Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore Ravens Beat Browns: The Good, Bad & The Ugly

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 4:37 p.m. ET

foxsports

Sep 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith (89) makes a first-down reception under pressure from Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden (23) during the third quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Ravens defeated the Browns 25-10. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

The Baltimore Ravens Are 2-0. There is plenty of good, bad and ugly things to point out after beating the Browns 25-20.

The Baltimore Ravens won a game that everybody thought they would win. However they did it in the most unpredictably crazy way. The Ravens started this game off kilter, and that’s putting it mildly. Filling you in on the bad and the ugly will be quite easy after this game. The Ravens trailed 20-2 after an early burst by the Browns.

The Ravens managed to chip away and win this one. There is no such thing as a bad win. So we really need to remember that. This is a Ravens team that won 5 games last season. This is the kind of game that the Ravens would have found a way to lose last season. The Ravens found a way to win. It’s a new season and the 2-0 record brings a new hope.

Normally, we start with the good. Today we’re going to do what the Ravens did. We’re going to start out with the ugly and work our ways back into our happy place. So brace yourself. I have a lot of venting to do.

Sep 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Corey Coleman (19) runs with the ball after a catch as Baltimore Ravens cornerback Shareece Wright (24) goes for the tackle during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Ravens won 25-20. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

The Ugly:

This was the worst start to a Ravens game that I can ever remember. When the Ravens had their embarrassing 2012 loss to the Jaguars it wasn’t this bad. When the Broncos manhandled us in the 2013 opener, at least the Broncos were a good team. This Browns team was coming off a 29-10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Browns always stink, but this team was supposed to be more putrid than ever before. The Ravens made this bad Browns team look like Super Bowl contenders at the beginning of this game. The Ravens won the game, but this start has to concern Baltimore.

The long run by Isiah Crowell was missed assignments. Eric Weddle got blocked out of the play and the linebackers were nowhere to be found. The Ravens missed some opportunities to sack Josh McCown and he made them pay. The defensive problems were just because of inexcusable execution. The offense was just as frustrating. When you look at the Ravens inability to do the simple things, it has to get your blood boiling. When you have dropped passes that hit receivers right in the hands it is inexcusable. With Joe Flacco throwing the ball into the dirt under pressure rather than extending the play, and his under throwing of deep passes, there is plenty of reason for frustration. It seemed like the entire team fell asleep in the locker room and the first quarter was their groggy march to alertness.

The Ravens rushing attack was almost irrelevant for the second week in a row. If the Ravens offense is planning to get on a roll, the ground fame has to be the focal point of the offense. Marc Trestman had to be pass happy with a big deficit, but his play-calling still made me want to punch a hole through the television. There is nothing to say about the 20-2 deficit other than it was unacceptable. The Ravens looked apathetically dysfunctional in the first half of this game. The Ravens could have blown the Browns out. The talent is overwhelmingly the Ravens edge in this match up. After seeing the Ravens almost getting blown out of the water, I guess we should be happy they weathered the storm. It seems however, that the John Harbaugh’s team inflicted the storm on themselves.

Sep 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown (13) completes a pass against the Baltimore Ravens during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

The Bad:

Is it too much to ask that the Ravens score a touchdown to put this game away. Am I being greedy here? Instead of scoring a touchdown that would have put the game away, the Ravens kicked a field goal that made the Browns have to get in the end zone. So like the rest of the Ravens flock, I experienced my heart trying to leap out of my chest. The Ravens made this game hard. They then came back and had a chance to make the end easy. A touchdown would have sealed the deal. Instead Josh McCown got a chance to make the comeback all for nothing.

The Ravens had a tough time getting the football to any body who wasn’t Dennis Pitta or Mike Wallace. Steve Smith Sr. got involved eventually but the Ravens offense utilized few of its many play makers. Dennis Pitta had nine receptions. The next leading receiver had just three grabs. Luckily leaning on one target seemed to work. When the Ravens needed big plays it seemed like only one tight end could be counted on.

The defense had a ton of mental errors. Jimmy Smith was lucky at the end of the game that he didn’t get the personal foul that went to his competitor. The secondary got torched to the tune of 260 yards in the air. Baltimore also allowed over 130 rushing yards. It seems that McCown is the Ravens kryptonite for some reason and that Corey Coleman is McCown’s kryptonite spear.

Sep 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta (88) catches a pass over the defense of Cleveland Browns inside linebacker Chris Kirksey (58) during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Ravens won 25-20. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

The Good:

The Ravens could have buckled to the pressure of the hole they put themselves in. Baltimore could have become divided with players and coaches pointing the finger of blame, rather than getting their act together. In the end the Ravens worked through their adversity. When it seems like nothing is going right, the Ravens now have the understanding that they can prevail through anything. There is a value to learning how resilient you can be.

The Ravens offense found their go-to-guy. His name is of course, Dennis Pitta. Pitta had a fantastic game with nine receptions for 102 yards. He even had a wonderful 30 yard scamper. If you can only take one thing away from the game, understand that Pitta is the guy at tight end. It’s a wonderful thing to see from a man whose career was almost ended by two hip injuries.

Justin Tucker was three for three and hit a 52 yard field goal. He qualifies as the most consistent player of the game. Devin Hester also showed some value as a return man. Joe Flacco found a way to stay in control. When he could have easily been rattled, Joe made key plays to win this game. The Ravens won and as Tony the Tiger would say “that’s more than good, it’s great!”