The Baltimore Ravens traveled to Cleveland on Sunday to take on the reeling Browns who entered Sunday with a 1-6 record. With no Deshaun Watson for the Browns, as he tore his Achilles last week ending his 2024 campaign. The Browns turned to backup Jameis Winston who provided the spark the Browns needed.
Riding a five game win streak the Ravens looked nearly unstoppable, but all that came to an end on Sunday as the Ravens mistakes appeared too much to overcome as they fell to the Browns by a final of 29-24.
Despite a mistake filled first half the Ravens still managed to take a 10-6 lead into the half, but the inability to take control of the game in the second half and put the Browns away would be the Ravens undoing.
Down 20-17 early in the fourth quarter the Ravens lined up for a 50-yard Justin Tucker field goal as they looked to tie the game. Tucker would miss wide left to continue his struggles thus far in 2024.
Drops would be the story of the day as the Ravens offense dropped two critical third down passes, with the worst in the fourth quarter. Facing a third and long down by three quarterback Lamar Jackson found wide receiver Rashod Bateman deep over the middle of the field. Bateman stumbled dropping to his knees before the ball hit in the face mask. Bateman, who had a career night last Monday night, pointed to the sky as if to say he lost the ball in the sun. With the drop the Ravens would be forced to punt, allowing the Browns to extend their lead 23-17 with 43-yard field goal on their next possession.
The Ravens would claw back into it with 3:30 left to play in the game as running back Derrick Henry would find the end zone to give the Ravens back the lead 24-23. Henry would finish the day with 11 carries for 73 yards, his lowest rushing total since week one.
The Browns would regain the lead on their following possession, that should have ended with a Kyle Hamilton game-sealing interception for the Ravens. But much like the offense drops would also plague the defense. On the very next play after Hamilton’s near game ender, Winston found a streaking Cedric Tillman behind the Ravens defense for the 38-yard score to give the Browns back the lead 29-24 with just 59 seconds left to play.
With just one timeout and 70 yards to go, Jackson quickly moved the Ravens into Browns territory. Jackson would throw four times to the end zone from the Browns 24-yard line, but all would fall incomplete ending a nightmare of a game for the Ravens.
The defense continues to be a major concern for this Ravens team as they again allowed another 300 yard passer, and continued to allow Browns receivers to run wide open. Safety Marcus Williams did not play on Sunday despite being active, as John Harbaugh described as an “internal issue” that kept Williams from seeing the field. Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr needs to adjust and adjust fast to show some improvement on the defensive side of the ball as the Ravens can’t afford to continue losing as they look to keep pace atop the AFC north.
As for the offense they have to shoulder some of the blame as well. Offense coordinator Todd Monken twice took the ball out of Lamar Jackson’s hands on two critical downs, with one resulting in a turnover on downs and the other resulting in a false start Charlie Kolar who was under center on a third and short. While quarterback Lamar Jackson did all that he could Sunday, finishing the day 23-for-38 for 289 yards and two touchdowns. The offense overall on Sunday did not look like the Ravens offense we had been seeing during the teams winning streak.
The loss moves the Ravens to 5-3 on the year and for the time being out of first in the AFC North behind the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Ravens return home next Sunday as they look to get back on track against the Denver Broncos.
Injuries:
Brent Urban- Concussion
Michael Pierce- Calf
Games Notes:
Wide receiver Zay Flowers led all Ravens with 115 receiving yards.
The Ravens were outgained by the Browns 401-387.
Safety Kyle Hamilton led all Ravens with 10 total tackles.
Quarterback Lamar Jacksons 60.5 % completion percentage on Sunday was his worst of the season.
Kicker Justin Tucker is now 2-5 on the year from 50 or more yards.
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