The Baltimore Ravens faced the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. The red-hot Ravens looked to add another statement win to their resume. The game started that way, following an immediate Kyle Hamilton pick-six and a score from Keaton Mitchell score, the Browns found themselves in a 17-6 hole by the start of the second quarter. For the rest of the half, the Browns struggled to find the endzone adding a couple of field goals going into half.
But in the second half, the Browns flipped the script. Despite a pair of scores from Odell Beckham and Gus Edwards, the Ravens had become the team that struggled to move the ball, while Cleveland moved the ball at will. Here's who we can blame.
Blame the Baltimore Ravens defense
It's hard to blame an entire unit, but the Baltimore defense deserves some blame. The first half versus the second half were night and day for the unit. The unit started quickly, posting a pick-six (something they haven't done since 2019) and holding the Browns to six points in the first quarter, showing why they are a top defense in the NFL. Many, including the commentators, thought the Ravens were on the way to another blowout. The Browns added two more field goals capping off a dominant first-half performance by the defense.
In the second half, everything changed. After the offense's quick strike for six coming out of the half, the Browns and Deshaun Watson led a ten-minute touchdown drive to respond. The Browns would add two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and a game-winning field goal. In the second half, the Browns marched down the field twice for a pair of 75-yard scores and one 63-yard drive for a score. The Browns offense possessed the ball for five minutes leading to their game-winning field goal.
The defense will have four days to get on track before another clash with a divisional foe.
Lamar Jackson deserves some blame
Lamar Jackson is the clear leader for the Ravens. His play is judged harshly every week, just because many people don't agree with his style of play. Jackson was held scoreless in the first half, though he did facilitate two scoring drives, one with a Keaton Mitchell score and the other for a field goal en route to a score of 17-6 going to halftime. Lamar did throw a pick before the half.
Coming out of halftime, he would immediately find Odell Beckham Jr. for a slant that would take him to the end zone, a play showing shades of prime OBJ. Jackson would then be sidelined for a large majority of the third quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Ravens would then score thanks to Gus Edwards, but it would be the last time the offense would find themselves in the red zone. The Ravens would get the ball back and Jackson would throw a pick-six. The Browns would miss the extra point to tie the game, but Jackson and the offense could not move the ball the following drive giving the ball right back to the Browns putting the game in their hands.
Jackson will need to be in MVP form against the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday.
Blame the Ravens play calling and game management
The Ravens play-calling was suspect in the fourth quarter, to say the least, but it was a harsh reversal of what had been (to that point) business as usual for Lamar and Co. Similarly, defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald has done the same thing with the playmakers Baltimore has on the defensive side of the ball. In combination, both units have made an explosive and scary team. Against the Browns, both units started fast. Macdonald's defense scored the first points of the game, while Monken's offense controlled the game going into halftime.
In the second half, Monken's offense appeared to be different. Despite scoring twice, the offense struggled to move the ball being stopped by the Browns' defense on most drives. In a first half where everything flowed freely, Baltimore was able to move the ball however they wanted. In the second half, every yard was a struggle with the offense seemingly beginning to exclude some of its key playmakers. On the other side, the defense gave up a pair of long-scoring drives, noticeably different from their play in the first half.
Additionally, John Harbaugh had some questionable choices of his own. The staff will need to clean some things up as they make a quick turnaround to play the five-win Bengals on Thursday.