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After the Ravens escaped Cleveland with a 23-16 win and improved to 5-5, Baltimore’s famed former linebacker Terrell Suggs posted what everyone was thinking. “In traditional Ravens fashion,” he wrote on X, Sunday’s win gave fans “multiple heart attacks.” Here are five things we learned: The Ravens (barely) exorcised their demons in Cleveland For some reason, Cleveland — no matter how unimpressive the home football team — becomes the Bermuda Triangle when the Ravens are in town. Or the island in “Lost,” where mysterious anomalies are the norm. Weird stuff happens when the Ravens go play the Browns in Ohio (remember last year when Jameis Winston snapped a five-game win streak?). Much of Sunday was an ugly, comedy of errors on both sides. Lamar Jackson threw a pair of interceptions — one ricocheted off Keaton Mitchell’s hands for a pick-6 and the other, which doinked off an offensive lineman’s helmet, came one play after a Nate Wiggins interception. Myles Garrett sacked Jackson four times. There was a Ravens special teams muffed punt and an offsides infraction on punt team. One Browns rookie quarterback earned boos, completed the longest pass of his young career (26 yards) and later exited early for a concussion. His replacement was the highly anticipated Shedeur Sanders, who was met by cheers, sacked on his first drive and threw an interception on his second. Field goals in heavy wind and a trick play ultimately settled the score. “You need games like this during the season,” running back Derrick Henry said. “This is kind of like a playoff-style game.” Playoff style in the way that postseason games can be unpredictable, decided by one unexpected call or a gusty defensive stand. If nothing else, it tested the Ravens’ resolve. They found a way to win and swept the season series for the first time since 2020. Last year’s loss in Cleveland is a landmark reference point for the type of game the Ravens tend to let slip at least once per season. These Ravens dug themselves too deep of a hole to allow those issues to fester. Two bad-luck picks and special teams mistakes couldn’t fully weigh them down against the overmatched Browns. Nor could a delay-of-game penalty against Kyle Hamilton for kicking the ball in frustration after dropping an easy interception. Even he couldn’t help but remember the last time the Ravens played in Cleveland and he let slip the potential game-winner, joking, “I can’t seem to catch a pick in Cleveland for some reason.” Todd Monken is having fun with “tush push” variations The list of people wearing the Ravens logo on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays who have taken heat for their 1-5 start and some of the shaky football that has persisted along this four-game win streak is long. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s name is right there near the top of any list. His group, which was historically dominant in 2023 and 2024, entered Sunday ranked 27th both in fourth-down conversions (42.86%) and red-zone scoring (50%). In seven games, Jackson has been sacked 23 times, which is how many times he was brought down all of last year. Harbaugh has been openly critical of their shortcomings. Monken, too, knows those metrics are “unacceptable.” Sunday evening, CBS cameras found him up in the booth at Huntington Bank Field. Monken, having just watched Mark Andrews break off the decisive 35-yard touchdown run from a trick play, casually sipped his water. Nobody would have blamed him if he swapped it out for whiskey and a cigar. “Hurricane” was the fourth-and-1 call. Harbaugh said there was talk on the headset of the faux tush push if they needed a short-yardage conversion. Jackson said they liked the way it looked in practice earlier in the week. Henry wouldn’t reveal much other than it “got repped to perfection.” Andrews, whose heroics overshadowed his own franchise record-breaking afternoon, lined up under center like he was preparing for a teammate to shove his derrière. Then he spun out to his right. A block from fullback Patrick Ricard opened the lane to a first down. “I trust Pat with my life,” Andrews said later. And tight end Charlie Kolar chipped Cleveland’s Carson Schwesinger enough to create a lane for Andrews to barrel through an opening and accelerate to 20.09 miles per hours. Kolar applauded his coaches for the play call after seeing the way Cleveland bunched up near the interior. “It was a great play,” he said. Monken didn’t so much as crack a grin. He sipped his water watching the Ravens — who finished 5-for-13 on third downs — convert the one play they really needed to. He pulled out the stops with some similar trickery in Minnesota. This one saved the day in Cleveland, even if there are lingering questions about the afternoon’s broader body of work. Defensive stands mask special teams mistakes At one point Sunday afternoon, Harbaugh doubled over. Hands on his knees. Head buried into his own chest. The longtime coach who got his start in special teams meeting rooms and has made the game’s third phase a priority in Baltimore had just watched two gaffes nearly cost them. Harbaugh looked like he wanted to vomit. LaJohntay Wester, the rookie returner with blazing wheels for feet, muffed a punt inside the 10-yard line. That handed Cleveland a free pass six yards from pay dirt. Three plays later, the Browns were right where they started thanks to an impressive goal line stand from the Ravens defense which seems to have become the norm lately. Related Articles Josh Tolentino: The Ravens won ugly, and that’s OK | COMMENTARY Mike Preston: Ravens bully bad quarterbacks. More are coming. | COMMENTARY The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 23-16 win over Browns Shedeur Sanders struggles in NFL debut against Ravens: ‘Rough overall’ Ravens’ Mark Andrews shares name for fake ‘tush push’ play vs. Browns A field goal gave the Browns a 6-3 lead when they should have held a 10-3 advantage. The Browns were gifted a shot at redemption later in that same wacky second quarter. On fourth-and-4, lined up to punt the ball downfield, Jake Hummel goofed. It was another uncharacteristic move from another special teamer who has been a pleasant surprise for these confounding Ravens. Hummel jumped offsides, awarding the Browns a first down near midfield. The home team was in field goal range two plays later. Baltimore again walled up, part of what Hamilton called a “complete product” from the defense, and held the Browns to three points rather than seven. Another instance where the Ravens went down a manageable 16-10 rather than 21-10, on the verge of collapse. “We got thrown into some sticky situations,” Hamilton said. “It doesn’t matter what the situation is in the game, if there’s a blade of grass to defend, we’re going to defend it.” That they did. The Browns finished with 187 yards of total offense. They had 14 third-down tries and converted only two. The Ravens hit Cleveland’s quarterbacks 10 times and brought them to the ground thrice. There were nine pass deflections, six tackles for loss and Wiggins’ third interception of the year. “Didn’t give Shedeur Sanders a chance to breathe really at all,” Harbaugh said. Even when the Browns were forced to switch quarterbacks to the rookie making his NFL debut, linebacker Roquan Smith gathered his teammates to manage emotions. “You want to go out there and just kill,” he told them, according to pass rusher Dre’Mont Jones. They’ve come a long way from the immature group of earlier this year. Browns wide receiver Gage Larvadain and Ravens cornerback Chidobe Awuzie reach for a pass during the second half of Baltimore's narrow win. The Ravens limited the Browns' two rookie quarterbacks to 11-for-26 passing in the victory. (David Richard/AP) Chidobe Awuzie was the cornerback signing the Ravens needed The Ravens brought in two cornerbacks this offseason in an effort to fortify their secondary. One flew under the radar and one made headlines any time he did anything. They quietly signed veteran Chidobe Awuzie in March — meaning there wasn’t much fanfare for a veteran who missed a chunk of last season because of injury and didn’t bring a recognizable name from Tennessee. He was rugged and reliable without a Pro Bowl selection. Then in June, the Ravens loudly signed Jaire Alexander. Jackson had sway in that move, publicly admitting he told general manager Eric DeCosta to “go get” his former college teammate. Alexander was once one of the NFL’s premiere cornerbacks when healthy. The former first-round pick brought two Pro Bowl nods and an infectious energy that left a noticeable imprint on the dog days of training camp. Awuzie and Alexander were inextricably tied together. But Orr downplayed there being competition between the two, explaining that he believed both would play starting reps. And in August, the overwhelming majority saw the job as Alexander’s to lose. Three months later, one has unfortunately stepped away from football to focus on his health after a midseason trade swept him out of Baltimore. The other made a game-saving play in the end zone to hang onto an ugly win in Cleveland and maintain the Ravens’ credibility as a postseason candidate. “How about ‘Chido’s play?” Harbaugh asked proudly. On third-and-5, Sanders eyed the end zone to potentially tie the game in its final two minutes. The ball landed in Gage Larvadain’s hands. For a moment, it felt like every other blown lead setting up a disappointing loss that leaves Ravens fans reeling on social media and in group chats. This one would’ve been particularly gutting if it was one of the NFL’s worst offenses delivering the death knell to Baltimore’s win streak. Awuzie ripped it loose with the back of his forearm, one of three pass deflections. The ball fell to the ground and the game was over a play later. He won’t get the flowers that Andrews does. But in the same way he arrived in Baltimore, Awuzie’s contributions have been quietly overshadowed. Ravens cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, shown before Sunday's win