and they had to scramble for a minimal gain.
Cleveland currently has 51 total offensive yards.
Teddy Ricketson
With Baltimore moving the ball at will early on, Cleveland’s defense settled down.
The Ravens had a three-peat and were now forced to throw back-to-back strikes.
Baltimore leads 10-0 with 9:14 left in the first half.
Teddy Ricketson
Cleveland wasn’t able to move the ball consistently early in this one.
The Browns were held to a 17-yard drive in six plays in the second quarter and have already punted for the third time in as many possessions.
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