Two turnovers by the Browns allowed the Ravens to pull away in the second half against Cleveland in Week 2.
The Ravens won 41-17 against the Browns at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Sunday. The Browns were down 10-3 at halftime, but the Ravens pulled away in the second half, outscoring the Browns 31-14.
RB Quinshon Judkins had 61 rushing yards in his NFL debut, including a 31-yard run on the Browns last possession. WR Jerry Jeudy led the Browns in receiving with 51 yards, catching four passes. LB Devin Bush led the Browns in tackles with eight and added a sack. DE Myles Garrett had 1.5 sacks and five tackles on Sunday.
Key Moments
Joe Flacco's return to Baltimore
QB Joe Flacco made his return to Baltimore for the first time since leaving the Ravens following the 2018 season. He finished the game with 199 passing yards, a touchdown and an interception.
Flacco on third-and-4 in the third quarter tried to fit a pass into a tight window to TE David Njoku and Ravens CB Nate Wiggins picked off the pass. The Ravens converted on the interception, scoring a touchdown to make the score 20-3.
On their next possession, Flacco led an 11-play, 71-yard drive to score the Browns' first touchdown of the game. On the first play of the drive, Flacco connected with TE Harold Fannin Jr. for a 20-yard gain. Then, needing a third-down conversion during the drive at the Baltimore 33-yard line, Flacco scrambled for eight yards and picked up the first down. Following Flacco's scramble, the Browns ran three plays that were unable to pick up the first down, leading to a fourth-and-3.
On fourth down, Flacco aimed for the right front corner of the end zone. The pass deflected off Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey and WR Cedric Tillman managed to turn his body around and get his knees down to secure the ball in the end zone for a touchdown The touchdown brought the Browns within 10 points of the Ravens, trailing 20-10 in the third quarter.
Flacco's day ended late in the fourth quarter as QB Dillon Gabriel played quarterback for the final Browns possession. He completed all three passes he attempted for 20 yards, connecting with RB Dylan Sampson for an 8-yard touchdown with less than two minutes left in the game.
Ravens take advantage of field position
The Ravens took advantage of starting deep within Browns territory, scoring two touchdowns from within 25 yards of the end zone.
Early in the second quarter, Ravens LB Jake Hummel blocked P Corey Bojorquez's punt, which the Ravens recovered at the Browns' 24-yard line. Baltimore then took two plays to reach the end zone, starting with an 8-yard run from RB Derrick Henry. Then QB Lamar Jackson connected with WR Tylan Wallace for a 15-yard touchdown to extend the Ravens' lead to 10-0.
Wiggins' interception and 61-yard return early in the third quarter set up the Ravens at the Browns' 5-yard line. The Browns' defense held the Ravens out of the end zone initially, holding the Ravens to a combined three yards on three plays. On fourth-and-2, Jackson found WR Devontez Walker in the back of the end zone for a score, giving the Ravens a 20-3 lead.
Stopping RB Derrick Henry
The Browns' defense held Henry to 23 yards on 11 carries, his lowest rushing output since Dec. 17, 2023. Henry had three rushes of more than five yards, his longest being eight yards, but he also had three runs for a loss of yardage. Henry averaged 2.1 yards per carry.
Rookie DT Mason Graham split two blockers on Henry's second rush of the game and tackled him in the backfield for a 4-yard loss. Henry's longest run of the game was an 8-yard run, but CB Cameron Mitchell punched the ball out of his hands, which Baltimore recovered Henry's fumble.
Game Highlights
Cameron Thomas and Myles Garrett combined to sack Lamar Jackson on first down
Quinshon Judkins gets a 6-yard gain on the run and picks up the first down
Myles Garrett takes down Lamar Jackson for his second sack of the game
Joe Flacco breaks off an 8-yard scramble
Scoring Plays
BAL 3, CLE 0 | Tyler Loop 43-yard field goal is good | 3:06 1Q
BAL 10, CLE 0 | Lamar Jackson 15-yard pass to Tylan Wallace | 11:13 2Q
BAL 10, CLE 3 | Andre Szmyt 38-yard field goal is good | 0:29 2Q
BAL 13, CLE 3 | Tyler Loop 32-yard field goal is good | 12:26 3Q
BAL 20, CLE 3 | Lamar Jackson 2-yard pass to Devontez Walker | 10:09 3Q
BAL 20, CLE 10 | Joe Flacco 18-yard pass to Cedric Tillman | 5:02 3Q
BAL 27, CLE 10 | Lamar Jackson 24-yard pass to Devontez Walker | 13:26 4Q
BAL 34, CLE 10 | Roquan Smith returns fumble for 63 yards | 8:19 4Q
BAL 41, CLE 10 | Lamar Jackson 23-yard pass to DeAndre Hopkins | 4:43 4Q
BAL 41, CLE 17 | Dillon Gabriel 8-yard pass to Dylan Sampson | 1:50 4Q
What's Next
After losing to the Ravens on the road in Baltimore, the Browns have their second home game of the season on Sept. 21 against the Packers at 1 p.m. in Cleveland.
