The Ravens expected a hard-fought game in Cleveland, and that's exactly what they got.
But in a back-and-forth affair, the Ravens came out on top, defeating the Browns, 23-16, for their fourth straight victory.
With the win, Baltimore moved back to .500 after a 1-5 start and swept the Browns in the regular season for the first time since 2020.
Here's how it happened:
Turning Point
The Ravens sprinkled in a wrinkle on their version of the "tush push" last week, and they did a literal spin-off of the popular formation on Sunday. On a critical fourth-and-1 with the game tied late in the fourth quarter, tight end Mark Andrews whirled out from under center and took off for a go-ahead 35-yard rushing touchdown with 2:31 remaining. The Ravens' defense then held on and forced a turnover on downs to seal the victory.
The trick play was Andrews' first career rushing score, and the cherry on top after the veteran tight end became the Ravens’ all-time receiving leader earlier in the game.
Top Play
After Derrick Henry was bottled up for a season-low 23 yards against the Browns in Week 2, the 31-year-old tailback bounced back in the AFC North rematch. Henry finished with 103 yards and a touchdown. His performance was highlighted by a third-quarter 59-yard gain in which he found a hole up the middle and sprinted down the field to set up one of three Tyler Loop field goals.
Scoring Summary
| Scoring Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Quarter | Ravens: (4:55), Tyler Loop 25-yard field goal | 3-0, Ravens |
| Browns: (0:00), Andre Szmyt 30-yard field goal | 3-3 | |
| 2nd Quarter | Browns: (8:44), Andre Szmyt 24-yard field goal | 6-3, Browns |
| Browns: (7:43), Devin Bush 23-yard interception return | 13-3, Browns | |
| Ravens: (4:17), Derrick Henry 1-yard run | 13-10, Browns | |
| Browns: (0:58), Andre Szmyt 46-yard field goal | 16-10, Browns | |
| 4th Quarter | Ravens: (14:06), Tyler Loop 24-yard field goal | 16-13, Browns |
| Ravens: (4:59), Tyler Loop 44-yard field goal | 16-16 | |
| Ravens: (2:31), Mark Andrews 35-yard run | 23-16, Ravens |
Statistical Breakdown
Offensive Stats
| Ravens | Browns | |
|---|---|---|
| Passing Leader | Lamar Jackson (193 yards) | Dillon Gabriel (68 yards) |
| Receiving Leader | Zay Flowers (78 yards) | Cedric Tillman (52 yards) |
| Rushing Leader | Derrick Henry (103 yards) | Quinshon Judkins (59 yards) |
Defensive Stats
| Ravens | Browns | |
|---|---|---|
| Sacks | 3 | 5 |
| Turnovers Forced | 1 | 3 |
Team Stats
| Ravens | Browns | |
|---|---|---|
| Time of Possession | 32:59 | 27:01 |
| Total Yards | 351 | 187 |
| Penalties | 4 for 26 yards | 5 for 41 yards |
| 3rd Down Efficiency | 5-of-13 | 2-of-14 |
| 1st Downs | 17 | 10 |
Stock Watch
Third-Down Defense
The Ravens' defense continued to shine on the road. Cleveland was 2-of-15 on third- and fourth-down situations, including its last two offensive plays ended with pass breakups from Chidobe Awuzie and Roquan Smith. The Ravens got consistent third-down pressure on rookie Shedeur Sanders, who saw his first game action in relief of Dillon Gabriel (concussion). Sanders threw 16 times for just 47 yards, and Baltimore held Cleveland to just 187 total yards.
RB Keaton Mitchell
Head Coach John Harbaugh emphasized that he wanted Mitchell to have more opportunities. The third-year tailback had a season-high eight touches for 54 yards. Mitchell dropped a screen pass that led to a pick-six, but he bounced back and made a big impact as a rusher and pass-catcher.
CB Nate Wiggins
Wiggins grabbed his third interception of the season on Sunday, picking off Sanders in the third quarter. The second-year cornerback now has four career interceptions, three of which have come against Cleveland.
Pass Protection
The top priority for the offense was keeping Myles Garrett in check. Garrett finished with four sacks, three of which came in the first half, but the Ravens' offensive front held up late when it mattered most and led the way for a strong day on the ground (184 yards on 30 attempts).
Up Next
The Ravens will kick off a three-game home stretch next Sunday against the New York Jets.