over the Browns, has been one of the NFL's best in coverage this season when healthy. (Kirk Irwin/AP) Since returning from a hamstring injury that sidelined him in Week 4 through the bye week, Awuzie has been Baltimore’s best defensive back in coverage, according to Pro Football Focus. He grades out as the NFL’s fourth best cornerback in coverage among qualified players. “I’ve been real pleased with him,” Orr said last week. “When we first got him way back in the spring, you could see on film, he was a very smart football player, but when you get in a classroom with him, when you get in these walkthroughs with him, and you get on the practice field with him, he understands route concepts. He understands leverages. “What he’s done is he’s helped teach the young corners understand spacing and route concepts and how they can play certain routes. He’s been doing a great job for us this whole year.” Nowhere has that been more clear than the front corner of the end zone Sunday afternoon in Cleveland. Ravens’ heads are ‘just above water’ No matter how ugly the win, the Ravens reached a crucial benchmark. They crawled all the way back to .500. The 1-5 Ravens are behind them. They’re now 5-5, maintaining pace with the Steelers in an arms race for the AFC North staring down a schedule loaded up on crucial divisional games. How does it feel to have made it this far? “It’s better than 1-5, I’ll tell you that,” Henry said. Jackson was asked about the level of belief maintained in the locker room over the past four weeks. Was there always this much confidence? Did doubt ever creep in about the long road ahead? The quarterback offered this season’s overused platitude: “We were trying to be 2-5 at the time, or 3-5.” It worked, now perfect since the bye week. Having beat the Browns improves Baltimore’s playoff odds to 79%, according to The New York Times’ Playoff Simulator. A win next week against the Jets would lift them to B- range. Like any playoff race, they’ll need a hand from another team. In this case, anyone else on Pittsburgh’s schedule. The Bengals fells short Sunday. Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is reportedly believed to have a “slight break” in his non-throwing wrist. The Steelers come to town in early December. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is plotting his return. They’re not out of it if he can play. These are all things to consider in the long term. But as Jackson affirmed, they’re not thinking that way. “We’re 5-5,” Harbaugh said. “Our heads are just above water. We’re breathing. We’re not even out of the water.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, right. attempts to escape the grasp of Browns cornerback Denzel Ward in the first half of Baltimore's 23-16 victory. Flowers led the Ravens with 78 receiving yards. (Sue Ogrocki/AP) View the full article

CLEVELAND — The wind howled, the temperature plunged, and the Ravens walked straight into another afternoon of self-inflicted chaos alongside Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland. Sunday’s divisional contest featuring the Ravens and Browns had all the makings of a traditional AFC North slugfest. Quarterback Lamar Jackson was intercepted twice for the first time in two years. Safety Kyle Hamilton was penalized after kicking a football out of frustration. Rookie LaJohntay Wester gift-wrapped points for Cleveland with his muffed punt return. And the Ravens won anyway. It was a bumpy, twisty roller coaster, but the Ravens willed themselves to a fourth straight victory, grinding out a come-from-behind 23-16 win that pulled Baltimore back to .500 at Huntington Bank Stadium. Sunday was a maddening, emotional viewing experience for everyone involved, including Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta, who was seated alongside other team personnel from the second row of Cleveland’s press box, located several hundred feet above the visitors’ sideline. On a gloomy day when the offense looked stuck, the Ravens muscled through their mistakes and leaned on grit to drag themselves out of an ever-important divisional game to sweep the Browns for the first time since 2020. “By no means is this the end,” coach John Harbaugh said. “We’re 5-5. Our heads are just above water. We’re just above water. We’re breathing. We’re not even out of the water. But what you saw out there was a tough, hard-fought game against a really good team.” Baltimore’s defense didn’t allow a single offensive touchdown, just the latest example of Zach Orr’s unit bandaging the season together while the offense continued to find its way. Browns rookie quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders combined to complete just 11 of 26 passes for 115 yards with zero touchdowns and one interception. Offensively, Lamar Jackson looked pedestrian against Cleveland’s second-ranked defense. He completed 14 of 25 passes for 193 yards with zero touchdowns and two interceptions. He only rushed four times for 10 yards, while Jackson’s 47.6 passer rating was his lowest since Nov. 28, 2021. Over 53 games during that span, he hadn’t posted a rating in the 40s until Sunday. Still, Baltimore survived. “We can fight through adversity,” Jackson said. “This is divisional game, so we know type of game it’ll be. I guess not with the turnovers and stuff like that, but we knew it was going to be a dog fight. … You just have to keep a clear mind. I wouldn’t say frustration, but you’re kind of ticked off because our defense just put us in a great spot, and then for us to turn the ball back over. We can’t have that.” Related Articles Mike Preston: Ravens bully bad quarterbacks. More are coming. | COMMENTARY The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 23-16 win over Browns Shedeur Sanders struggles in NFL debut against Ravens: ‘Rough overall’ Ravens’ Mark Andrews shares name for fake ‘tush push’ play vs. Browns Ravens use surprise play to rally and beat Browns, 23-16, for 4th straight win As much as the offense sputtered, coordinator Todd Monken dialed up his best play call for the game’s most critical moment. Monken’s decision to roll out Mark Andrews on a fake tush push resulted in the go-ahead touchdown score. Following hours of frustration, that single moment of creativity finally sent the visitors’ sideline exploding like a jack-in-the-box children’s toy that finally sprung open. “We knew we won the game after that,” cornerback Nate Wiggins said. Earlier in the season, I hammered the team on their lack of accountability. Once 1-5, the Ravens have rattled off four straight victories, including three on the road, all while displaying their grit and maturation in multiple departments. Baltimore displayed several examples of improved accountability amid the postgame celebration in the visitors’ locker room. Wiggins, already dressed and headed toward the exit once the mandatory “cooling” period concluded, was asked by a team staffer to stay and speak with reporters. The second-year defensive back didn’t complain and returned to the room to discuss the team’s latest victory. Meanwhile, Wester willingly addressed his costly mistake, vowing to remember in the future how much impact he carries with each punt he fields. On the heels of one of his worst performances in several years, Jackson also approached tailback Keaton Mitchell to talk through his incompletion and tipped-ball interception. Those might be small interactions on the surface, but for a team that struggled with accountability earlier this year, the Ravens continue to progress in that department, among others. Ravens running back Derrick Henry, middle, walks off the field Sunday night after beating the Browns in Cleveland. Henry ran for 103 yards in the victory. (Kirk Irwin/AP) Baltimore still trails Pittsburgh by a game in the division, but the Ravens are now halfway to the 10-win mark, widely viewed as the AFC’s playoff entry point. Speaking of the Steelers, the Ravens play their rivals twice over the season’s final five weeks. Their first meeting on Dec. 7 at M&T Bank Stadium is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated games of the year, and Pittsburgh could be without quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who reportedly suffered a broken left wrist in their win over the Bengals. The Ravens might not be winning with style points or full four-quarter performances yet, but they’ve established an important sense of momentum as they enter the final third of the regular season. “We hope that one day — one of these games — the defense is going to go play lights-out, offense is going to play lights-out,” Hamilton said. “But it’s not guaranteed in this league, and it rarely happens. … It doesn’t matter what the situation is in the game, if there’s a blade of grass to defend, we’re going to defend it.” DeCosta, as he always does, joined the team in the visitors’ locker room for Harbaugh’s postgame speech. Before the general manager departed, he found Jackson — still in full pads — and pulled him in for a quick embrace near his stall. It was a brief exchange between the two pillars of a team that keeps dragging itself forward. Sunday wasn’t pretty, but it was progress. It’s OK for the surging Ravens to celebrate that. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. View the full article

