In a very sloppily played edition of “Sunday Night Football,” the Baltimore Ravens escaped with a 16-10 win over the division rival Cleveland Browns.
Baltimore moved to 8-3 with the victory, maintaining its hold on the AFC North lead and the top seed in the AFC. The Ravens overcame a four-interception game from Lamar Jackson, as the defense stifled the Browns run game — Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt combined for 36 yards on 15 carries — and harassed Baker Mayfield into poor throws throughout the evening.
Jackson was erratic through the air, but his threat as a runner kept the chains moving when the Ravens needed them to for most of the night. His spectacular touchdown toss to Mark Andrews in the third quarter ultimately proved the difference on a night where neither offense could get much going at all.
Why the Ravens won
Baltimore found a way to win a game despite four interceptions from Jackson. The Ravens defense certainly rallied in support of their quarterback, limiting the Browns to just 40 yards on the ground — the lowest rushing total Cleveland has ever had under Kevin Stefanski. Patrick Queen was all over the field throughout the game, with Harbaugh even mentioning his starting linebacker was playing with a significant rib injury.
Even though the Ravens’ offense wasn’t clicking on all cylinders, Jackson made enough plays for the in the second half to come away with the win. The Ravens overcame the worst passing game of his career thanks to a strong defensive effort against the No. 1 run offense in football.
Why the Browns lost
Cleveland just failed to capitalize on three first-half interceptions by Jackson, leading to just three points in an opening 30 minutes that were full of mistakes on both ends. The Browns had two fumbles in the midst of Jackson throwing an interception on three consecutive possession — as Mayfield finished with just a 48.6% completion rate.
The Browns were ineffective running the ball, being held to just 40 yards rushing and 2.4 yards per carry on 17 attempts. That’s not the Cleveland offense as Baltimore took away the identity from the Browns early and often.
Turning point
Jackson pointed toward Andrews on a third-and-4 from the Ravens’ 48-yard line and fired a pass toward his favorite target. Andrews, who was held on the play by Browns safety Ronnie Harrison, made a one-handed catch that put Baltimore in the red zone in a 6-3 game.
This was the catch Jackson needed to set up his spectacular play a few minutes later.
Play of the game
The Ravens’ touchdown that determined the outcome of the game goes to Jackson, who backpedaled and avoided Jadeveon Clowney before scrambling to his right with Myles Garrett coming, Jackson went to his left and saw Andrews wide open in the end zone for the 13-yard touchdown pass that put the Ravens up 13-3 in the third quarter.
Even with Jackson’s interceptions on Sunday night, he still made the biggest throw of the game when it mattered.
The quote
“Oh I’m good. I just tried to hit somebody that’s a little bit bigger than me. Took one to the face, but that’s football — that comes with it. I’m still healthy and was able to get off the field, thank God for that.” — Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen on his rib injury and how he had to exit the game.
Queen was listed as questionable to return, but said he was determined to get back in the game. He said he was hurting, but he said he was going to come back regardless.
Up next
The Ravens (8-4) travel to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers (5-5-1) in another AFC North battle next Sunday. The Browns (6-6) have a bye week before hosting the Ravens in Week 14.
