The Cleveland Browns could conceivably win the AFC North Division this year before this game began. No, really. Going into this weekend’s game, it would take some help, well, make that a lot of help. But
being just three games back in the division makes it realistic with eight games remaining.
It all started with defeating the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore has had lots of problems itself this season. But lately, they have re-found their groove and got back to winning. So, this being a divisional contest means the world to the Browns.
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And the Browns actually had the lead over Baltimore going into the fourth quarter, but just could not finish. In the end, the Ravens swept the series with a 23-16 victory.
Several things became very clear after this game: DE Myles Garrett should be the leading candidate for Defensive Player of the Year, rookie LB Carson Schwesinger should be a lock for Rookie Defensive Player of the Year, QB Shedeur Sanders is not a hybrid Michael Vick/Tom Brady as some projected/assumed, and the oddsmakers should be laying down their over/under for Cleveland to get the top draft choice in next year’s NFL draft.
So who played well for the Browns? Who didn’t?
BROWNIES
EDGE Myles Garrett – What a game for our Cleveland elite. With his four sacks, he got some help, but he still got credit for each one. Garrett was also dependable against the run and had several good stops. With his first sack with 5:40 left in the opening period, Ravens QB Lamar Jackson rolled right at the Browns’ 10-yard line, but every option was covered. Meanwhile, LT Ronnie Stanley blocked down, which left RB Derrick Henry one-on-one with Garrett, who slung the talented back aside. Still looking into the end zone for anyone open, Garrett then splattered Jackson, which forced a fourth down.
His second sack was the play before the Devin Bush pick-six, so Baltimore was in a deep hole and needed to start throwing. With 5:50 left before the half, Garrett stuffed Henry on a first-and-goal for a loss. On a second-and-10 with the time winding down, Garrett had beaten Stanley to the outside and as DT Shelby Harris had forced Jackson to move to his left into the waiting arms of Garrett. Early in the second half, facing a third-and-two, again Jackson rolled right as Bush blitzed, who forced Jackson to stop his trajectory, then DT Mason Graham had a shot, but more importantly, made Jackson start to go in the opposite direction as Garrett was standing right there. He set a new NFL record as he became the first player to have six consecutive seasons with 12+ sacks. Finished with five tackles, four sacks, five QB hits, and five tackles for loss.
LB Carson Schwesinger – This kid was everywhere. Look at the hustle and diving effort when TE Mark Andrews took the fourth-and-one attempt to the house to seal the win. On the Ravens’ very first play, Jackson got introduced to Schwesinger to the tune of a one-yard loss.
Four minutes later, Henry received a dump-off pass only for the young linebacker to hit him for a short gain. Midway through the third stanza, Jackson hit Henry on a flare pass, and it was Schwesinger or the end zone, as he was tackled for a 7-yard gain instead. He got the interception on the very next play after Shedeur Sanders threw a pick. Nailed Henry for a one-yard loss at Cleveland’s 26-yard line with 5:52 left in the game and then again with 3:05 remaining. Only Browns’ defender to have double-digit tackles with 11.
K Andre Szmyt – Converted all three field goal attempts: 30, 24, and a 46-yarder into the wind. Was 1-1 on PATs and had excellent kickoff placement. Scored 10 of 16 points.
LB Devin Bush – His pick-six was a thing of beauty as he was determined to get into the end zone, which gave Cleveland control of the game until the offense quit scoring points. Stopped RB Keaton Mitchell halfway in the third quarter on a second-and-goal from the three-yard line. Had four tackles.
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FROWNIES
QB Shedeur Sanders – On his interception with 4:37 left in Quarter 3, the Browns had a third-and-10 on their own 17-yard line, Sanders dropped back as the Ravens ran a stunt. LB Kyle Van Noy looped around and had a clear shot at Sanders, who hurriedly tossed it downfield. He either overthrew WR Malchi Corley or he sent it off-target towards WR Jerry Jeudy.
Either way, it found CB Nate Wiggins instead at the Browns’ 16-yard line. Earlier, he had a fumble that luckily was recovered by RG Wyatt Teller. When Sanders came into the game, the Browns were leading 16-10. His offensive drives: punt, interception, punt, punt, punt, turnover on downs. With 4:24 left in the third quarter, Sanders threw it right to S Kyle Hamilton who dropped it. He did have a nice scramble on a third-and-three late in the third quarter. But overall, he was 2-7 on third-down conversions. Overthrew a wide-open WR Isaiah Bond with 1:11 left in the game at Baltimore’s 25-yard line. Two more incompletions, and the game was over. Scored zero points. All game long, the Cleveland offense was steady, just not dynamic. When Sanders came under center, the offense just stopped working. Meanwhile, Baltimore’s offense inched its way on the scoreboard.
