Browns vs. Ravens: Postgame Grades, Notes and Quotes for Baltimore

For the second week in a row, the Baltimore Ravens were in an AFC North clash, this one being against the Cleveland Browns. 

As has been the case with every Ravens game this season, it was a back-and-forth affair that saw both teams have chances to win the game. 

Joe Flacco led the way for the Ravens, scoring two first-half touchdowns to give Baltimore a 14-9 lead going into halftime. One came on a one-yard bootleg run at the goal line on Baltimore's second possession. 

The second score would come on an eight-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Juszczyk to give the Ravens a 14-3 lead as the first quarter ended. 

The Browns mustered up enough offense to get two second-quarter field goals from Travis Coons to keep within striking distance going into the second half. It was a decent job by Baltimore's defense bending but not breaking and keeping Cleveland out of the end zone. 

However, that would not be in the case coming out of the halftime break as the defense had another second-half collapse. It came from the usual suspect. The secondary began giving up big play after big play through busted assignments, poor tackling and simply losing the one-on-one battles. 

That helped Cleveland go on a 21-9 run in the second half and overtime before winning at the gun with a 32-yard field goal from Coons for a 33-30 Browns win.

This after Baltimore scored on a Flacco quarterback sneak in the third quarter to give the Ravens a 21-9 lead and seemingly complete control of the game at home. But the Browns offense, specifically quarterback Josh McCown, could not be stopped once they got going.

McCown finished the game with a career-high 457 passing yards to go with two touchdowns while rushing for another score. This is a career journeyman who was almost benched this season in favor of Johnny Manziel, and Baltimore's defense made him look like an All-Pro passer.

The Ravens offense made this a game as both teams traded the lead three times in the fourth quarter before Justin Tucker hit a 23-yard field goal to send the game into overtime. 

From there, Baltimore's offense was forced to punt after going three-and-out while failing to gain any yards. Cleveland took the ensuing possession and marched right down the field before Coons kicked the game-winning 32-yard field goal to send Baltimore to a 1-4 record. 

Postgame Grades for Ravens

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Position	Grade
QB	B
RB	B+
WR	B-
TE	C-
OL	B
DL	C
LB	C
DB	F
Special Teams	B
Coaching	C+

This was an all-around good game by the offense, especially considering who they were playing without. Without starters Steve Smith Sr. and Crockett Gillmore, the offense still managed to put up 30 points in regulation through a balanced attack. 

Quarterback Joe Flacco had a good game with 210 passing yards and one touchdown to go with two scores on the ground. He helped lead the Ravens up and down the field throughout the game, but couldn't get them going in overtime when they needed it most.

The ground game had another great day as Baltimore running backs combined for 179 yards against the Browns. Justin Forsett was the big performer with 121 yards and a score on the ground.

He almost willed the Ravens to a win in the fourth quarter, gaining 55 total yards on Baltimore's final possession in regulation. It was enough to get them in position for a chip-shot field goal to tie the game and send it into overtime. 

The Ravens got some unexpected production from several pass-catchers, the biggest being fullback Kyle Juszczyk. He caught three passes for 31 yards and a score. 

Backup rookie tight end Nick Boyle chipped in three catches for 27 yards. Starter Maxx Williams really disappointed, though, with one catch for zero yards. He can't seem to find his way in this offseason after Baltimore spent a second-round pick on him in hopes he'd become the No. 1 tight end. 

Kamar Aiken did well with his four catches for 78 yards, but he was the only wide receiver to catch more than two passes. That position has been decimated with injuries, so you can't blame the group for not doing much in this one

As for the defense, it was an unmitigated disaster. They did well in the first half, limiting the Browns to just three field goals and helping Baltimore take a 21-9 lead in the second half.

But in the third quarter this unit collapsed in epic fashion. The defensive line stopped getting push and keeping Browns backs from gaining big yards on the ground.

The linebackers couldn't get any pressure on Josh McCown. The secondary couldn't defend anyone, whether it was Travis Benjamin, Gary Barnidge or Taylor Gabriel.

McCown was hitting those guys for big play after big play as Cleveland's offense could not be stopped, scoring 24 of the game's final 33 points. This is yet another loss that can be pinned mostly on the defense and defensive coordinator Dean Pees.

He's having to work with an unfortunate amount of injuries, but that's no excuse to allow McCown to throw for 457 yards and look like a Hall-of-Fame quarterback. 

Important Note No. 1: Darren Waller, Elvis Dumervil Injured

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The Ravens were hit with two potentially serious injuries during this game, the biggest of which being to star pass-rusher Elvis Dumervil. 