CLEVELAND — Now, all those doomsayers who were complaining about the Ravens playing five playoff contenders from 2024 at the beginning of season aren’t critical anymore. The Ravens have now won four straight and are only one game behind the Pittsburgh Steelers for first place in the AFC North. They didn’t get any style points by beating Cleveland, 23-16, on Sunday, but those will come later. That will come in late December or early January, but now it’s about staying in contention and within striking distance of the division leader as the schedule keeps getting weaker. The Browns used two rookie quarterbacks Sunday. The first was Dillon Gabriel, a third-round draft pick out of Oregon, and the other was Shedeur Sanders, the fifth-round selection from Colorado whose father Deion was possibly the best cornerback who ever played in the NFL. Gabriel started the first half, but Sanders played the second after Gabriel failed to clear the NFL’s concussion protocol after taking a hit near the end of the second quarter. Now, if you thought the Ravens were getting a break Sunday, it gets even easier next week when they play the New York Jets at home followed by the Cincinnati Bengals. Oh, and the Ravens still get to face the Steelers twice. Now, that’s either being exceedingly lucky or having the football gods look down and smile all over them. Earlier this season, the Ravens started off 1-5, having suffered major losses to Buffalo, Kansas City, Houston, Detroit and the Los Angeles Rams. And next week the Ravens get to face Jets quarterback Justin Fields, who has a backup named Tyrod Taylor. On Thanksgiving night, the Bengals might start 40-year old Joe Flacco or possibly return star Joe Burrow, who is attempting to rebound from a turf toe injury suffered in Week 2. Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers might have suffered a left wrist injury in the Steelers 34-12 win over the Bengals on Sunday, and will be further evaluated Monday. No one wishes bad luck or injuries on other players, but the Ravens are having good fortunes. When they were struggling at the beginning of the season, they had nine players they shuffled in and out of the starting lineups because of injuries, including to quarterback Lamar Jackson, middle linebacker Roquan Smith and left tackle Ronnie Stanley. On Sunday, the Ravens were full of glee. They faced Gabriel, who was making his fifth straight start, and then Sanders, who was playing in his first regular-season game. And the Ravens didn’t care. They never blinked. They harassed Gabriel for most of the first half, and then stepped up the different looks with an assortment of blitzes and five-man rushes on Sanders in the second. Poor Sanders. He looked frazzled, even lost at times. The Ravens finished with three sacks and hurried both Gabriel and Sanders 10 other times. The Jets won’t be much better. Fields was a first-round pick, the 11th player chosen overall in the 2021 draft who played in Chicaho and Pittsburgh before moving to the Jets this season. His backup, Taylor, has more mileage than Air Force One, having played in Baltimore, Buffalo, Cleveland, and Houston in addition to time with the Los Angeles Chargers and both the New York Giants and Jets. Related Articles Josh Tolentino: The Ravens won ugly, and that’s OK | COMMENTARY The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 23-16 win over Browns Shedeur Sanders struggles in NFL debut against Ravens: ‘Rough overall’ Ravens’ Mark Andrews shares name for fake ‘tush push’ play vs. Browns Ravens use surprise play to rally and beat Browns, 23-16, for 4th straight win As for Burrow, I really don’t understand why the Bengals would rush him back. After losing to Pittsburgh, they have no shot at making the playoffs. Why now? And then there are the Steelers. They were a source of intrigue at the beginning of the season, but there were always questions about if the 41-year old Rodgers could hold up, especially with Pittsburgh’s offensive line. It all seems to be falling in line. At the beginning of the season, we all wondered what happened to the Ravens. Even though they had a lot of injuries, they didn’t seem to play as hard. But after Sunday, no one can complain anymore about the injuries and the tough schedule. It appears the Ravens can’t get enough of the inexperienced quarterbacks such as J.J. McCarthy, Gabriel and Sanders. Load them up and bring them on. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

CLEVELAND — Here’s how the Ravens graded out at every position in their 23-16 win over the Browns: Quarterback Lamar Jackson had a very inconsistent game, maybe his worst in several seasons. He often threw high or behind receivers and was indecisive in the pocket. There were times when he had no touch on the ball, as he finished 14 of 25 passing for 193 yards and had a passer rating of 47.6. He also threw two interceptions, one of which wasn’t his fault. But overall, not a great day for Jackson. This offense needs him to at least perform up to par to have a strong game. Grade: C- Running backs Derrick Henry finished with 103 yards on 18 carries, including a long of 59 yards, but you got the impression that if he didn’t score, the Ravens would have to settle for field goals. Henry was stopped several times on runs inside the 10-yard line, and he certainly doesn’t appear as fast or as fluid as he did a year ago. The Ravens used running back Keaton Mitchell more on running plays and tosses to the outside, and he had six carries for 31 yards. But he has to hang on to the pass that bounced off his hands and resulted in an interception that was returned for a touchdown. Grade: C+ Offensive line The Ravens and the Browns are very much alike. Neither team has a very good offensive line and both can get dominated by athletic defensive lines. The Browns dominated the Ravens with sheer speed as defensive end Myles Garrett had four sacks by himself, and the Browns finished with five. Baltimore was effective, as well as selective, on runs outside the red zone, but the Ravens couldn’t get movement inside the 20-yard line. Jackson was hit on seven other occasions. Grade: C- Receivers Tight end Mark Andrews had the play of the game with his fake “tush push” and run around the right side that sealed the win. The Ravens, though, need to get slot receiver Zay Flowers more involved in the offense because he is such an integral part. He had three catches for 78 yards, including a long of 45. Andrews had three catches for 32 yards, but his 35-yard run with 2:31 left handed Baltimore the win. Grade: C Defensive line The Ravens allowed 106 rushing yards on 25 carries, including 59 to rookie running back Quinshon Judkins, who averaged 3.5 yards per carry. Overall, the Ravens allowed 187 yards of total offense, but that was to a Cleveland team playing two rookie quarterbacks in Shedeur Sanders and starter Dillon Gabriel, who left in the second half because of a concussion. But Cleveland, after most of the first half, had no offense in the final two quarters. A lot of that was because Baltimore dominated up front with John Jenkins, Travis Jones, Brent Urban and even fellow tackle C.J. Okoye. The Ravens got a lot of pressure up the gut as they collected 10 quarterback hurries. Grade: B+ Linebackers The best surprise for the Ravens is that inside linebackers Roquan Smith and rookie Teddye Buchanan have improved in pass coverage. Both were solid in zones, and both came up and made ample tackles. Smith knocked down the fourth-down pass from Sanders to secure the win on Cleveland’s final offensive play. Smith had four tackles and Buchanan finished with three. Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy had one sack and provided two quarterback pressures. Baltimore brought a lot of pressure against Gabriel and even more on Sanders in the second half. Grade: B+ The Ravens' secondary had a strong performance against the Browns thanks to cornerback Nate Wiggins, left, and safety Kyle Hamilton. (David Richard/AP) Secondary Cornerback Nate Wiggins had Baltimore’s only interception, a misfire by Sanders in the second half, but the Ravens were in control for most of the game, keeping everything in front of them. As usual, safety Kyle Hamilton was the defense’s best player, finishing with nine tackles and one sack. He also had three tackles for loss and knocked down two passes. Fellow safety Alohi Gilman had six tackles, while cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and Wiggins combined for nine. The Ravens, though, need to correct their tackling early in games, especially rookie safety Malaki Starks, who needs to learn that he is the last line of defense and can’t allow opposing runners to get to the outside: Grade: B Related Articles Josh Tolentino: The Ravens won ugly, and that’s OK | COMMENTARY Mike Preston: Ravens bully bad quarterbacks. More are coming. | COMMENTARY Shedeur Sanders struggles in NFL debut against Ravens: ‘Rough overall’ Ravens’ Mark Andrews shares name for fake ‘tush push’ play vs. Browns Ravens use surprise play to rally and beat Browns, 23-16, for 4th straight win Special teams Tyler Loop is starting to become automatic with field goals. He hit a 25-yarder in the first quarter and added two more in the pivotal fourth, converting on attempts of 24 and 44 yards. Jordan Stout averaged 44 yards on four punts, including a long of 52 yards. He put two inside the 20-yard line. The Browns did very little on kickoff and punt returns, averaging 25 and 9 yards, respectively. Ravens rookie LaJohntay Wester muffed a punt that led to a Cleveland field goal early in the game and appeared to be confused on when to return punts. Grade: C Coaching As expected, this game was going to be tough because it was against an AFC North rival. The Ravens, though, are living dangerously, and this pace can’t continue even though they now have a .500 record. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken made a great call with the fake tush push to Andrews, but he has several playmakers, such as Flowers and Mitchell, that he can use more frequently. Hopefully, the Ravens can use them more to gain more balance. As for the defense, coordinator Zach Orr kept the pressure on the rookie quarterbacks just as he did a week ago against Minnesota’s J.J. McCarthy. He gave the Browns multiple looks and stayed after the Cleveland offense with an assortment of blitzes. Grade: B Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

