Ravens hold-on to beat the Browns; The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Up 20-0, Baltimore was able to hold-on just enough to beat the Browns 20-14, and move to 11-4 for the year.

The Good:

1) What a pick from Webb! The interception stopped Cleveland’s drive cold.

2) I liked seeing Flacco and the Ravens attack down the field immediately after the Webb int.

3) It looked as if the Ravens may have to settle for a FG on their first series, but Flacco was able find Dickson in the end-zone. This was Dickson’s 5th TD of the year.

4) Graham knocked home his first attempt as a Raven, from 48 yards out. He would come back later and hit another one from 43.

5) With the Ravens up 10-0, Cleveland faced 3rd and 6 early in the 2nd quarter. Ayanbadejo was able to get Wallace to the ground for the sack.

6) The 42 yard TD connection between Flacco and Rice was pretty. Exactly the type of punch you want to see the offense deliever. Rice finished with 87 yards on the ground, and another 48 as a receiver.

7) Nice return from D. Reed to start the 2nd half.

8) On a 3 man rush, Kruger beat the double-team to record his fifth and a 1/2 sack of the year.

9) Good job from Ricky Williams to get his feet in, and come down with the first down on 3rd and short at the end of the 3rd. Williams had 45 yards on 10 carries.

10) Flacco used the hard count to draw the Rookie Taylor off-sides on 4th and 2 with 2 minutes remaining.

The Bad:

1) After getting torched in the air last week against San Diego, it was irritating seeing Cleveland have some success on the ground. Hillis finished with 112 yards on 24 carries.

2) Up 17-0, the only way the Ravens could allow the Browns to get back into the game was with turnovers and through Special Teams errors. Webb almost helped the Browns out with his fumbled punt return.

3) Pass interfence was called on Carr, amounting to a 30 yard penalty. Lewis was also called for pass interfence later in the game.

4) Cleveland was alble to pick up 3rd and 10 from the Baltimore 29, when Ogbonnaya made a 12 yard reception.

5) Dickson dropped a pefectly delivered pass from Flacco in the 3rd Quarter. On the following series, he missed another.

6) Near the end of the 3rd Quarter, Flacco missed Smith (who had gotten past his defender) down the field. In the 4th, Flacco was picked off when he was not able to beat 1×1 coverage in the end zone. Flacco finished 11 of 24 for 132 yards.

7) Up 20-7 in the 4th, Cleveland picked up 3rd and 3, when Massaquoi came down with a 9 catch. This was followed by a 23 yard gain to Cribbs, and a 15 yard rush from Hillis.

8) The Browns had more 1st downs than Baltimore, finishing with 17 to Baltmore’s 14. Cleveland was also 5 of 13 on 3rd down.

The Ugly:

1) Yanda, Cary Williams, and D. Reed both had to leave the game with injuries. Reed’s injury appeared to be serious.

2) When you play the Cleveland Browns, you know that loads of attention is placed on making sure that Cribbs does not beat you with a long return. Cribbs deserves credit for making a play, but the Ravens deserve blame for giving him the opportunity to do so.

3) The Ravens were very lucky that Cleveland made poor use of their clock to end the 1st half.