Ravens erase 20-0 deficit, beat Browns for 2-0 start
CLEVELAND – The Baltimore Ravens fought back from a 20-0 deficit Sunday to beat the Cleveland Browns, 25-20, and remain undefeated.
The Browns fell to 0-2 in their home opener.
Justin Tucker put the Ravens ahead, 22-20, on a 49-yard field goal with 11:19 to play after Browns kicker Patrick Murray missed a 52-yard field goal. Tucker added a 41-yard field goal with 2:53 left.
The Browns had a chance to win on their final possession, but a pass from quarterback Josh McCown was intercepted by Ravens linebacker C.J. Mosely at the goal line with 13 seconds to play.
The Browns jumped to a 20-0 lead a little more than 10 minutes into the first quarter.
McCown, starting at quarterback because Robert Griffin III suffered a broken bone in his left shoulder in the opener, got things going with a nine-play, 75-yard opening drive. He completed two third-down passes along the way and then finished it off with a 31-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Corey Coleman.
The Browns needed only one play the next time they had the ball to take a two-touchdown lead. Running back Isaiah Crowell shot through a hole at left guard and sprinted 85 yards to the end zone. Crowell had 18 carries for 133 yards.
McCown hooked up again with Coleman to give the Browns a three-touchdown lead on first-and-10 from the 11, but the Ravens blocked the PAT attempt. Ravens cornerback Tavon Young scooped up the ball and returned it 63 yards for two Baltimore points. Momentum started swinging toward the Ravens.
The Browns got a scare when McCown suffered a left shoulder injury during their scoring explosion. He went to the locker room to be examined but returned and did not miss a snap.
The Ravens added 10 points in the second quarter to cut their halftime deficit to 20-12. Wide receiver Mike Wallace caught a seven-yard score from Joe Flacco with 1:15 left in the first half and then Tucker kicked a 52-yard field goal on the final play off the half. Flacco was able to shake off two Joe Haden interceptions and two sacks to finish 25 of 45 for 302 yards and two touchdowns.
The Tucker field goal was set up by an interception made by Ravens safety Eric Weddle. McCown slammed his helmet on the ground in disgust for throwing the pick once he got to the Browns sideline.
The Ravens kept rolling when the third quarter began. They moved 75 yards in six plays and finished it off with a 17-yard pass from Flacco to Wallace.
Instead of going for two points and the tie, Ravens coach John Harbaugh chose to go for one. Tucker made the kick to slice the Browns edge to 20-19.
NOTES: DE John Hughes, who began training camp as a starter, was a healthy inactive for the Browns on Sunday. … The first two catches of the game for Browns rookie WR Corey Coleman resulted in touchdowns. … Ravens outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil was inactive with a foot injury. Albert McClellan replaced him as a starter. Dumervil also missed Week 1. … Alex Lewis started at left guard for the Ravens in place of John Urschel. Urschel has a shoulder injury.