Baltimore-based AP Gus Edwards gave Baltimore a double-digit lead in the second half with two touchdowns in his much anticipated comeback.
This season, those haven’t exactly been secure for the Ravens, but this time they held on.

Thanks to a two egregious Cleveland penalties that helped the Ravens defeat the Browns 23-20 on Sunday, Baltimore escaped another fourth-quarter meltdown. Baltimore outrushed Nick Chubb and Cleveland 160 to 113 to maintain its lead in the AFC North against Cincinnati.

“We were kind of back in the lead. What will take place? Coach John Harbaugh of Baltimore stated. “Pay attention to what you need to do in the play, not the occasion and environment. Situations don’t actually matter. The play call and performing your job are what matter.

In the second half of each of its three losses this season, Baltimore (4-3) has given up a double-digit lead. With 11:24 left, Justin Tucker kicked a 55-yard field goal to give the Ravens a 23-13 lead. However, the Browns soon answered with a 2-yard touchdown run by Kareem Hunt to make it a three-point game. With 3:12 left to play, Cleveland received the ball at its own 16 after Baltimore’s Justice Hill fumbled.

Before an offensive pass interference ruling nullified a touchdown pass to Amari Cooper, who seemed to use his arm to fend off CB Marcus Peters, the Browns had advanced to the Baltimore 34. Cleveland still managed to get back into position to attempt a long field goal, but Cade York was forced to attempt it from 60 after a false start just before the snap.

Malik Harrison’s was blocked try was made with 1:59 left, and the Ravens were able to use up the most of the remaining time.

Harrison, who claimed the kick struck him in the face, added, “I almost had one when I was in high school, but this is my first one.

Before the false start call, the officials engaged in a lengthy debate that clearly had a significant impact because it put the field goal away when an offside flag would have brought it closer.

In this league, there is not much room for error, according to Browns quarterback Jacoby Brissett. Even when you play well, sometimes you still don’t get the outcomes you want, but that doesn’t mean our approach to work should alter.

Cleveland (2-5) has dropped four straight games. 16 carries for 91 yards by Chubb.

Since Baltimore’s playoff loss to Buffalo on January 16, 2021, Edwards has not participated in a game that mattered. Due to a serious knee injury, he missed every game of the previous season as well as the first six of this one.

Sunday, he gained 66 yards on the ground and scored on runs of 7 and 1. In the third quarter, the latter came on a fourth-down play , bringing the score to 20-10.

Edwards stated, “I’m even lucky to be playing right now with the type of injuries I had. ACL, hamstring, and LCL were involved.

The Ravens were down 10-3 after one quarter for the first time this season, other than the fourth. Late in the second, when Lamar Jackson directed a 10-play, 80-yard drive, and Edwards’ first touchdown put Baltimore up 13-10 at the break, their offense appeared to find its footing.

In the third quarter, Brissett fumbled, giving the Ravens possession at the Cleveland 25; Edwards then scored again to end the drive.

The Ravens didn’t score first in this game for the first time all season, and it was also the first time they let up any points on an opponent’s opening possession. Cleveland gained 75 yards in 11 plays after the opening kickoff before Chubb’s 2-yard run gave them the lead.

After trading field goals, Baltimore opted for another to make it 10-6 even after a punt return had put the ball in Cleveland’s territory.

Both teams struggled to complete passes, and the Browns tight end David Njoku was forced to leave the game with an ankle injury despite having a team-high seven receptions for 71 yards. Jackson only passed for 120 yards while taking three sacks. Brissett completed 22 of 27 passes for 258 yards, but he also fumbled once and was sacked five times.

Kevin Stefanski, the coach of the Cleveland Browns, remarked, “You’ve got to take the ball away, you can’t give it away.” “Playing clean football, all the little things, all that stuff.”

INJURIES

The lengthy backfield injury saga for Baltimore gains another chapter with Edwards’ comeback. Due to knee problems, he and J.K. Dobbins missed the entire previous season. Dobbins has made a comeback this year but is currently on injured reserve. Following a hamstring injury, Justice Hill was able to run for 26 yards on Sunday. Pharaoh Brown, a Browns tight end, was also checked for a concussion, while Jacob Phillips, an LB, had a shoulder injury.

CAMPAIGN HONOR

On the tenth anniversary of that 2012 season, the Ravens paid tribute to their most recent Super Bowl winning team. Numerous members of that squad, including Hall of Famer Ray Lewis, who performed his signature dance while taking the field, were present and presented prior to the game.

Backing up Ray Rice, whose career came to an end in 2014 after video of him hitting his fiancée in a hotel elevator leaked, was also present and received a warm reception from the audience.

NEXT UP

On October 31, the Browns will host the Cincinnati Bengals in a Monday night game.
Visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday night as the Ravens.
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You can follow Noah Trister on Twitter at noahtrister.