Ravens use big 3rd quarter to keep Browns
winless 28-10
The Baltimore Ravens were struggling to score, and then Derek
Anderson came to the rescue.
Unfortunately for the Cleveland Browns, Anderson is their quarterback.
Baltimore turned two of Anderson’s interceptions into a pair of touchdowns
during a 50-second span of the third quarter, and the Ravens further damaged an
already agonizing season for the Browns with a 28-10 victory Sunday.
Ed Reed returned one of the interceptions 32 yards for a score, and Le’Ron
McClain scored his first two NFL touchdowns on a pair of 1-yard runs—both during
a 21-point third quarter that enabled Baltimore (2-0) to turn a 10-7 halftime
deficit into an 18-point lead.
“I knew it was just a question of when,” said Baltimore linebacker Terrell
Suggs, referring to the big plays by the defense.
Anderson had another trying day in an effort to generate some offense for
Cleveland, which was picked by many to be a contender in the AFC North. Anderson
went 14-for-37 for 125 yards, was sacked five times and threw three
interceptions...more
Scoring Summary
CLE - BAL
1st Quarter
NONE
0 - 0
2nd Quarter
14:52
CLE
TD
Derek Anderson passed to Jerome
Harrison to the right for 19 yard gain (Phil Dawson
made PAT)
7 - 0
6:40
BAL
TD
Willis McGahee rushed to the left
for 5 yard gain (Matt Stover made PAT)
7 - 7
1:04
CLE
FG
Phil Dawson kicked a 38-yard field
goal
10 - 7
3rd Quarter
11:13
BAL
TD
Le'Ron McClain rushed to the left
for 1 yard gain (Matt Stover made PAT)
10 - 14
10:23
BAL
TD
Ed Reed intercepted Derek Anderson
for 32 yards (Matt Stover made PAT)
10 - 21
4:49
BAL
TD
Le'Ron McClain rushed up the middle
for 1 yard gain (Matt Stover made PAT)
10 - 28
4th Quarter
NONE
10 - 28
Team Statistics
CLE
BAL
First Downs
11
21
Passing
7
7
Rushing
3
13
Penalty
1
1
Third Down
Efficiency
3-13
3-11
Fourth Down
Efficiency
0-0
2-3
TOTAL NET YARDS
169
273
Total Plays
57
64
Average Gain Per
Play
3.0
4.3
NET YARDS
RUSHING
73
151
Rushes
15
44
Average Per Rush
4.9
3.4
NET YARDS
PASSING
96
122
Completions-Attempts
14-37
13-19
Yards Per Pass
Play
2.3
6.1
Times Sacked
5
1
Yards Lost to
Sacks
29
7
Had Intercepted
3
2
PUNTS
7
3
Average Punt
43.0
48.7
PENALTIES
9
5
Penalty Yards
65
40
FUMBLES
1
1
Fumbles Lost
0
0
TIME OF
POSSESSION
22:12
37:48
Pregame Previews, Storylines,
and News
New Page 1
Preview:
With Hurricane Ike
postponing their first
road game of the season,
the Baltimore Ravens got
an unexpected early bye
week after their
season-opening win.
The Cleveland Browns
look like they could use
a week off to regroup.
The Ravens will look for
their second division
victory while trying to
put the Browns in an
early 0-3 hole when the
AFC North rivals square
off Sunday afternoon at
M&T Bank Stadium.
Baltimore (1-0) lost
nine of its final 10
games last season and
was breaking in a rookie
quarterback to start
2008. Joe Flacco,
though, had a
respectable NFL debut as
he went 15-for-29 for
129 yards with no
interceptions while
running for a 38-yard
touchdown, and the
Ravens defense led the
way to a 17-10 win over
Cincinnati on Sept. 7...more
Inside the Game Plans:
Notable:
BROWNS: There
have been two constants with the Browns since training camp began --
losing games and losing players to injury.
They are 0-2 in the regular season heading into their game against
the Ravens Sunday in M&T Bank Stadium. Including the preseason, they are
0-6.
The latest addition to an injury list that began to fill on the first
day of OTAs is right defensive end Robaire Smith. Smith suffered a
ruptured left Achilles tendon against the Steelers and is out for the
season. He was put on injured reserve Tuesday...FULL
STORY
RAVENS: The
Cleveland Browns are one of 10 teams who have started the season at 0-2.
But the Ravens (1-0), who play the Browns on Sunday at M&T Bank
Stadium, aren't overlooking their downtrodden AFC North rival.
"They faced one team that's picked to come out of the NFC with a
great defense (the Dallas Cowboys), and they faced another team that
(was) the defending AFC North champion (the Pittsburgh Steelers),"
linebacker Terrell Suggs said. "I think they ran up against some good
teams and came up with the short end of the stick. Just because they're
0-2, they're not to be taken lightly."...FULL
STORY
The Browns held the
Steelers offense to just 10 points last Sunday night, but only scored
six points of their own and fell to 0-2 for the second time in the last
three campaigns (also in 2006).
In its last five games, dating to 2007,
Cleveland is averaging just 11.6 points and allowing opponents a meager
12.8 per contest.
Baltimore had its Week 2 game in
Houston cancelled and rescheduled for November 9 (the Ravens' original
bye week). The Ravens are 7-5 all-time after having a week off
24.8
19.7