THUMBS UP

Ray Lewis, Ravens linebacker

He may be 33 years old, but he has more energy than most 18-year-olds hopped up on Red Bull. Lewis finished with four tackles, a quarterback hit, two passes defensed and the hit that changed the game.
On a third-and-3 from the Browns
17-yard line, Derek Anderson found Kellen Winslow on a slant over the middle. Lewis also found Winslow, drilling him and forcing the ball to pop into the air. Chris McAlister was waiting and returned it to the 12-yard line. The Ravens scored four plays later to take a 14-10 lead they wouldn’t lose.

THUMBS DOWN

Derek Anderson, Browns quarterback

The loss wasn’t all his fault, but he deserves plenty of the blame. He finished 14-for-37 for 125 yards, a touchdown, three interceptions and a 22.9 rating. One interception was returned for a touchdown when the Browns were down 14-10.
Then with a chance for a big play early in the fourth quarter that would’ve given the team a glimmer of hope, he overthrew an open Joshua Cribbs deep down the right sideline.
You could almost hear the “Brady Quinn” chants starting back home.

PLAY OF THE GAME

When the season goes down the drain, it’s impossible to point to just one play. So, let’s look at a 10:11 stretch to open the third quarter. The Browns led 10-7 after a relatively well-played first half and they got the ball to open the second half.
Anderson was intercepted and the Ravens scored a touchdown. On the next possession, Anderson was intercepted by Ed Reed, who returned it for a touchdown. After a swift three-and-out that featured two penalties and a sack, the Ravens scored again for a
28-10 lead that caused plenty of fans back home to turn off the television — possibly for the rest of the season.

STAT OF THE GAME

1:42
Time of possession, in minutes and seconds, for the Browns in the fourth quarter. It’s hard to mount a comeback and save a season when you have the ball for seven plays and 102 seconds and lose 8 yards net.

QUOTE OF THE GAME

“We have 13 games left. I hate when you guys ask questions that make no sense. Who knows if we hit our stride next week and make it happen and then we continue to build off that game in Cincinnati? There’s 13 games left. Is it savable? You can answer that question. There’s 13 games left.”
— Browns receiver Braylon Edwards, when asked if the season was savable after an 0-3 start.

MATCHUPS

Offense

So much for the high-powered attack of Rob Chudzinski. Defenses have taken away the deep ball, and the Browns have been unable to adjust. Braylon Edwards looks shaken, Derek Anderson can’t throw straight and Jamal Lewis can’t get enough carries to make an impact.
The lone bright spot was Jerome Harrison’s 19-yard touchdown in the second quarter, and he never touched the ball again.
EDGE: Ravens

Defense

Year after year, the Ravens make play after play. With their offense struggling and seemingly incapable of driving the length of the field, their defense took the game into its hands.
Chris McAlister and Ed Reed had interceptions, Ray Lewis had four tackles and a huge hit and the Ravens sacked Anderson five times. The Browns managed only 169 yards.
EDGE: Ravens

Special teams

The Ravens didn’t allow Joshua Cribbs to take over, and the Browns repeatedly committed penalties, including a 15-yard unnecessary roughness on Mike Adams that helped set up the Ravens for their third touchdown in the third quarter.
Punter Dave Zastudil had a shank to set up the Ravens’ first touchdown for good measure.
EDGE: Ravens

Coaching

John Harbaugh is 2-0 in his career. Romeo Crennel is 0-3 in his third season. The vultures will surely be calling for the latter’s head today.
The season has gotten away from the Browns in three weeks, and Crennel’s been unable to stop it. He’s been slow to push the panic button, but has no choice now. The offense is stuck in neutral, the defense still can’t stop the run and the special teams have regressed.
EDGE: Ravens

 

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