Dawgs By Nature
We weren’t even expecting it, and then a little after the start of the second half, the announcers suddenly said, “We’re hearing Dillon Gabriel is still in the locker room with a head injury,” as they show Shedeur Sanders gathering his stuff to make his NFL debut.
Be careful what you wish for. The Browns’ offense could do worse than nothing in the second half, as the offense kept going backwards and allowing Baltimore to chip away, eventually turning a 16-10 halftime lead for the Browns into a 23-16 win for Baltimore. Let’s get to the full game recap.
The Browns received the opening kickoff on a windy afternoon. A couple of short completions to start the game set up a 3rd-and-2 situation. Cleveland lined up big, but the Ravens packed the line too and were ready to stop RB Quinshon Judkins for a gain of only a yard. On 4th-and-1, Cleveland went for it at their own 39 yard line. The handoff went to Judkins and would have gotten just enough for a conversion, but LT Cam Robinson was flagged for illegal formation. Facing a 4th-and-6, the punt unit came out. P Corey Bojorquez boomed it down to the 2 yard line, and WR LaJohntay Wester returned it 19 yards out to the 21 yard line.
The Ravens faced a 3rd-and-11 quickly, but QB Lamar Jackson flipped a pass forward to a crossing receiver and CB Denzel Ward missed the tackle to allow a first down. Baltimore then picked up two more first downs with a pitched run to RB Keaton Mitchell, and a quick hitter to TE Mark Andrews into Cleveland territory. Baltimore kept rolling with two carries by RB Derrick Henry for another first down. Henry continued the momentum after Jackson extended a play with his legs before flipping it out late to Henry, who ran for another first down.
Now inside the 20 yard line, the defense strung out a run to Mitchell to hold it to only a yard. Jackson just missed hitting TE Isaiah Likely on an open crossing route, setting up 3rd-and-9 at the 17 yard line. Jackson took off when he saw an open lane up the middle for another first down, setting up 1st-and-goal at the 4 yard line. Henry picked up a yard, and then a pass to Andrews was incomplete, setting up 3rd-and-goal at the 3 yard line. Jackson rolled right, then tried to look left, but was met by DE Myles Garrett for a sack (much like what happened the first time these two teams met). K Tyler Loop came on for a 25-yard field goal to give Baltimore a 3-0 lead with 4:55 to go in the first quarter.
The Browns began their next drive at their own 33 yard line. This time, Judkins began with a burst of 13 yards before being shoestring tackled from behind. On the next play, Judkins took a broken play, reversed field, and managed...