The moment the entire NFL community held its collective breath and anticipated since April finally happened. Shedeur Sanders stepped in as the Browns’ quarterback. What many in Cleveland and around the league waited for turned into a deflating collapse: 13 unanswered Baltimore points, a 4-for-16 performance from Sanders and a potential game-winning drive from the rookie that faltered in Ravens territory. “I don’t think I played good,” Sanders said after the 23-16 loss. “I don’t think I played good at all.” Sanders entered on the Browns’ first drive of the second half with Cleveland leading 16-10 after starter Dillon Gabriel was ruled out with a concussion. With completions of 10 and 25 yards and a 5-yard scramble from Sanders, the Browns reached the Ravens’ 25-yard line with 1:02 remaining, attempting to tie the game with a touchdown. Sanders then went 0-for-3 on his final set of downs, overthrowing an open Isaiah Bond in the end zone and having his final attempt to tight end David Njoku broken up by linebacker Roquan Smith. The former Colorado star passed for 46 yards and added 16 rushing yards on three attempts. The Browns crossed midfield just once out of six drives in the second half. “Shedeur’s made unbelievable strides in the meeting room and on the field,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. “I know he wants to be better and will be better, but that will come from hard work.” Sanders opened his first drive with a 5-yard completion to Cedric Tillman, then found Njoku for 7 yards on second-and-15. But the rookie’s debut jitters showed soon after — safety Kyle Hamilton stripped him on a sack before a Browns lineman recovered the fumble. Hamilton flashed Sanders’ signature watch celebration after the play. Baltimore didn’t have to wait long for its takeaway. On the next series, cornerback Nate Wiggins jumped a ball intended for Jerry Jeudy and picked off Sanders. The rookie got the ball right back moments later, though, when Lamar Jackson threw an interception of his own. Sanders nearly handed it back again on the following drive, with Hamilton breaking on another pass and almost hauling in his second takeaway. The rookie settled in briefly, scrambling 5 yards to move the chains before Keyon Martin dropped him for a drive-ending sack. “We really didn’t give him a chance to breathe at all,” coach John Harbaugh said. “ thought the coverage was really good … Just tight coverage, batting balls and getting [pass breakups].” The Ravens planned to select the former Colorado quarterback in the fifth round with the 141st overall pick before Sanders said that he didn’t want to be on the roster that included a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player in Jackson, according to a September report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter citing anonymous league sources. Schefter noted Sanders’ concerns of not having a viable path to playing time. Three picks later, Cleveland selected Sanders with the 144th overall pick, two rounds after picking Gabriel, a former Oregon quarterback. Sanders declined to comment on the report when Cleveland visited Baltimore on Sept. 14. “My memory don’t even go back that far,” he said. “I don’t remember anything post draft.” Related Articles Josh Tolentino: The Ravens won ugly, and that’s OK | COMMENTARY Mike Preston: Ravens bully bad quarterbacks. More are coming. | COMMENTARY The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 23-16 win over Browns Ravens’ Mark Andrews shares name for fake ‘tush push’ play vs. Browns Ravens use surprise play to rally and beat Browns, 23-16, for 4th straight win But his father — NFL Hall of Famer and Colorado coach Deion Sanders — expanded on the topic that month on the “New Heights” podcast with Travis and Jason Kelce, arguing that sitting on the bench isn’t how quarterbacks develop in the NFL. “How in the world can somebody fault him for saying or thinking, ‘Why in the world would I go back up Lamar for 10 more years?’” Deion Sanders said. That moment could have come when Jackson sat out three games in October with a hamstring injury. Cooper Rush, signed in March to a two-year deal, started two of them — both losses — while the offense mustered just 13 combined points and he threw four interceptions. Tyler Huntley started the final game in Jackson’s absence, a 30-16 win over the Bears on Oct. 26, finishing with no turnovers and a passing touchdown. Stefanski acknowledged that Sunday was essentially Sanders’ first real work with the Browns’ starting offense. He confirmed that Sanders hadn’t taken first-team reps in practice, saying that those snaps had to stay with fellow rookie Gabriel. Joe Flacco opened the season as the Browns’ starter before being traded to the Cincinnati Bengals following Joe Burrow’s toe injury. Stefanski acknowledged that there’s naturally an adjustment when a rookie backup is thrown into a game cold, particularly against a defense like Baltimore’s. He added that Sanders will start if Gabriel remains in the concussion protocol, and that the staff would build a game plan around what Sanders is most comfortable with if that scenario plays out. “I think you seen it was just rough overall,” Sanders said. “I got to take this one, I got to decompress … I’m still the same confidence. I’m still me. I’ll never go anywhere.” Whether or not Sanders wanted to end up with the Ravens, it appears that he and his father might have had a point. The hyped and social-media-savvy quarterback might need more time to develop. Have a news tip? Contact Michael Howes at mhowes@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Mikephowes. View the full article

The Ravens could have drawn the ire of many fans for running the most hated play in football: the “tush push.” Instead, Baltimore faked the run for another — with tight end Mark Andrew scampering 35 yards for the Ravens’ go-ahead score with 2:31 remaining in the fourth. The rushing touchdown was the first of Andrews’ career and came on the day when the tight end passed Derrick Mason for the most receiving yards in franchise history. Andrews lined up under center on fourth-and-1, with Derrick Henry and Patrick Ricard to his left and right, respectively, and Lamar Jackson behind him — typical formation for the push. The 250-pound tight end then spun to his right with blocks from Ricard and Charlie Kolar. He then out-paced Carson Schwesinger to break the 16-16 tie. It was the first time Baltimore led since the first quarter. Shedeur Sanders and the Browns stalled at the Ravens’ 25-yard line on the ensuing drive, sealing Baltimore’s 23-16 win — the team’s fourth straight — and pushing the Ravens to 5-5. The tush push was nearly outlawed this past offseason, with a 22 to 10 vote by the league owners. Two more teams were needed to ban it, with the Ravens one of 10 that voted to keep the play honed by the Philadelphia Eagles. Andrews finished Sunday’s win with three catches for 32 yards, giving him a new franchise record with 5,806 career receiving yards. But his record-setting afternoon will be remembered for the trickery that sealed the game. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Michael Howes at mhowes@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Mikephowes. Related Articles Mark Andrews breaks Ravens franchise record for career receiving yards Ravens vs. Browns live updates: Mark Andrews gives Ravens 23-16 lead Ravens could be without one of their top defensive players vs. Browns Ravens’ Ar’Darius Washington eyeing return from torn Achilles ‘soon’ Ravens vs. Browns staff picks: Who will win Sunday in Cleveland? View the full article

CLEVELAND — Myles Garrett could only do so much for the flailing Browns, and it was nearly enough. Despite four sacks from the NFL’s leading terrorizer of quarterbacks, the Ravens survived the All-Pro’s onslaught Sunday at Huntington Bank Field. Just barely. All it took was a little razzle-dazzle. With the game tied at 16 with under three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and with Baltimore facing a fourth-and-1 from the Browns’ 35-yard line, tight end Mark Andrews lined up under center for an apparent “tush push” play he had executed several times before. Instead, he spun and raced around the right end and all the way to the end zone for a touchdown. The Ravens’ defense then held off quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who replaced fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel (concussion) at the start of the third quarter and held on for the 23-16 victory. Faced with a fourth-and-5 from the Ravens’ 25-yard line with just over a minute to play, Sanders’ pass fell incomplete, with linebacker Roquan Smith swatting the ball away on the sideline. Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie broke up a pass in the end zone one play earlier. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was held to just 14 of 25 passing for 193 yards with two interceptions and was sacked five times. Derrick Henry, meanwhile, racked up 103 yards on just 18 carries, but most of those came on a 59-yard run at the end of the third quarter that helped set up a short field goal by rookie Tyler Loop that pulled Baltimore within 16-13 before he added a 44-yard field goal one possession later. The win marks the first time Baltimore (5-5) has swept Cleveland (2-8) in a season since 2020. Unlike a Week 2 blowout in Baltimore, it wasn’t pretty — but it was effective enough. More importantly, the victory kept the Ravens within reach — just a game back — of the division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers, who beat the Cincinnati Bengals at home earlier in the day, with just seven weeks remaining in the regular season. Still, for much of the game, it looked as if the Browns might stun the Ravens for what would have been their fourth victory in the past five games between the two in Cleveland. Baltimore certainly gave them every opportunity. Much the way turnovers sparked the Ravens in their win over the Vikings in Minnesota last week, they nearly did the same for the Browns this week. With the score knotted at 3 early in the second quarter, the wind swirling and the ball fluttering through the blustery air like a knuckleball, Baltimore’s rookie punt returner LaJohntay Wester shuffled uncertainly and the ball clanged off his hands as he went sprawling to the ground. Cleveland recovered and four plays later inched ahead with a field goal. Then things went from bad to worse. On Baltimore’s