Ravens Insider: Ravens dismantle Joe Flacco, Browns in 41-17 bounce-back win

ExtremeRavens · 2025-09-14T20:18:55Z

Over the past three seasons, the Ravens have allowed an average of 20 points per game to AFC North opponents. Marlon Humphrey — Baltimore’s longest-tenured defender — said nobody in the division feared the Ravens’ defense anymore.

Then, after an offseason of promises and notable offseason acquisitions, Baltimore surrendered 41 points to the Bills to open the season. Not exactly an encouraging start.

But perhaps the Ravens just needed Ray Lewis in the building. On a day with several of the franchise’s legendary defenders at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore’s defense responded with one of its most encouraging efforts in recent memory.

The Ravens dominated the Cleveland Browns, 41-17, in their home-opener Sunday afternoon. The Browns’ offense, led by Joe Flacco, mustered just 4.5 yards per play and had two crucial turnovers. Flacco finished the day completing 25 of 45 passes for 199 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He was relieved late by rookie Dillon Gabriel, who was 3-for-3 for 20 yards and a touchdown.

Quarterback Lamar Jackson threw four touchdown passes, including two to second-year wideout Devontez Walker, en route to 31 second-half points.

Roquan Smith punctuated the day with a 63-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Cornerback Nate Wiggins also picked off Flacco in the third quarter and nearly returned it for a score. It set up a 5-yard touchdown drive.

The defense needed every early stop because the dynamic offense that tormented the Bills last week didn’t appear until the second half Sunday. Jackson and the Ravens mustered only 81 yards, four first downs and eight rushing yards by halftime.

But aside from a third-quarter touchdown drive, Baltimore’s defense ensured Flacco’s return wouldn’t end in his 97th win at M&T Bank Stadium.

While nobody is mistaking the Browns’ offense for the Bills’, the Ravens’ defense simply looked more cohesive at home. The pass rush pressured Flacco throughout, a revamped secondary recorded five pass breakups and the star veterans made multiple splash plays.

Even the special teams — a unit that was heavily criticized for multiple miscues in Buffalo — made arguably the game’s most crucial play. Veteran Jake Hummel blocked a punt in the second quarter that set the Ravens up at the Browns’ 24-yard line. It was the team’s first blocked punt since Nov. 6, 2016.

Last week’s showing wasn’t just alarming; it was a direct contradiction to everything Baltimore’s players and coaches promised in the offseason. They needed to show last Sunday was an aberration, that this year wouldn’t start like the previous one when they started 0-2.

Cornerback Marlon Humphrey said this week the defense was “immature.” Safety Kyle Hamilton thought they were “lackadaisical.” Defensive coordinator Zach Orr said the coaching staff would bench players if necessary.

They made good on their word this week, making multiple key personnel changes before the game. Cornerback Jaire Alexander was a healthy scratch in favor of undrafted rookie Reuben Lowery III, and linebacker Trenton Simpson was benched for rookie Teddye Buchanan.

While Lowery didn’t play any meaningful defensive snaps, Buchanan played nearly every drive. Cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and T.J. Tampa rotated opposite Nate Wiggins.

But those moves involved players on the margins. Baltimore spent $116 million on their defense for their stars to play the way they did Sunday.

Smith played one of his best games in a Ravens jersey. He finished with 15 tackles, including three tackles for loss, and impacted every level of the defense. In one drive, Smith pressured Flacco on a blitz then dropped a Browns receiver in the flat for a minimal gain.

His three tackles for loss were nearly more than the four he had all last season. Playing next to a new running mate in Buchanan requires new communication signals and chemistry, but the two linebackers were both excellent.

Ravens’ Devontez Walker celebrate with fans after scoring on a 24-yard pass from Lamar Jackson in the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)

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Ravens’ Devontez Walker celebrate with fans after scoring on a 24-yard pass from Lamar Jackson in the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)

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In the secondary, Wiggins was criticized last week after allowing six catches on seven targets for 82 yards. The second-year cornerback responded with an interception, one pass breakup and allowed just one reception.

His third-quarter interception nearly ended in a pick-six, but it set up Jackson’s 2-yard touchdown pass to Walker on fourth down for a commanding 20-3 lead.

Jackson’s day was filled with inconsistencies. He missed wide receiver Zay Flowers on a few short throws and the team struggled on third down (3-for-11).

Still, the star quarterback also had his typical fair share of dazzling plays — two deep balls to DeAndre Hopkins, a third-and-long conversion to Flowers — and finished the day with 225 passing yards.

Fautige eventually opened up cracks in Cleveland’s defense, sealing a blowout win. Anytime a team can rest its starters in a divisional game, they’ll be pleased.

Nostalgia colored Sunday: Flacco’s return, the franchise’s 30-year celebration, and appearances by Lewis, Jonathan Ogden and Ozzie Newsome.

Squint, and there were echoes of those vaunted Ravens defenses in Baltimore’s performance. Now, a Lions offense that scored over 50 points in Week 2 comes to town for a prime-time test on “Monday Night Football.”

Next week will reveal just how real these defensive strides are.

This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230.

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Ravens Insider: Ravens dismantle Joe Flacco, Browns in 41-17 bounce-back win

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