His one good ball was to TE Harold Fannin for 25 yards with 2:23 left in the game. Sanders finished going 4-16 for 47 yards, a 2.9-yard average per completion, zero TDs, one pick, one fumble, sacked twice, three rushes for 16 yards, and a QB rating of 13.5. Oh, and zero points scored.
S Ronnie Hickman – On a third-and-four halfway through the third quarter, Hickman played too far off TE Mark Andrews, who made an easy conversion for 10 yards.
With 1:02 left in the third quarter, Henry took the handoff into the four-gap, to which Hickman came up to meet him and took a bad angle, then had to dive at him high instead. Henry gained 59 yards to Cleveland’s nine-yard line. Two plays later on a third-and-goal, Hickman dropped a pass thrown right towards him in the end zone. The Ravens then converted for three points. When Jackson found WR Zay Flowers all alone with 6:32 left in the third quarter, Hickman had the angle on him, but got turned around at the 20-yard line, to which Flowers then ran all the way down to the three-yard line with a great diving tackle by CB Denzel Ward, which saved a touchdown. Hickman was late in coverage of WR DeAndre Hopkins, who gained 10 yards with 3:21 left in the game. On the fourth-and-one play in which TE Mark Andrews ran 35 yards downfield? The Browns had nine on the line and two players back. On the snap, both Jackson and Henry ran to their left while Andrews looped around to the right. Hickman immediately followed Henry and Jackson while Andrews took off with a single safety man in sight.
Lack of tight end production – What happened? Rookie Harold Fannin had just five targets and two receptions for 26 yards. David Njoku had two targets and one catch. Blake Whiteheart had zero stats. Why aren’t the tight ends being used? Both the starters have great hands and are good after the catch.
Lack of receiver production – It’s like this offense doesn’t even realize they have Jerry Jeudy on the roster. Three receptions for 21 yards? Really? The offense gets the height advantage back with Ced Tillman, and he has just four targets? Three catches for 52 yards? One throw to the rookie Bond? Wasn’t he supposed to be this hidden gem that we ended up with? Corley caught both targets for what? Nine yards? In all, Cleveland receivers had 73 yards. Combined.
Lack of offensive production – While the Browns’ defense was scoring points, Cleveland’s offense never found the end zone. It’s not like they didn’t get down inside the Red Zone. They did, but went 0-2. Yeah, just two trips inside the Ravens’ 20. 10 first downs for the game. Five fewer minutes of possession. 187 total yards. 2.8 yards average per completion. The quarterback was sacked three times. A holding call on a key first down conversion. After going for it on a fourth-and-one and converting, it was all for naught after being called for an illegal formation. Had leads of 13-3 and 16-10 late in the game.
Fourth-and-one touchdown – WTFreak? For one, why were every single Browns defender up at the line of scrimmage? Yes, all 11 players. For another, how does a slow tight end ramble 35 yards on a fourth-and-one yard attempt, trying to get just one yard for a first down? At the snap, both Henry and Jackson flared out to their left and four Browns defenders followed. Follow where safety man Hickman ended up. For the 2025 Ravens season highlight video, this play will become the very first shown. An embarrassment to the entire Cleveland franchise. And, at home.
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Milk Bones – Praying for you Bernie Kosar
P Corey Bojorquez – Because the Cleveland offense could not complete drives, Bojo bailed them with six punts for 49.5 average, including one that should have been left alone and downed at the one.
S Chris Edmonds – Why in the world did Edmonds even touch the Bojo punt at the goal line? It was barely moving after an excellent swat by S Donovan McMillion. If he had just left it alone, it would have died a natural death at the six-inch line. You saw how TE Blake Whiteheart got out of the way and left the ball alone.
S Donovan McMillon – Excellent ball swat as he was diving into the end zone, and knocked the ball perfectly out into the field of play. There aren’t any drills to teach players this in practice, so his timing was perfect, plus he had great awareness of where his feet were when he dove after the ball. Too bad his efforts were ruined. What a great tackle on the kickoff after the Ravens scored their first points on a field goal.
RB Jerome Ford – When a running back is left in the backfield, he has one job: protect the QB. On a third-and-eight with 10:54 left in the third quarter, S Kyle Hamilton blitzed and had Ford one-on-one. Only Ford whiffed and Hamilton was able to sack Sanders,, who then fumbled, but the Browns kept possession. One carry for two yards and zero receptions.