first play of its ensuing possession, right tackle Roger Rosengarten was tossed to the ground like a rag doll by Garrett and Jackson was sacked for a 9-yard loss. Then, as Jackson attempted to dump a short pass off to Keaton Mitchell on the right, the ball ricocheted off the running back’s hands and into those of linebacker Devin Bush, who weaved 23 yards through a bevy of flailing would-be tacklers and into the end zone to suddenly give Cleveland a 13-3 lead. The Ravens bounced back with a six-play, 63-yard touchdown drive that was highlighted by a 45-yard completion to Zay Flowers and capped by a 1-yard touchdown run from Henry. Related Articles Mark Andrews breaks Ravens franchise record for career receiving yards Ravens vs. Browns live updates: Mark Andrews gives Ravens 23-16 lead Ravens could be without one of their top defensive players vs. Browns Ravens’ Ar’Darius Washington eyeing return from torn Achilles ‘soon’ Ravens vs. Browns staff picks: Who will win Sunday in Cleveland? But the mistakes continued to pile up. The Browns were headed for a three-and-out on their next possession, but linebacker Jake Hummel was offside, and the 5-yard penalty was enough for a first down and an injection of opportunity. Cleveland’s drive eventually stalled at Baltimore’s 28, but the Browns managed to score more points off another error with a 46-yard field goal. That was only the beginning. On their opening possession of the third quarter, the Ravens swiftly moved to the Browns’ 39-yard line. But a holding penalty on Henry wiped out a 7-yard completion to DeAndre Hopkins, then Jackson couldn’t connect with Zay Flowers (three catches for 78 yards) on third down. Rather than try a 55-yard field goal, Baltimore opted to go for it, but that plan was wiped out by a delay of game penalty and instead resulted in a punt. Three players later, Sanders, in for the concussed Gabriel, threw right to cornerback Nate Wiggins as if he were the intended target. But the celebration for his third interception of the season was short-lived. On the next play, Jackson’s pass intended for tight end Charlie Kolar bounced off Rosengarten’s helmet as he was shoved into the backfield. The ball shot into the sky and rookie linebacker Carson Schwesinger came down with it. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ 23-16 win over the Browns in Week 11 of the NFL season on Sunday at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland. Brian Wacker, reporter This felt like a game the Ravens were going to lose. Between Myles Garrett and the Browns’ pass rush terrorizing Lamar Jackson and a series of blundering errors by Baltimore, this had the makings of a disaster. But the Browns couldn’t muster much offense behind their two rookie quarterbacks and the Ravens have too many weapons to be held completely out of the end zone. Rookie kicker Tyler Loop also handled the swirling winds well and continued his strong first season. But the real pièce de résistance was the touchdown by Mark Andrews and the creativity behind it for what had become an often predictable offense. That will perhaps go a long way toward sparking a revival for what has been at best an inconsistent group. Mike Preston, columnist The Ravens didn’t earn any style points for this game and they didn’t deserve any. They pretty much played the Browns to a stalemate while playing against two rookie quarterbacks in Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Once Sanders replaced Gabriel to start the second half, it was only a matter of time before the Ravens pulled out a victory. Despite the Ravens trying to give the game away in the first half, if a team can’t score, it probably won’t win. It is just so logical, and the Ravens were fortunate to be playing one of the worst offenses in the NFL. It will get even worse when the Ravens play the New York Jets next Sunday followed by the Bengals on Thanksgiving Day. The Ravens got a nice block from fullback Patrick Ricard to spring tight end Mark Andrews of the team’s fake tush push play, but the Ravens have a lot of work to do. Also, Sanders is not the answer in Cleveland, not yet anyway. He needs some work. Josh Tolentino, columnist For much of Sunday afternoon, the Ravens beat themselves up in puzzling fashion. Cleveland’s defense posed a legitimate threat, but Baltimore’s offense sputtered time and time again, often flaming out in the red zone, a critical part of the field that has proven to be an immense challenge. Since the bye week, the Ravens have converted just half (9 for 18) of their red zone opportunities, including just 1 of 4 against Cleveland. If Baltimore is going to make a deep run, it’ll need to figure out the lingering blunders that continue to pop up inside the 20. Ultimately, the Ravens overcame a pair of interceptions from Lamar Jackson and several special teams gaffes to escape their house of horrors with their fourth-straight victory. In consecutive weeks, the Ravens have executed nifty trick plays off their Mark Andrews tush push call. On Sunday, it was Andrews who served as the hero as he took a handoff late in the fourth quarter, rolled out to his right and rumbled 35 yards to give the Ravens the go-ahead score. Sam Cohn, reporter If the Ravens were playing a competent football team, they would’ve been boat raced. They turned the ball over twice, Lamar Jackson failed to throw a touchdown and was sacked five times, special teams mistakes were costly, and the red zone offense was dismal. Tyler Loop’s boot and a stout defense against one of the worst offenses in the NFL seemed Baltimore’s only hope to reach .500. But shoutout Todd Monken, who has taken a lot of heat this season. It was warranted for most of Sunday’s win. But that third-down fake tush push call to Mark Andrews helps set all that aside for a moment. It was enough to win a weird game. The Ravens didn’t play like a playoff contender, but they made enough plays to keep their playoff window in view. C.J. Doon, editor CBS play-by-play announcer Andrew Catalon coined it the “Baltimore Breakout.” After all is said and done, that fake tush push by Mark Andrews will ultimately be how we remember this game. What a relief it must have been for offensive coordinator Todd Monken to see Andrews cross the goal line after the Ravens kept knocking on the door all afternoon but were forced to settle for field goals — and in one instance, no points at all after an uncharacteristic interception from Lamar Jackson. The Ravens’ continued struggles in the red zone are as head-scratching as they are frustrating for an offense that boasts this much talent. And until that heart-stopping final drive — which included an outstanding pass breakup by unheralded Chidobe Awuzie on what looked to be a potential game-winning touchdown pass from Shedeur Sanders — the Ravens’ defense kept Cleveland’s offense at a comfortable arm’s length. Baltimore is back to .500 after a 1-5 start. This one was ugly, but it still counts in the win column. That’s huge on a day the Steelers won (but lost Aaron Rodgers) to stay ahead in the AFC North race. Bennett Conlin, editor That’s a flush-the-tape game. The Ravens were disgusting Sunday, turning the ball over and struggling mightily on special teams. It was perhaps Baltimore’s sloppiest game of the season, and it nearly gave the game away to an inferior team. It doesn’t really matter, though. The Ravens won the game with a gritty finish, beating a division rival on the road. They’re 5-5 after a 1-5 start, and they play at home in their next three games. Baltimore shouldn’t spend much time on this performance, which felt uncharacteristic. Flush the tape and focus on beating the snot out of the Jets in a week. A win is a win, no matter how ugly. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

CLEVELAND — It didn’t take long for Mark Andrews to have an impact. Seven plays into his rookie season in 2018 and on a second-and-10 from the Buffalo Bills’ 31-yard line, the Ravens tight end ran downfield at M&T Bank Stadium, curled toward the middle and hauled in a play-action pass from Joe Flacco for an 11-yard gain. Andrews popped up, extended his right arm to signal first down and five plays later Baltimore scored a touchdown. The Ravens went on to crush the Bills, 47-3, with the third-round pick out of Oklahoma finishing with three catches on four targets for 31 yards. Sunday at Huntington Bank Field against the Browns, Andrews continued to etch his name into the team’s record book. With an 11-yard pass from Lamar Jackson on Baltimore’s opening possession of the first quarter, he set the franchise record for career receiving yards with 5,785 yards, breaking wide receiver Derrick Mason’s mark of 5,777. The grab was his 30th of the season for 255 yards. It was also just the latest stamp on a career that will one day perhaps lead to his being enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and certainly an induction into Baltimore’s ring of honor. Andrews already holds franchise records for career touchdowns (56) as well as catches (107) and receiving yards (1,361) in a season, which he set in 2021. He also needs just six more receptions to break Mason’s franchise mark of 471. Not that the eighth-year veteran was focused on that coming into the pivotal AFC North showdown with Baltimore a game back of the division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers and winners of three straight. “I’m not looking really too much into that,” Andrews said earlier this week, “but I’m just focusing on this game, executing at the highest level and continuing to grow from week to week. We’re excited about the challenge this week. “Obviously, I’ve been fortunate to have great teammates and be in a great division and be a part of a great organization. I’m just trying to feed off that and help make plays, and that’s been a part of it.” Mason set both marks over six seasons between 2005 and 2010 catching the bulk of his passes from Kyle Boller, Steve McNair and Flacco. No teammate has been more paramount to Andrews’ success than Jackson, a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player