CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns somehow keep finding ways to win football games. Sunday's 13-10 comeback victory over the Baltimore Ravens was another example, as Cleveland overcame another bad offensive start to score 13 unanswered points and take possession of first place in the AFC North.
The Browns are now 4-2, and all four victories have required fourth-quarter game-winning drives. That's an impressive accomplishment for a team that has struggled offensively, but it's also a reminder of how much Cleveland has relied on its defense to stay competitive.
Sunday's win provided plenty to celebrate, but there are still some serious concerns that need to be addressed. Here's the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from Cleveland's victory over Baltimore.
The Good: Cleveland's Defense
Where would the Browns be without this defense?
After allowing Baltimore to score 10 points on its first two possessions, Cleveland completely shut down the Ravens for the remainder of the game. The Browns held Baltimore scoreless for the final three quarters, giving the offense plenty of opportunities to mount a comeback.
The Ravens finished with just 235 total yards, while running back Derrick Henry was limited to 58 yards on 17 carries. Quarterback Tyler Huntley threw for 165 yards, and Baltimore never managed to build on its early lead.
Carson Schwesinger was outstanding, leading Cleveland with 13 tackles and forcing a fourth-quarter fumble by Henry that Tyson Campbell recovered. The turnover gave the Browns the opportunity they needed, and Audric Estime, who just arrived in town last week, eventually scored the tying touchdown.
The defense has been the foundation of Cleveland's surprising start to the season. It has repeatedly kept the Browns in games long enough for the offense to find a way to win, and Sunday's performance might have been its best example yet.
The Bad: Pass Protection
Deshaun Watson was under pressure throughout much of Sunday's game, with Baltimore recording five sacks and repeatedly creating havoc for Cleveland's passing attack.
The Ravens were particularly effective early, recording four quarterback hits in the first quarter alone. They finished the first half with three sacks and five quarterback hits, leaving Watson little time to settle into the pocket, or do anything else.
Cleveland's offensive line eventually provided enough protection for Watson to make several big-time throws, including his 33-yard completion to Jerry Jeudy on the game-winning drive. But those late plays don't erase the problems that plagued the offense for much of the afternoon.
Watson finished with 164 passing yards, and while the Browns found a way to win, allowing five sacks isn't a formula they can continue relying on.
If Cleveland wants to remain atop the AFC North, protecting its quarterback needs to improve.
The Ugly: The First-Half Offense
Seven yards.
That's all the Browns managed in the entire first quarter Sunday. Seven yards of total offense in 15 minutes of football, while Baltimore was building a 10-0 lead.
And things didn't improve much in the second quarter. Cleveland finished the first half with just 46 total yards and three first downs, with all five of its possessions ending in punts.
The Browns couldn't sustain drives, struggled to run the football, and repeatedly sent their defense back onto the field. They converted just one of six third-down opportunities in the first half and never seriously threatened to score.
The offense finally showed some life in the second half, beginning with Andre Szmyt's 48-yard field goal in the third quarter. Estime's two-yard touchdown run tied the game in the fourth, and Watson did enough on the final possession to set up Szmyt's winning 37-yard field goal as time expired.
The comeback was exciting, but Cleveland can't keep depending on its defense to erase two quarters of offensive futility.
The Browns have shown they know how to finish games. Now they need to figure out how to start them. And I swear I've written that before. Maybe last week. Maybe every week. No matter, it still needs fixing.
What's Next
Cleveland travels to Tennessee on Sunday, October 25, to face a Titans team coming off its first victory of the season, a 26-20 road win over Indianapolis. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.
