Ravens vs. Browns Recap: How Baltimore Blew a 10-Point Lead and Lost 13-10

Did the Ravens win? No. The Ravens led 10-0 after the first quarter and lost 13-10 to the Browns on a 37-yard field goal as time expired. Baltimore didn’t score again, missed a key field goal, lost a fumble, and gave Cleveland a second chance on the final play. Both teams are now 4-2, and the Browns pulled into a tie atop the AFC North.

Here’s how it happened, what the defense did right, and where the Ravens go from here.

How the Ravens vs. Browns Game Unfolded

The opening quarter looked like a different game. Tyler Huntley completed all four of his passes on the first series, and Derrick Henry ran for 30 yards. On fourth-and-goal from the 1, Huntley found rookie tight end Josh Cuevas for his first career touchdown, finishing an 11-play, 66-yard drive. Tyler Loop added a 34-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead.

Then everything stalled. Cleveland had just 46 total yards in the first half and 107 entering the fourth quarter. In the first half, the Browns had five punts and only three first downs. But the Ravens couldn’t add to their lead. They went scoreless on their final nine possessions.

Three Moments That Decided the Game

1. The missed field goal. With a 10-3 lead early in the fourth quarter, Loop missed a 49-yard attempt wide left. A make would have made it a two-score game.

2. The fumble. On the Ravens’ next offensive snap, Henry fumbled at the Baltimore 28. It was his first fumble of the season. Cleveland scored seven plays later on a 2-yard run by Audric Estime, who joined the Browns from Minnesota’s practice squad this week. A pass interference call on cornerback Keyon Martin on a third-and-6 in the red zone helped extend the drive. The game was tied 10-10.

3. The final play. Browns kicker Andre Szmyt missed a 48-yarder with 3:44 left, his first miss since last season. But on the final snap, the Ravens blocked his first attempt to win it and were flagged for being offside. Szmyt made the 37-yard kick on the second try.

Henry took responsibility. He told reporters the fumble “can’t happen,” and Huntley said he apologized to teammates. Coach Jesse Minter said Henry addressed it in the locker room.

The Second-Half Collapse on Offense

The numbers tell the story. In the first half, Baltimore moved the ball with ease. In the second, the Ravens managed 72 total yards compared to the Browns’ 191. Huntley was 5-of-10 for 58 yards after halftime, and Henry had 17 yards on six carries.

Huntley finished 19-of-31 for 165 yards and a touchdown, was sacked three times, and ran for 28 yards. Henry had 58 yards on 17 carries. The Ravens crossed the Browns’ 45-yard line only once in the second half.

This section is our take. The Ravens didn’t make adjustments when the early game plan stopped working. They kept leaning on a run game that Cleveland’s defense had figured out, and Huntley struggled to make plays outside the first few drives. Without Lamar Jackson’s ability to threaten defenses with his legs, the offense had no second gear. For more on Jackson’s status, read our Lamar Jackson injury update.

The Defense Did Its Job, Mostly

Don’t blame the defense for most of this. The Ravens sacked Deshaun Watson five times, including a late-third-quarter sack by Trey Hendrickson on a three-man rush. They forced four three-and-outs and held Cleveland to 107 yards through three quarters.

Watson finished 16-of-26 for 164 yards. But after Henry’s fumble, the defense gave up a short-field touchdown. And on the final drive, Watson hit Jerry Jeudy for 33 yards on third-and-5 to set up the winning kick. Minter said afterward that he expected the defense to hold after the turnover.

That stings, because it’s the defense’s job to hold in those spots. But a unit that records five sacks and gives up 237 total yards isn’t the reason this game was lost.

An Uncomfortable Trend

Yahoo Sports, citing AP, noted the Ravens have now blown 16 games in which they led by 10 or more points since the start of the 2020 season. It was also the second time this season they couldn’t hold a fourth-quarter lead.

That’s a lot of games. It suggests a team that sometimes loses focus when ahead. Minter is in his first year as head coach, and fixing that habit is part of his job.

What the Loss Means

Both teams are 4-2, and the Ravens are 0-1 in the AFC North. They host the Bengals next Sunday, October 25, in their next chance at a first division win. After that, the schedule gets harder: at the Bills on November 1, then the Jaguars at home on Thursday, November 5.

Jackson missed a second straight game after a second consecutive week without practice. The Ravens will monitor his status this week. For the full injury picture, read our Ravens injury report.

What to Watch This Week

• Jackson’s Wednesday practice. Does he get on the field?
• Loop’s confidence. Does the Ravens kicker stay in the lineup after the miss?
• Henry’s bounce-back. How does the offense use him against the Bengals?
• The offensive line. Does Cam Jurgens finally make his debut?
• The defense’s response. Can Baltimore keep getting sacks and finish drives?

Frequently Asked Questions

Did the Ravens win today?

No. The Browns beat the Ravens 13-10 on a 37-yard field goal as time expired.

What was the final score of the Ravens vs. Browns game?

Browns 13, Ravens 10.

How did the Ravens lose a 10-0 lead?

The Ravens went scoreless over their final nine possessions. A missed field goal and a Derrick Henry fumble in the fourth quarter helped the Browns tie it, and Cleveland won on a last-second field goal.

Is Lamar Jackson playing next week?

The Ravens haven’t announced his status. He missed a second straight game after a second week without practice.

Who do the Ravens play next?

The Bengals, at home on Sunday, October 25, at 1 p.m. ET.

Final Thoughts

This loss hurts because it was avoidable. The Ravens had a lead, a strong defense, and every chance to close it out. A missed field goal, a fumble, and an offside flag took it away.

What do you think? Was this a one-game slip or a sign of a bigger problem without Jackson? Drop your take in the comments, and check back for the latest Ravens news before the Bengals game.