who also entered the NFL in 2018 and took over as the team’s starter almost eight years ago to the day Sunday, also in Week 11. Coming into this week, the two had played 101 games together. Andrews totaled 399 catches for 4,993 yards and 53 touchdowns during that span and has twice led the team in receiving for a season. Andrews was also named an All-Pro in 2021 and selected to the Pro Bowl the same year for the second of what has been three occasions, along with 2019 and 2022. Five times, he has finished a season with at least 55 catches and at least 673 yards and twice he has reached double digits in touchdowns, with 10 in 2019 and 11 last season. “There’s a lot of love between Lamar and I,” Andrews said. “and there’s this unwritten, unspoken type of connection that, from the second that we got here — and not really knowing each other — that’s always been there. But being able to play and grow and become men in the same last eight years together has been nothing short of special.” How much longer Jackson’s and Andrews’ partnership continues, however, remains to be seen. Andrews, 30, is due to be a free agent after this season. With ascending fourth-year tight ends Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar each in the final year of their rookie contracts, it’s unlikely that Baltimore will be able to retain all three. Related Articles Ravens vs. Browns live updates: Mark Andrews gives Ravens 23-16 lead Ravens could be without one of their top defensive players vs. Browns Ravens’ Ar’Darius Washington eyeing return from torn Achilles ‘soon’ Ravens vs. Browns staff picks: Who will win Sunday in Cleveland? Ravens vs. Browns scouting report for Week 11: Who has the edge? This season, Andrews came into the Browns game second on the team in catches and receiving yards. But his 8.4 yards per reception is the lowest mark of his tenure after averaging at least 11.6 yards per catch each of the previous seven seasons. He also has two or fewer catches in four games and last season infamously dropped a pass on a 2-point conversion in a crushing 29-27 divisional round loss to the Bills. But the chemistry between Andrews and Jackson will continue, at least for now, and the tight end’s contributions and big plays will be remembered long after his career in Baltimore ends, whenever that is. “Man, he’s kind of a gamer,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said a few weeks into Andrews’ career in 2018. “He kind of steps up and makes plays. I think that’s what we thought we had when we drafted him. He works very hard in practice, and to see that show up in the games is good. “He’s a very big plus for us.” And he’ll go down as one half of one of the greatest tight end-quarterback combinations to ever play. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

The Ravens outlasted the Browns, 23-16, on Sunday in Cleveland to improve to 5-5 on the season. Follow along here for live postgame coverage and analysis. View the full article

The Ravens could be without one of their top pass rushers for Sunday’s crucial AFC North showdown against the Browns in Cleveland. Outside linebacker Mike Green was listed as questionable Friday with an ankle injury. He suffered the injury during Thursday’s practice and was seen walking gingerly through the locker room each of the past two days, though he appeared to be moving better on Friday. If Green, who has 1 1/2 sacks over the past three games and has come on strong in recent weeks as both a pass rusher and edge defender against the run, can’t play, that would leave Baltimore a little thin at the position. The only other outside linebackers on the roster are veteran Kyle Van Noy and fourth-year player David Ojabo. The Ravens (4-5) also have recently acquired defensive end Dre’Mont Jones, who has the size to play on the interior of the defensive line but has also played on the edge. They also could look to elevate veteran outside linebacker Carl Lawson from the practice squad Saturday in what would be his first action for Baltimore since signing last month. Four players the Ravens definitely won’t have are running back Justice Hill (toe), wide receiver Rashod Bateman (ankle), cornerback Marlon Humphrey (finger) and linebacker Jay Higgins IV (knee), all of whom were officially ruled out Friday. Higgins could also be headed to injured reserve this week. With Bateman out, second-year receiver Devontez Walker should see an increased role, coach John Harbaugh said Friday. Humphrey’s absence likewise means an increase in snaps for cornerback Chidobe Awuzie. Quarterback Lamar Jackson, who missed Wednesday’s practice because of knee soreness, does not have an injury designation and will start Sunday as expected. Cleveland (2-7) will be without defensive end Alex Wight (quad). Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (oblique) is listed as questionable. Cornerback Denzel Ward missed Friday’s practice because of an illness, but is expected to play. The Ravens, who are a game back of the division leading Pittsburgh Steelers, are looking for their fourth straight win and their first season sweep of the Browns since 2020. They won the first matchup in Week 2 in Baltimore, 41-17. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Related Articles Ravens’ Ar’Darius Washington eyeing return from torn Achilles ‘soon’ Ravens vs. Browns staff picks: Who will win Sunday in Cleveland? Ravens vs. Browns scouting report for Week 11: Who has the edge? Inside how ‘positionless’ Kyle Hamilton, others spark Ravens defense Josh Tolentino: Ravens can’t be complacent in AFC North race | COMMENTARY View the full article

Ravens safety Ar’Darius Washington, the spark plug who helped turn around Baltimore’s porous defense 10 weeks into last season, is trending toward an imminent return. Washington suffered a torn Achilles tendon during offseason conditioning in May. On Friday, he was seen partaking in an individual workout with team trainers on a side field — his first time running around on grass since the injury. Ravens coach John Harbaugh said that “reports have been really positive” throughout Washington’s rehab. “He’s moving around really well,” Harbaugh said. “He feels good.” Washington, who has spent all season on the physically unable to perform list, has not been cleared to practice yet, but Harbaugh indicated that he’s “getting close to that point.” Washington appeared in good spirits in the locker room after Friday’s practice. The 2020 undrafted free agent out of TCU stepped into a starting safety role beside Kyle Hamilton last year when team decision makers benched Marcus Williams, a $70 million free agent signing who had struggled mightily. Washington was, in many ways, considered the defense’s savior. In 17 games, the 5-foot-8 playmaker logged a pair of interceptions, 64 tackles, a key forced fumble at the goal line versus Pittsburgh, and a sack against Tampa Bay. Injecting Washington into a full-time role helped uplift Baltimore from one of the NFL’s worst pass defenses to one of the league’s best over the final third of the season. Washington’s injury occurred about one month after the Ravens drafted another safety in Malaki Starks. The rookie has admirably stepped into a starting role, having turned a corner since the bye week by recording an interception and pass deflection each of the past two weeks. Starks said that the game is slowing down for him to the point he can “fly around and get to the ball.” Baltimore’s secondary has also benefited from an early October trade that brought in veteran safety Alohi Gilman. That deal was finalized while Hamilton was on the shelf with a brief groin injury. The success of Starks and Gilman has allowed defensive coordinator Zach Orr to push Hamilton down into the box, unlocking what has been the Ravens’ most effective scheme this season. Harbaugh had this to say after drafting Starks, before Washington’s injury: “The good news is the offense isn’t going to know who’s going to be back there on any given play. They’re not going to be able to line up and say, ‘OK, Kyle’s going to be deep,’ or even, ‘Ar’Darius is going to be deep.’ … That’s pretty exciting.” Washington told his coach in late May that he’d be back by November. Harbaugh said at the time that he was counting on November or December. So, Harbaugh said Friday, “hopefully soon, he’ll be out there practicing.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. Related Articles Ravens could be without one of their top defensive players vs. Browns Ravens vs. Browns staff picks: Who will win Sunday in Cleveland? Ravens vs. Browns scouting report for Week 11: Who has the edge? Inside how ‘positionless’ Kyle Hamilton, others spark Ravens defense Josh Tolentino: Ravens can’t be complacent in AFC North race | COMMENTARY View the full article

