CLEVELAND — For much of Sunday afternoon, the Cleveland Browns looked like a team headed for another frustrating loss. Instead, they walked off the field in first place in the AFC North after Andre Szmyt connected on a game-winning field goal as time expired, completing a stunning 13-10 comeback victory over the Baltimore Ravens.
Cleveland trailed 10-0 at halftime and had done virtually nothing offensively through the first two quarters. But the Browns' defense refused to give Baltimore anything more, holding the Ravens scoreless for the final three quarters while the offense slowly worked its way back into the game.
The victory moves Cleveland to 4-2, tied with Baltimore but holding the head-to-head tiebreaker for first place in the division. This Browns team reminds me of their MLB counterpart, the Guardians. Good pitching/defense keeps them in the game and timely offense allows them to win.
A Miserable, Yet Typical Start
Baltimore dominated the opening quarter, marching down the field on its first possession before backup quarterback Tyler Huntley connected with Josh Cuevas for a two-yard touchdown. Tyler Loop added a 34-yard field goal later in the quarter to give the Ravens a 10-0 lead.
The Browns struggled to establish any offensive rhythm in the first half. Deshaun Watson faced pressure from Baltimore's defense, and Cleveland was unable to sustain drives or threaten the end zone.
Fortunately for the Browns, their defense settled down after Baltimore's early success. The Ravens never scored again, giving Cleveland a chance to mount a comeback.
Cleveland Fights Back
The Browns finally got on the scoreboard in the third quarter when Szmyt connected on a 48-yard field goal, cutting Baltimore's lead to 10-3.
Cleveland completed its comeback in the fourth quarter, taking advantage of a fumble by Derrick Henry to set up a two-yard touchdown run by Audric Estime. Szmyt's extra point tied the game at 10-10 with 8:33 remaining.
The Browns still had work to do. After struggling to move the football for much of the afternoon, Cleveland needed one more scoring drive to complete the comeback.
Watson and the offense managed to put Szmyt in position for the winning kick, and the Browns' kicker delivered with no time on the clock.
Defense Makes the Difference
Although the offense scored only 13 points, Cleveland's defense deserves much of the credit for the comeback. After surrendering 10 points in the opening quarter, the Browns shut down Baltimore's offense for the remainder of the game.
The Ravens finished with 235 total yards, including 165 passing yards from Huntley. Derrick Henry managed 58 rushing yards on 17 carries, and Cleveland prevented Baltimore from building on its early lead.
Watson completed 16 of 26 passes for 164 yards, while Jerry Jeudy led Cleveland's receivers with four catches for 69 yards. The Browns finished with 237 total yards, barely outgaining Baltimore in a game dominated by defense.
Estime's touchdown was especially big for a Cleveland team playing without starting running back Quinshon Judkins. The recently signed Estime provided the Browns with their only touchdown of the afternoon, while Jaleel McLaughlin helped carry the rushing workload.
What's Next
The Browns improve to 4-2 and take possession of first place in the AFC North, holding the head-to-head tiebreaker over Baltimore. After losing a frustrating game to the New York Jets last week, Cleveland responded with one of its biggest victories of the season.
Cleveland will travel to Tennessee next Sunday to face the Titans who just won their first game of the year on the road versus the Colts. The Browns have plenty of work to do offensively, but Sunday's comeback puts them atop the AFC North after six games.
