Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown made franchise history as he lead his squad to an OT win over the Baltimore Ravens. (Getty)
Final, OT
Cleveland Browns 3-6-7-14-3 — 33
Baltimore Ravens 14-0-7-9-0 — 30
They may just build a statue of Travis Coons in Cleveland this week.
The Browns kicker, who is perfect on FGs this season, connected on the 32-yard game-winner in overtime on Sunday afternoon to lead his team to a much-needed, and very unexpected, victory over the Baltimore Ravens. Here’s how it played out:
While Coons was the hero of the day, the Browns were led by Josh McCown who was dominant through the air, particularly in the final stretch of the game. The Cleveland QB finished with an absolutely insane 457 yards, throwing for two touchdowns and rushing for another. He didn’t throw an interception.
McCown is first #Browns QB with 3 straight 300-plus games. Broke single game record of 444 yards set by Brian Sipe in 1981.
Joe Flacco went 19-for-35 for 210 yards and one passing touchdown as well as two rushing touchdowns. Justin Forsett added 121 yards on the ground as well in addition to his first rushing touchdown of the year.
Still, it wasn’t enough as Baltimore defense, once again, failed to make a stand when it mattered most. The Ravens were whistled for 12 penalties for 98 yards and gave up 505 total yards. The Browns final drive in OT was a 12-play march for 50 yards to set up the field goal.
Click here to check out a full box score of the AFC North matchup and read on for some of the game’s best highlights:
Isaiah Crowell. Josh McCown. Touchdown.
This one isn’t over yet.
After Justin Forsett put the Ravens back on top, the Cleveland offense answered in kind with a 22-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Crowell from Josh McCown. The Browns QB followed up with a converted two-point attempt and, quite suddenly, the squad was back on top.
The Ravens. Defense. Again. Was Pretty Bad.
Ravens defense allowed Browns to go 80 yards in just six plays.
Two offsides penalties didn’t help things either. We’re not even to the two minute warning yet, folks.
Justin Forsett Put Baltimore Back on Top With a TD Run
Fresh off a dominant performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week, Justin Forsett had been relatively silent against the Cleveland Browns.
Then, this happened:
It was, actually, Forsett’s first rushing touchdown of the season and, with 5:56 left in regulation, enough to give the Ravens the lead over their AFC North foe. It also helped that a Cleveland unnecessary roughness penalty gave the Ravens the ball at the one-yard line.
Gary Barnidge Caught a Jump-Ball Pass to Give the Browns the Lead
Remember when @brianhartline caught a pass with his legs?
@garybarnidge may have just one-upped that… 👀
Don’t look now (definitely look) but the Cleveland Browns are trying to make a little bit of divisional history. The squad took a one-point lead with 12:23 left in regulation to try and jumpstart a victory over the Baltimore Ravens. The Browns are 1-13 against Baltimore with Joe Flacco at QB but have, somehow, clawed their way back into the Week 5 game.
With plays like this it’s hard to doubt Cleveland’s upset-potential. This is a real catch that happened in a real NFL game:
Cleveland missed the two-point conversion but there’s some definite momentum-shifting happening here.
Josh McCown Ran For His Own Touchdown – Of Course
Josh McCown heard Joe Flacco was dominating the run game and so he figured he might as well get in on some of the action as well. The Cleveland Browns quarterback scampered into the end zone for a 10-yard score in the waning minutes of the third quarter to make it a five-point AFC North game.
While McCown’s run was impressive, Baltimore’s defense didn’t do much to help itself. As has seemingly become a trend this season, the Ravens where whistled for penalties at inopportune times, including a hands-to-the-face call on this drive, that allow their opponents to keep marching down the field.
Joe Flacco: Two Carries, Two Yards, Two Touchdowns
Joe Flacco, touchdown machine.
The Baltimore Ravens QB capped of a nine-play, 90-yard drive by rushing for his second (SECOND) rushing touchdown of the afternoon early in the third quarter to pad his squad’s lead. He also made a bit of personal history along the way:
That’s the first time in Flacco’s career he had two rushing TDs in a game.
While he’s been impressive on the ground, Flacco has also been good through the air. He’s thrown just eight incompletions and has racked up 175 yards passing. Dare we say it? An elite divisional performance?
The Ravens Led the Browns 14 – 9 at Halftime
Baltimore Ravens fullback Kyle Juszczyk notched a first half touchdown for his squad against the Cleveland Browns. (Getty)
The Baltimore Ravens notched two first half touchdowns and Cleveland, somehow, is still in this game after 30 minutes of play on Sunday afternoon.
Joe Flacco rushed (!) for a score in the first half and threw for 138 yards and one touchdown 13-of-20 passing. In a game where many wondered who Flacco would throw to, the long-time Ravens QB seemed to find an early rhythm with Kamar Aiken, connecting on four receptions for 78 yards.
The Browns, meanwhile, are finding a way to stay in the AFC North matchup as kicker Travis Coons is now a perfect 10-for-10 on field goal attempts this season. He recorded three through the uprights in the first half. Still, Cleveland has had a hard time finding the end zone. Despite 165 yards passing from Josh McCown, the Browns can’t seem to find much consistency in the passing game. Also, there’s this opinion:
There’s no reason the #Browns should be in this game.
Neither team has any turnovers in the first 30 and are just about an even 15 minute split on time of possession.
Kyle Juszczyk Caught a Baltimore Touchdown Late in the First Quarter
TOUCHDOWN KYLE JUSZCZYK!
Remember earlier this week when we were all curious who Joe Flacco was going to throw to on Sunday afternoon? Well the answer, apparently, is his fullback.
Flacco found Juszczyk from eight yards out to put Baltimore up 14-3 on the Browns with less than a minute in the first quarter. Here’s a fun Juszczyk fact – both of his career touchdown catches have come against Cleveland.
Also making some receiving noise early for the Ravens? Kamar Aiken. The suddenly-top receiver had three receptions for 73 yards in the opening 15 minutes.
Joe Flacco Ran the Ball in for the Ravens First Touchdown
Yup, that’s what actually happened.
Joe Flacco fooled just about everyone in the football-watching world as he ran the ball in from the one-yard line to get the Baltimore Ravens on the board early in the first quarter. His team’s Twitter was pretty pleased with the performance:
There could not have been more green in front of Flacco on that play. Also, give whoever made that gif a pay raise as soon as possible.
Game Preview
The Cleveland Browns defense has been challenged – by its coach.
Mike Pettine challenged his squad to shut down the Baltimore Ravens rushing attack this Sunday, particularly after the group put up impressive numbers against the Browns last season. Then-rookie Lorenzo Taliaferro rushed for 91 yards in the divisional rivals’ two meetings last year and Justin Forsett, who was dominant against the Steelers last week, racked up 182 total yards.
Of course, slowing the Ravens rushing attack down is easier said than done. Cleveland comes into Sunday’s game ranked next-to-lat in the NFL in rush defense, giving up over 150 yards on the ground in three of four games this season.
It certainly won’t be easy, but if the Browns want to make any kind of serious move in the AFC North standings, Cleveland’s front-seven is going to have to put together one heck of a defensive performance.
