Baltimore Ravens Defeat Cleveland Browns, 20-14

The Baltimore Ravens did just enough to hold off a Cleveland Browns comeback effort in the second half.  The Browns, who were terrible all afternoon, began to bounce back in the second half.  

The fourth quarter more importantly.

An untimely offside penalty by Browns rookie defensive lineman Phil Taylor on fourth and two with two minutes remaining ended up being the defining play that sunk the Browns comeback ship.

Taylor, however, should not shoulder the blame for this loss.  The Browns came out flat on offense and defense in the first half and dug themselves into a 20-0 deficit by third quarter.

Josh Cribbs sparked the offense with an 82 yard punt return touchdown, his first of the 2011 season.

The real defining moment came in the waning seconds of the first half.  Rookie head coach Pat Shurmur again proved his inexperience and mismanaged the clock.  He burned his two final timeouts with about a minute remaining before  the half.

Then, with 20 seconds to go, he called a running play to the right side of his offensive line.

I know what  you're thinking: Tony Pashos and Shawn Lauvao play on that side.  Why would he do that, especially because the Browns had no timeouts remaining?

Whether he didn't know how many timeouts he had remaining or whether he though the Browns would score from six yards out are two different stories.

Either way he lost the game and a lot more support right there.

His fourth down decision to go for it, after wasting all three of the Browns timeouts, will go down as the last stand of an embattled coach.  Shurmur was outclassed by a much more professional and seasoned staff on this day.

Seneca Wallace, playing in the absence of Colt McCoy, again showed some positive strides.  He completed some key passes downfield with good velocity and pinpoint accuracy.  His shortcomings however proved to be the defeat of the Cleveland Browns and he may have again justified why he has remained a career backup QB in the NFL.

An interception in Ravens territory and a short pass during a crucial point of the game will be all people remember Wallace for in this one.  It all comes down to the pressure he had and his ability to stand strong in the pocket with that pressure encompassing him.

He couldn't and the Browns could just not get it done again.

They fall just short of a Christmas miracle comeback to the playoff bound Baltimore Ravens by a score of 20-14.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a brighter 2012.

Final score: Cleveland Browns 14, Baltimore Ravens 20