Dumervil was forced from the game with a groin injury in the first half. It would be devastating to this defense if he's out for any significant amount of time after Baltimore already lost Terell Suggs in Week 1.

That would mean the Ravens would be without their top two pass-rushers and best defensive players for as long as Dumervil is out. Those two accounted for 29 sacks last season and losing that kind of production would cripple any defense like it did Sunday. 

The Ravens also lost rookie wide receiver Darren Waller to a concussion. He suffered it in the first half after a big hit from Browns safety Donte Whitner. 

This would leave an already-depleted receiver position even thinner for as long as he's out.  

Important Note No. 2: Javorius Allen Emerges

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The Ravens haven't been getting much production from their running backs outside of the last two weeks' big games from Justin Forsett. That changed this week thanks to rookie backup Javorius 'Buck' Allen.

After the Ravens spent a fourth-round pick on Allen in the 2015 NFL Draft, many thought Allen could bring an new dimension to the Ravens offense. He's a speedier, elusive back who can make big plays outside of the tackles, whereas Forsett does most of his damage between the tackles. 

That was the case against the Browns as Allen broke off a 44-yard run down the sideline in the third quarter to put Baltimore in the red zone. 

Allen would finish the game with 58 yards rushing after gaining just 66 yards in his first four games combined. He and Forsett looked like a great thunder-and-lightning combo that almost carried Baltimore to a win. 

Important Note No. 3: Kyle Juszczyk Steps Up

Nick Wass/Associated Press

The Ravens desperately needed another pass-catcher to step up this week with so many key offensive weapons injured. Steve Smith Sr., Breshad Perriman and Crockett Gillmore all were inactive for this game, but Baltimore got some unexpected production from their starting fullback. 

Kyle Juszczyk made several big plays in this game that led to touchdowns for the Ravens. His first came on an eight-yard scoring pass from Joe Flacco in the first quarter to give Baltimore a 14-3 lead. 

Juszczyk's second big play came in the third quarter when his 15-yard catch put Baltimore at the goal line. From there, Flacco would sneak it in to give the Ravens a commanding 21-9 lead. 

When you're as depleted at offensive skill positions as Baltimore is, those kind of plays are huge. He also has been paving the way for the ground game as Baltimore has rushed for 372 yards over the past two games. 

John Harbaugh Not Worn Down by Taxing Season

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

This has been the most challenging season of John Harbaugh's career as a head coach. 

Before this season, Harbaugh had guided his Ravens teams to winning records and playoff berths in six of seven seasons. His one miss was an 8-8 season that saw Baltimore have a chance to clinch a playoff berth in the final week of the regular season.

Needless to say, Harbaugh's teams have always been competitive and never experienced a losing season. He's certainly on pace to experience it now with Baltimore sitting at 1-4 and little relief in sight and so many players hurt. 

This kind of adversity can wear a coach down, but that's not the case with Harbaugh, as he told Ryan Mink of BaltimoreRavens.com. 

"It doesn't wear me down," Harbaugh said. "I don't get worn down. That will not happen."

Harbaugh also stressed confidence that he and his team will overcome this and get back on track. 

"It's not going to be a matter of how we handle this adversity of being 1-4; we'll handle it," Harbaugh said. "And we'll compete, and we'll fight, and we'll practice, and we'll prepare. We'll put the best football team out there that we can, and we'll expect to win the next time we play."

It's good to hear Harbaugh so definitive and confident in his belief the Ravens will overcome their 1-4 start. It's been done before, but with the road ahead it will be extremely difficult for this team to accomplish. 

Joe Flacco Confident This Team Can Get Back on Track

Don Wright/Associated Press

Joe Flacco has never been 1-4 in his NFL career, but he's used to overcoming slow starts.

Since becoming the Ravens' full-time starting quarterback in 2008, Flacco had been part of Ravens teams that started 2-3, 3-3 and 3-5. Those weren't nearly as hard to overcome as this 1-4 start will be, but Flacco isn't losing faith in his team.

Flacco admitted it won't be easy to overcome a 1-4 start, but he believes he has the teammates capable of making it happen, as he told Ryan Mink of BaltimoreRavens.com. 

"It's not going to be easy, but there are no better guys for it than the guys in that locker room," Flacco said.

Flacco is right to believe this team can overcome this start. After all, every Ravens loss has been by six points or less. All of them also saw Baltimore have the ball with a chance to win the game near the end of the fourth quarter or in overtime. 

If this Ravens team can find a way to finish games, there's no question they're capable of going on several small winning streaks this seasons in order to climb out of this hole. 

It will be up to Flacco t to help keep this team together if that is to happen.