Not all wins come easy, and Baltimore proved that today in Cleveland.
At one point in the game, things looked bleak for the Ravens as they were down 20-2 at the end of the first quarter. The Browns scored a touchdown on their first offensive drive that was capped off with a 31-yard touchdown pass from Josh McCown to rookie Corey Coleman.
Not long after, Browns running back Isaiah Crowell ripped off an 85-yard touchdown run, dusting Baltimore’s defense in the process. The Browns led 14-0 at this point.
To make matters worse for Baltimore, Joe Flacco threw a costly interception to cornerback Joe Haden, giving the Browns offense excellent field position in Ravens territory. McCown then threw another dart to Coleman for a touchdown to extend Cleveland’s lead to 20-0.
Baltimore blocked the ensuing PAT attempt and Ravens cornerback Tavon Young returned the loose ball to Cleveland’s end zone and scored two points.
The Browns led, 20-2, but at least Baltimore was able to get some points, and some momentum, in the process.
Shortly before halftime, Flacco led the Ravens on a dominant offensive drive with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Mike Wallace. This shortened the Browns’ lead to 11 points.
Knowing Baltimore would get the ball back at halftime, McCown took a deep shot in effort to put more points on the board. Safety Eric Weddle then intercepted the pass, setting up a Justin Tucker 52-yard field goal, which cut the Browns lead to 20-12.
On the opening drive of the second half, the Ravens strung together a scoring drive capped by a Flacco touchdown pass to Wallace to bring Baltimore to within one.
Two Justin Tucker field goals in the second half and an interception by C.J. Mosely at the goal-line propelled the Ravens, who are now 2-0, to a 25-20 victory.
Flacco threw for 302 yards and two touchdowns. Dennis Pitta and Wallace combined for 13 receptions, 143 yards and two scores.
Baltimore will travel to Jacksonville next Sunday, Sept. 25.
