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Game Recap: Browns 33, Ravens 30 (OT)

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For a while on Sunday, the Ravens made it work without top receiver Steve Smith Sr. top tight end Crockett Gillmore, wide receiver Michael Campanaro and speedy first-round pick wide receiver Breshad Perriman.

The loss of starting Pro Bowl running back Justin Forsett, however, was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Without its host of offensive weapons and a defense without two of its top three corners and top pass rusher Elvis Dumervil, the Ravens fell to the Cleveland Browns in overtime, 33-30. Cleveland kicker Tyler Coons kicked a game-winning 32-yard field goal.

It's the first time the Ravens have lost to the Browns at home since 2007. It had never happened under Head Coach John Harbaugh, as Baltimore had won 13 of the past 14 meetings with Cleveland.

More importantly, it's a brutal loss to take as Baltimore looked like it could pick up some momentum after an overtime win in Pittsburgh following an 0-3 start. The Ravens now sit at 1-4 and at the bottom of the AFC North.

Baltimore's defense lost cornerbacks Lardarius Webb and Will Davis during the game. Browns quarterback Josh McCown pounced, throwing for a staggering 457 yards and two touchdowns. He completed 36 of 51 passes.

The Ravens built a 21-9 lead in the third quarter, but the Browns kept hanging around. Just when Baltimore's offense stumbled, Cleveland picked up steam.

The Browns scored three touchdowns in the second half and twice took fourth-quarter leads. It looked as if Baltimore's ground attack was going to be enough to give the Ravens a win, but it lost steam when Forsett went down at the end of a 32-yard catch and run.

The offense, without Forsett and its other host of weapons, went three-and-out on the first possession of overtime. The Browns pounded away with a 12-play, 51-yard drive in seven minutes, 11 seconds to set up the game-winning field goal.

Quote Of The Game
"That was a very winnable game. We should have won." -- Head Coach John Harbaugh

**Turning Point Of The Game

**
Forsett came alive in the fourth quarter, running eight times for 62 yards on back-to-back drives. He put the Ravens at the 10-yard line needing a field goal to tie and touchdown to win. But that's when Forsett grabbed for his ankle. Baltimore brought in rookie Javorius Allen, who ran twice for 3 yards and the Ravens had to settle for the tying field goal. Without Forsett, the Ravens offense didn't pick up a single yard on its lone overtime drive. Allen ran once and was targeted on one incomplete pass.

Impact Plays

  • The Ravens' passing game got things going on its second drive. Kamar Aiken caught back-to-back passes for 25 yards. Then, after being brought up to the active roster Saturday, receiver/returner Jeremy Ross caught back-to-back passes for 24 yards. Flacco finished off the drive by faking out the entire Browns defense on a naked quarterback keeper for a 1-yard touchdown to put the Ravens up, 7-0.
  • Aiken continued his big first half with a 48-yard catch on third down near the right sideline. Flacco audibled at the line of scrimmage to take the long shot. Cleveland native Kyle Juszczyk finished off the drive with an 8-yard touchdown catch. He has two career touchdowns and both have come against the Browns.
  • Allen ripped off a 44-yard run, the longest of his young career, to put the Ravens in scoring range. Flacco finished the drive with a leaping quarterback sneak, giving the Ravens a 21-9 lead midway through the third quarter.
  • Baltimore's defense couldn't get off the field on the next drive, giving up a 13-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. It was the Browns' first touchdown drive of the game and kept the game close at 21-16 with a minute left in the third quarter. With Dumervil (groin) sidelined, the Ravens struggled to create a pass rush and McCown ran for a 10-yard score.
  • Cleveland took its first lead of the game with about 12 minutes remaining on a fluke touchdown. The pass to tight end Gary Barnidge was broken up by safety Will Hill, but the ball hit Barnidge's leg on the way down and was trapped with the other foot against his butt. While on the ground, Barnidge reached down to grab it between his legs for the 18-yard touchdown, giving the Browns a 22-21 lead.
  • Trailing by a point, the Ravens leaned on Forsett and their offensive line. On the first play of the drive, Forsett picked up 22 yards along the left side. Forsett ran four times for 39 yards, including a 1-yard plunge to give the Ravens a 27-22 lead.
  • The Browns drove 80 yards on just six plays in two minutes, 53 seconds to retake the lead in the fourth quarter. Barnidge continued to give the Ravens fits, starting the drive with a 22-yard gain. Cleveland running back Isiah Crowell broke an 18-yard gain up the middle and then caught a pass and broke a tackle to scamper into the end zone for a 22-yard score, giving the Browns a 30-27 lead after a successful two-point conversion.
  • Aided by a personal foul on the Browns for a high hit, the Ravens drove 75 yards to tie the game and send it into overtime. Forsett ran four times for 23 yards and put the Ravens in field-goal range with a 32-yard catch and run. He was dragged down awkwardly by safety Donte Whitner and limped to the sideline. The Ravens couldn't push the ball across the goal line for a game-winning touchdown, however, and settled for a tying 23-yard field goal.
  • Barnidge carried Cleveland's offense in overtime too. He caught a 19-yard pass over the middle to get the Browns into scoring position. Crowell moved the chains again with a 5-yard run on third-and-5. Coons kicked in the 32-yard field goal for the win.

Standout Performer

Browns QB Josh McCownMcCown consistently eluded pressure and stepped up to find his receivers. His 457 passing yards are the third-most against a Ravens defense in franchise history. McCown threw two touchdowns and no interceptions. His one pick was wiped off the board by a Ravens roughing the passer penalty.

Stat Of The Game
Flacco never had two rushing touchdowns in a single game during his eight seasons. He capped the first one with a monstrous spike.

On The Horizon
The Ravens will travel back out to the West Coast to take on Anquan Boldin, Torrey Smith and the San Francisco 49ers. While the 49ers have struggled so far this season, Baltimore lost both games during its earlier West Coast trip.

Check out the best photos from M&T Bank Stadium as the Ravens host the Browns in week 5 of the 2015 season!

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