A fourth-quarter fumble opened the window for the Cleveland Browns’ comeback win over the Ravens, who were knocked out of first place in the AFC North.
In a defensive battle, the Ravens only managed 235 total yards, including only 72 yards in the second half. The Browns were held to 237 but won the turnover battle, thanks to a clutch play by linebacker Carson Schwesinger to strip Derrick Henry. That did not lose them the game, as they still had multiple chances, but they couldn’t manage to move the ball when they needed to the most.
“I have to take care of the ball. (There are) no excuses for that. I have to be better, (and I can’t) put the team in harm’s way. I sound like a broken record with this, but I have to go back and work on it. I told the team I put this on me, and I just have to be better. I can’t put the team in that situation,” Henry said.
The Ravens offense struggled the entire game, but the Henry fumble gave Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson just enough field position to tie the game at 10. There was plenty of time left in the fourth quarter for the Ravens to put together a drive, but the offense would go three-and-out and give the Browns a chance to win the game.
The Browns were able to drive into field goal range but did the Ravens a favor by missing a 48-yard field goal to take the lead. Browns kicker Andre Szmyt had made 25 straight field goals prior to that miss. Ravens’ kicker Tyler Loop missed a 48-yarder of his own, which set up the Browns’ chance to win rather than tie. It wouldn’t matter, as the Ravens’ offense was nonexistent in the second half.
“You have chances to create more separation in the game with where the score was at. We weren’t able to do that really from our own self-inflicted things (such as) putting the ball on the ground, missing a kick (and) getting a penalty down in the low red (area). We look at that really as ourselves, allowing the game to end up that tight where, for a lot of it, we played well enough to be able to separate and potentially have more than a one-score lead at certain times in the second half,” Ravens’ head coach Jesse Minter said.
The missed field goal gave the Ravens plenty of time and good field position with just under four minutes left. The hope was for Tyler Huntley to come up with some fourth-quarter magic again, but instead, they went three-and-out for the second consecutive drive. They were forced to punt it back to the Browns with two minutes left, but the Browns would drive down the field to give Szmyt another chance at a game-winner.
“(I) just have to be ready for the next opportunity. Misses happen, (and) unfortunately I missed. I didn’t hit the ball the way I needed to. I wish I could have it back, but (I) have to be ready for the next one. That’s just the nature of the job. I like to have these guys back, because they have mine,” Loop said.
He ended up having two chances, as an offside penalty was called on the first kick, which was blocked. He nailed the second 37-yard field goal for the win as time expired, sending the Ravens home with a tough division loss. The issues for the offense were too much to overcome, as Huntley struggled with his accuracy and Henry could not break free.
He was limited to 58 yards rushing and was tackled in the backfield multiple times. Justice Hill did not have a carry after rushing for 70 yards last week, and no receiver had more than 66 yards. It was by far the worst game for the offense, and the absence of Lamar Jackson really cost them. The defense played well with five sacks but could not get a much-needed turnover.
The Ravens return home to M&T Bank Stadium after a two-week road trip to take on another AFC North opponent in the 3-2 Cincinnati Bengals. They had a bye week this week and now sit one game behind the rest of the division with three 4-2 teams.
READ MORE:Late fumble, lack of offense cost Ravens in tough division loss to Browns
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