Here’s how The Baltimore Sun sports staff views the outcome of Sunday’s Week 11 game between the Ravens and Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland: Brian Wacker, reporter Ravens 23, Browns 16: Baltimore has lost three of its past four trips to Cleveland, hasn’t swept the Browns since 2020, and divisional opponents, no matter how much they’re struggling, almost always seem to be a problem. Still, the Ravens have enough firepower on offense between Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, Zay Flowers, Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely to give the Browns’ stout defense too much to eventually handle. Baltimore’s defense is also ascending with eight turnovers over the past four games and that’s a bad sign for Dillion Gabriel, who should the feel the wrath of a team that knows how to mess with rookie quarterbacks. No doubt Cleveland will try to lean on its defense and rookie running back Quinshon Judkins, but even without receiver Rashod Bateman and cornerback Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore has enough juice to put this one away. Sam Cohn, reporter Ravens 28, Browns 20: These games are always weird. Neither side has swept the season series since 2020 and “it’s never really a blowout,” fullback Patrick Ricard said. The weather is almost certain to play a factor. But based on the antiparallel trend of both teams — Baltimore on a three-game heater and Cleveland unraveling behind a putrid rookie quarterback with the fewest yards per attempt in the NFL (5.0) — expect the Ravens to buck the trend in a close one. Jackson can still pick apart their secondary (in short-to-intermediate throws if the weather negates the long ball), like he did in Week 2. And Baltimore’s defense has turned a corner in forcing turnovers. Playing without Marlon Humphrey or Rashod Bateman hurts, but won’t decide the outcome. If this wasn’t a road divisional matchup, Sunday might have been a field day for the Ravens. They’ll still eke out a win and get to .500. Mike Preston, columnist Ravens 24, Browns 6: The Browns have the No. 31 ranked offense in the NFL and are averaging only 168 passing yards per game. Cleveland will start rookie Dillon Gabriel at quarterback and the Ravens will confuse him with different looks and approaches and threaten him with an assortment of blitzes. This will be the second straight week in which the Ravens face an inexperienced quarterback, and he will struggle. This game will follow the usual script: The Browns will play outstanding defense for a half and then they will wither away from being frustrated by their offense, which can do absolutely nothing. The only way this game is close is because the teams compete in the AFC North and they know each other well. The Ravens, though, have a sense of urgency and the Browns have no sense at all, which is why they struggle from the front office down to the field. Josh Tolentino, columnist Ravens 31, Browns 24: This game has all the makings of another gusty, grind-it-out AFC North battle. After a short stint of clean health, Baltimore’s injury list is growing again. It’s not as overwhelming as it was earlier in the season, but a key absence like veteran cornerback Marlon Humphrey is bound to test the team’s depth again. The formula for extending Baltimore’s three-game winning streak starts with the defense, which has produced seven takeaways during this turnaround stretch. That surge must continue against a Dillon Gabriel-led offense prone to mistakes. Offensively, the Ravens need to find a groove early and avoid asking Lamar Jackson to shoulder everything against Cleveland’s pressure-heavy defense headlined by star Myles Garrett. Tailback Derrick Henry finished with his season-low rushing total against Cleveland in Week 2. Establishing the run and staying out of long critical downs will be paramount for the visitors. The Ravens might be heavily favored, but the final leg of their three straight road games could be a slugfest. With Jackson returning to practice, Baltimore should have just enough to deliver the necessary knockout blows. C.J. Doon, editor Ravens 20, Browns 13: This feels like one of those AFC North games the Ravens have inexplicably lost in recent years, but the level of focus shouldn’t be in question this time. Baltimore has almost no margin for error, and a division loss could be crushing if the race against Pittsburgh comes down to the wire. All signs point to the Ravens taking care of business behind a rejuvenated defense, but their offense will be worth watching. Lamar Jackson says that he feels good, but we’ll see how that knee holds up against Myles Garrett. If Derrick Henry can’t get going and the Browns’ secondary blankets Zay Flowers, all of the sudden there’s a lot of pressure on Jackson to work his magic. He can win this game by himself, but for the Ravens’ sake, hopefully he doesn’t have to. Related Articles Ravens vs. Browns scouting report for Week 11: Who has the edge? Inside how ‘positionless’ Kyle Hamilton, others spark Ravens defense Josh Tolentino: Ravens can’t be complacent in AFC North race | COMMENTARY Ravens’ Lamar Jackson delivers on promise to run less and throw more Mike Preston: Ravens are still Super Bowl contenders in lackluster NFL | COMMENTARY Bennett Conlin, editor Ravens 30, Browns 10: The Ravens should be 6-5 going into their prime-time Thanksgiving game vs. Cincinnati. The Browns and Jets are two of the NFL’s worst, and Baltimore beat Cleveland, 41-17, in Week 2. Dillon Gabriel has struggled as a rookie quarterback — count me in the group of people curious to watch Shedeur Sanders instead — and the Ravens’ defense has forced three turnovers in consecutive games. Even with Lamar Jackson banged up, it’s hard to see this one coming down to the wire. Tim Schwartz, editor Ravens 21, Browns 10: Lamar Jackson had an injury scare this week, missing practice Wednesday because of knee soreness, but he appears to be good to go. And he better be against a Browns team that still can play some defense. Offensively? Yikes. This could be a field day for Baltimore’s defense, which is hitting its stride but will be without Marlon Humphrey. Fortunately for the Ravens, the Browns don’t have anybody to throw the ball to. Baltimore should be back to .500 Sunday night, and with the Jets looming the following week, they should take a five-game winning streak into a Thanksgiving showdown with a potentially healthy Joe Burrow and the Bengals looming. A fun final stretch awaits. Patrice Sanders, FOX45 Morning News anchor Ravens 31, Browns 17: The Ravens are looking better and better each week. They’ve won three straight games, and I think they can keep that streak going into this week. Division games are always a challenge, but the Browns just lost to the Jets, and they can’t seem to get out of quarterback turmoil, so I’m counting on Baltimore to get the best of them. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13. View the full article

Now riding a three-game win streak, the Ravens (4-5) are within striking distance of .500. They’ll head to Cleveland this weekend for a divisional matchup against the lowly Browns (2-7), who they beat up Week 2 amidst the worst stretch of Baltimore’s season. Who will have the advantage this time around? Ravens passing game vs. Browns pass defense Here’s four words that every Ravens fan needs to hear for sake of their sanity: Lamar Jackson is fine. Jackson missed one practice with lingering knee soreness that bothered him after the win in Minnesota. But he’s good to go. Coming off one of his best career outings against a team that blitzed him relentlessly while arriving to the postgame locker room noticeably unsatisfied is a lethal recipe versus the same defense he pummeled for four touchdowns two months ago. Jackson has thrown five touchdowns in his two games since returning from injury and said Thursday, “If anything, we need more points.” He’ll have to do so without wide receiver Rashod Bateman, who suffered an ankle sprain in Minnesota. Cleveland’s defense won’t roll over. The Browns are second in the NFL in fewest passing yards allowed per game. Much of that starts up front with an elite pass rush that has helped force opposing quarterbacks into eight interceptions this year. It’s a solid defense against a high-ceiling offense in potentially crummy weather. But offensive coordinator Todd Monken didn’t have much trouble in Week 2. With enough creativity, retaking the test shouldn’t be much different. EDGE: Ravens Browns passing game vs. Ravens pass defense A 40-year-old Joe Flacco was the Browns’ quarterback when these two teams met in Week 2. Shortly after, Cleveland traded Flacco to Cincinnati and promoted third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel. By most metrics, he ranks terribly. So much so that coach Kevin Stefanski is constantly peppered with questions about when a quarterback change may be imminent, either pivoting to rookie Shedeur Sanders or Bailey Zappe, who’s currently on the practice squad. None of them seem well-equipped to handle a resurgent Ravens defense, which has forced eight turnovers in their past four games. The Ravens also registered a dozen quarterback hits against Minnesota, their new single-game high this season. Pass rush has been a point of contention as Baltimore’s defense was searching for stability. Defensive coordinator Zach Orr said they’ve built in different looks since the bye week but last Sunday showcased “the best get-offs that we had when in true pass rush situations” this season. EDGE: Ravens Ravens running game vs. Browns run defense Baltimores’ worst rushing performance of the season came in Week 2. Cleveland’s defensive front stifled a healthy Ravens ground game. They totaled 45 yards on 21 carries and never found the end zone. They averaged 2.1 yards per attempt, one of just two times a defense has held them below at least four yards per carry this season. The Browns rank second in the NFL in fewest rushing yards allowed per play (3.60). They’re also one of 10 teams to average under 100 yards allowed per game. “They are a disruptive front. They’re a really, really good defense,” running back Derrick Henry said. “They do a lot of different stunts and do the stunts well. They got Myles Garrett. I think they’re just a solid group, overall. … We know it’s going to be tough. Their defense is solid from top to bottom.” EDGE: Browns Browns running game vs. Ravens run defense Like many of the positional matchups in this game, the Browns and Ravens trending arrows are pointed in opposite directions. Cleveland picked up 76 yards on the ground versus New York; 75 of them came courtesy of Quinshon Judkins’ 22 carries. Judkins went for 61 on 10 last time he saw the Ravens. He’s topped 100 yards only once this season. That backfield is dreadful otherwise. And Baltimore’s run defense, which once ranked in the NFL’s mineshaft, has restricted three of their past four opponents to under 100 total rushing yards. EDGE: Ravens Ravens special teams vs. Browns special teams The Browns aren’t good. The Jets aren’t much better. But Cleveland lost that Toilet Bowl by and large because of its special teams unit. Film analyst Lance Reisland, a longtime high school coach now picking apart the Browns, had this to say: “On the kickoff return, people are out of their