Baltimore Blitzkrieg! Ravens 34, Browns 3

Photo: Cleveland.com/Tracy Boulian

Well, Browns fans, what else did you expect?

I expected the Browns to struggle to move the ball offensively against the lock-down Baltimore defense (especially without RB Jamal Lewis), I anticipated some turnovers to be forced by Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and company, and I even prepared myself for the Ravens' offense being able to move the ball at will against the Cleveland defense, but somehow it was even more painful than I had envisioned.

Second-year QB Joe Flacco threw for almost 350 yards, Willis McGahee and Ray Rice combined for over 100 yards and 3 scores, and the Browns turned the ball over four times. Throw in a reborn quarterback controversy, and it sums up the embarrassment that every Browns fan felt on Sunday afternoon as the Browns toppled to 0-3 and 32nd in my personal ballot for the Bloguin Power Rankings to be released Tuesday.

What went wrong? Let's start with what didn't.

Jerome Gets The Call - With Jamal Lewis out of action today with a bad hamstring, Jerome Harrison got the start and the majority of the touches at running back. Harrison has always been one of those players that you wanted to see more of, and Romeo Crennel always refused to let us see a more defined role for Harrison in the Browns' offense. Today, Harrison got 21 touches and wound up with 85 total yards (over 4 yards a touch). Harrison's best play was most likely a 17-yard run he broke off at the start of the second quarter. From where I sit, Harrison showed flashes of play-making ability, which is at an all-time low with this squad. Therefore, maybe the Browns would benefit from a few more carries for Harrison and a few less for their aging, banged up, 1,000 yard rusher.

Paging Mr. Cundiff - On two days notice, Billy Cundiff didn't do anything wrong in relief of lone standby Brown Phil Dawson, so that puts him ahead of many on the roster. His 29-yard field goal in the third quarter was the longest gap in between made field goals for a kicker since the 1950s. Congratulations, Billy! You can have a laugh about that one when you're sitting at home next week or the week after thinking about moonlighting for the worst team in the league.