Dawgs By Nature
Not many Cleveland Browns fans were expecting a win this week, but we were still hoping for a fun game and Flacco Fever living strong. Instead, we got a combination of more mistakes on offense and special teams, with Baltimore capitalizing on all of them and coming away with a 41-17 win. Let’s get to the full game recap.
The Browns received the opening kickoff, putting QB Joe Flacco on the field in Baltimore for the first time since 2018. He started with quick passes to TE David Njoku and TE Harold Fannin for gains of 6 and 12 yards. After that, though, the drive quickly soured. The first handoff to RB Quinshon Judkins was stuffed for a loss of 2 yards, and then a screen pass to RB Dylan Sampson was blown up for a loss of 3 yards. That was followed by a false start, so on 3rd-and-20, Flacco just checked it down to set up a punt. P Corey Bojorquez got off a nice one, as the Ravens fair caught the ball at the 11 yard line.
The Ravens tried running the ball twice in a row, setting up a 3rd-and-7. QB Lamar Jackson found his slot receiver on the underneath crossing route to get enough for the first down. A few plays later, DT Mason Graham stuffed RB Derrick Henry for a loss on a run, setting up 3rd-and-7. Jackson lofted one downfield for WR Zay Flowers, but it was out of reach as Baltimore sent their punt unit out. Their punt landed out of bounds at the 18 yard line.
Judkins began the next drive with a gain of 4 yards on the ground, but the next two throws from Flacco were incomplete, leading to a punt. This time, Bojorquez’ punt was returned 23 yards to the Browns’ 49 yard line, into Cleveland territory, as S Rayshawn Jenkins made a shoestring tackle to stop further damage. Cleveland’s defense did a good job holding Baltimore to a 43-yard field goal, as they continued to stuff Henry. Baltimore took a 3-0 lead with 3:06 remaining in the opening quarter.
With WR DeAndre Carter being evaluated for a concussion, the Ravens kicked the ball short of the landing zone, which gave the Browns the ball at the 40 yard line. The drive started with a late throw to Judkins in the flat, and it was stuffed for a loss of 4 yards. The Ravens kept bringing the heat on second down, leading to a 3rd-and-14 situation. Flacco airmailed the ball out of bounds, leading to another quick punt, down to the 22 yard line.
The defense, led by DE Myles Garrett and DE Cameron Thomas, combined to sack Jackson on the first play for a loss of 10 yards.
On second down, Garrett immediately beat his man and stuffed a run for a loss of a yard. On 3rd-and-21, Garrett wanted the hat trick, but jumped offsides, making it 3rd-and-16. They...