lanes. Then you go back and watch the punt return, it’s even worse. There’s five or six guys within two yards of each other. So there’s no spacing.” New York scored 14 of 27 points on special teams. Kene Nwangwu housed a kickoff 99 yards. Less than a minute later, Isaiah Williams returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown. Browns safety Grant Delpit called it “unacceptable.” Baltimore, meanwhile, is having a special teams renaissance after an uncharacteristic down year last season. The rookie kicker is booting the ball well enough that nobody is talking about him. The punter is fielding questions about his career year. And an undrafted rookie forced a game-changing fumble in Minnesota. EDGE: Ravens Ravens intangibles vs. Browns intangibles The upswing Ravens are like the heavyweight fighter entering the ring amidst flashing lights and loud drums with a posse by his side. These Browns are standing in the same ring like they barely made weight. Only issue is that ring is in Cleveland. “It’s going to be cold. It’s going to be rainy. It’s going to be windy. It’s going to be on the shores of Lake Erie,” Harbaugh said, like he was setting the scene for a Northeast Ohio murder-mystery thriller. “We’re used to this; this is Cleveland, and this is how these games go.” Related Articles Ravens vs. Browns staff picks: Who will win Sunday in Cleveland? Inside how ‘positionless’ Kyle Hamilton, others spark Ravens defense Josh Tolentino: Ravens can’t be complacent in AFC North race | COMMENTARY Ravens’ Lamar Jackson delivers on promise to run less and throw more Mike Preston: Ravens are still Super Bowl contenders in lackluster NFL | COMMENTARY Baltimore and Cleveland have split every season series dating to 2020. Every year, no matter how talented or incompetent, this AFC North matchup finds a way to get weird. EDGE: Browns Prediction These games are always weird. Neither side has swept the season series since 2020. “It’s never really a blowout,” fullback Patrick Ricard said. And the weather is almost certain to play a factor. But based on the antiparallel trend of both teams — Baltimore on a three-game heater and Cleveland unraveling behind a putrid rookie quarterback with the fewest yards per throw in the NFL — expect the Ravens to buck the trend in a close one. Jackson can still pick apart their secondary (in short-to-intermediate throws if the weather negates the long ball). And Baltimore’s defense has turned a corner in forcing turnovers. If it wasn’t a road divisional matchup, Sunday might have been a field day for the Ravens. They’ll still eek out a win and get to .500 on the year. Ravens 28, Browns 20 Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

When Kyle Hamilton was asked at his locker what position he would say that he plays, he sounded like a man trying to be persuasive if not convincing himself. “Safety,” he said. “I would say safety. I was drafted as a safety. It says safety on the roster, probably. Safety.” The Ravens’ defensive star is not really, even if the roster says so. Slot defender, enforcer in the box, pass rusher. All are applicable. “He’s probably the most position-less player in the NFL,” teammate and veteran outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy said. “If you lined him up at nose guard he would find ways to make plays. “He’s really amazing at playing football. As simple as that is, it’s a big thing — the way he moves, the way he understands blocks, the way he understands how teams attack our defense, understanding his assignment but being able to play freelance when he has to too. He’s one of one.” He’s not the only one, though, who has helped spark a turnaround for what over the first month of the season was the worst defense in the NFL. Over the past four games, the Ravens have allowed a scant 14.5 points per game and forced eight turnovers, both third-best in the league during that span. In Sunday’s win over the Vikings in Minnesota, they also racked up 12 quarterback hits and 13 pass breakups. Hamilton, who was moved from safety to primarily a box/slot role, has unquestionably been the biggest key and force multiplier, but defensive tackle Travis Jones, rookie outside linebacker Mike Green and turnovers have all played a significant part, too. Still, it starts with Hamilton and his constant creeping up to the line of scrimmage, which has unlocked a variety of options for the defense and coordinator Zach Orr. “It allows us to just play with some looks; we don’t have to worry about swapping personnels on and off the field,” Hamilton said of his move from the back end, where he played almost all of his snaps the first four weeks of the season. “I feel like that’s a big thing. With this league now, it’s a lot of different personnels. … I think we have the flexibility as a defense to line up and play ourselves and dictate the game.” Moving him around the field had a similar impact last year, too. After being one of the worst defenses in the league through the first half of the season, Baltimore shifted Hamilton to more of a deep safety role beginning in Week 11. The Ravens went from allowing 5.7 yards per play to 4.39 and shaved off nearly 2 yards per pass attempt as well. After ranking 13th in defensive defense-adjusted value over average the first half of the season, the Ravens were second over the second half. Moving him toward the line of scrimmage after trading for safety Alohi Gilman to pair with first-round rookie Malaki Starks has had a similar effect this season, but others have contributed as well. Jones, who was hampered by an ankle injury earlier in the season, has been healthy of late and wreaking havoc. His 21 pressures, including six this past Sunday, per Pro Football Focus, lead the team by a wide margin and his four quarterback hits and four tackles for loss are already as many as he had all of last season. He also has two pass breakups, which is just one shy of what he had for his career. Green and inside linebacker Teddye Buchanan, a fellow rookie, have started to find their footing as well. Ravens inside linebacker Teddye Buchanan pressures Bears quarterback Caleb Williams in October. Buchanan has steadily improved this season, according to Pro Football Focus grades. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) After Green, a second-round pick out of Marshall, went without a sack in his first six games, he has registered 1 1/2 over his past three. He has also caused problems in other ways, including against the Vikings when he tweaked his rush to collide with and alter the route of receiver Justin Jefferson, who was lined up in the backfield, resulting in just a 3-yard scramble from quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Green finished the game with four pressures, second-most on the team. Buchanan, meanwhile, has seen a steady improvement in his defensive PFF marks even while playing slightly fewer snaps after being forced into a bigger role when Roquan Smith suffered a hamstring injury in Week 4 and missed the next two games. “[The game] definitely has slowed down a lot,” Buchanan said. “It’s been a combination of me understanding our defense and then understanding an NFL blueprint and how teams try to attack you. “I’m feeling a lot more comfortable. Even as a team, we’re in a very different spot. We have our pieces together and we’re starting to get an identity as a defense and we’re really playing together. It’s night and day.” The same is true for Starks, who has had an interception in each of his past two games. “I’m just not out there thinking [as much],” he said. “The call comes in, I’m communicating, and I don’t have to think as much about where I’m supposed to be and how I’m supposed to be there. I can just be there and fly around and get to the ball.” Still, in the sanguine words of veteran cornerback Marlon Humphrey, the defense has turned a “page” but not a corner, a sentiment Van Noy agrees with. The Ravens’ 12 sacks are tied for last with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Sn Francisco 49ers. Their pass rush win rate of 34%, per ESPN analytics, ranks just 24th. And they’ve allowed a touchdown or field goal on an opponent’s opening drive in seven of nine games. But they have also made adjustments. Related Articles Ravens vs. Browns staff picks: Who will win Sunday in Cleveland? Ravens vs. Browns scouting report for Week 11: Who has the edge? Josh Tolentino: Ravens can’t be complacent in AFC North race | COMMENTARY Ravens’ Lamar Jackson delivers on promise to run less and throw more Mike Preston: Ravens are still Super Bowl contenders in lackluster NFL | COMMENTARY Over the past two games, Baltimore has held opponents without a third-down conversion in the second half. Over its past three games, it allowed just two. Last week, the Vikings were held to just 3 of 14 on third down and 2 of 5 on fourth down for the game. Turnovers and batted balls have played no small part, too, as has “marrying up” the coverage and pass rush, Van Noy said. “What we’ve been able to build with our different looks since the bye week has helped us out,” Orr said of Sunday’s performance against the Vikings. “We’re able to present different challenges to the offense, and guys were just relentless with their rushes. We were able to throw a lot of different bodies at them, whether it was pressure with DBs or off-ball linebackers or the front four winning. It was good to see, and a lot of guys had really good games.” Perhaps no one more than Hamilton, as is often the case from whatever position he’s deployed to play. “He’s a really good player, one of the best in the game regardless of position and there are a lot of people who are talented who are the best at their position, but they only can play one position,” Orr said. “Kyle can play all across the defensive backfield for us, on the edge, at the second level at the linebacker position for us, and [it] allows us to do a lot of different things with him, because we know offenses have to know where No. 14 is at all times.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article