Baltimore Ravens lean on defense to overcome miscues in win over Cleveland Browns

Miscues on offense and particular groups held the Ravens again all through their Week 11 matchup with the Browns, however a dominant defensive efficiency and a ‘Hurricane’ carried Baltimore to a 23-16 win.

Lamar Jackson was sacked 5 occasions and threw two batted-ball interceptions, one in all which was returned for a landing. The Ravens’ particular groups gave the Browns the ball again twice by way of a muffed punt and an offsides penalty. Baltimore’s offense scored solely as soon as on 4 journeys to the crimson zone and three goal-to-go conditions. However time and time once more, their protection stiffened up, battened down the hatches, and stored their crew within the sport.

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Other than a collection of missed tackles within the first quarter, the Ravens protection stored the Browns in a stranglehold for a lot of the sport. They stuffed Cleveland on their first eight third downs and allowed simply two conversions on 14 whole makes an attempt. A various array of blitz packages by Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr delivered 10 quarterback hits, three sacks, and a drive-ending intentional grounding penalty. Cornerback Nate Wiggins caught his third interception of the season and security Kyle Hamilton, as all the time, was doing the whole lot, in every single place, unexpectedly. He completed with 9 tackles, three tackles for loss, two passes defended, a sack, and a compelled fumble.

Baltimore wanted each little bit of that effort, plus a faux tush-push bootleg by Mark Andrews on 4th-and-1 that become a game-winning 35-yard landing with 2:30 left within the sport.

That play, aptly termed ‘Hurricane’ for Andrews’ spin-and-run on the line of scrimmage, was one in all few vibrant spots for Batimore’s offense. One other was an early reception from the veteran tight finish that made him the franchise’s all-time chief in receiving yards.

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However except for Andrews’ moments, a number of key catches from Zay Flowers, and a 59-yard rumble from Derrick Henry, the Ravens offense struggled to get something going for a lot of the afternoon. Within the face of fixed strain, Lamar Jackson accomplished simply 14 of his 25 passes for 193 yards, zero touchdowns, and the 2 aforementioned interceptions. Keaton Mitchell racked up 54 yards on eight touches however didn’t break off a acquire longer than 17 yards. Outdoors of his future, Henry was stuffed a number of occasions, together with in a number of short-yardage and goal-to-go conditions, although he did ultimately punch in a brief landing.

After a number of glorious weeks on particular groups, the Ravens’ punt return unit blew two defensive stops, first with a muffed punt by LaJohntay Wester and later by way of an offsides penalty by Jake Hummel. Jordan Stout was good, however not nice, on his punts, however rookie kicker Tyler Loop did make all 5 of his kicks, together with a 45-yard discipline purpose within the wind.

However regardless of the errors and missed alternatives, the Ravens protection performed with intention and depth all sport. After the muffed punt, which gave the Browns a 1st-and-goal, they stood agency and compelled a discipline purpose. They shortly cleaned up their tackling after the primary quarter and stuffed the run for the remainder of the sport. The cross rush pressured Dillon Gabriel all through the primary half, and when he left as a consequence of a concussion, they continued the warmth on Shedeur Sanders in his NFL debut. He accomplished simply 4 of his 16 passes for 47 yards and an interception, making Gabriel’s seven-for-10, 70-yard efficiency within the first half spectacular in hindsight.

For key down after key down, the Ravens protection stepped as much as make performs, giving the offense so many alternatives that they needed to reap the benefits of one. When that second got here, Baltimore known as on Mark Andrews, and the best pass-catcher in franchise historical past delivered a 35-yard speeding landing for one of many signature performs of his profession in what might be his final 12 months in purple and black. A lot of the sport wasn’t fairly for the Ravens, however the poetry of that ending certain was.