Game Recap 10/1/23 | Browns Lose to Ravens 28-3

October 1, 2023

Andy Billman

Post-Game Live Recap


3 Things About Browns Loss to Ravens

1 – No Deshaun Watson

QB Deshaun Watson was ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Ravens.

It was revealed on the CBS broadcast that Watson was suffering from a rotator cuff injury.  An MRI of his shoulder early in the week revealed the injury.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson started in his place, but it did not go well for the rookie.  DTR went 19 for 34 for 121 total yards.

2 – Bizarre Play Calls

Early in the first half, multiple play calls had me scratching my head:

*On the second drive, back-to-back pass plays on 2nd and 3 and 3rd and 3.  The second pass ended on a DTR interception.

*On the third drive, a deep throw on 3rd and 1.  That ended with a flag against the Ravens.  On the next play, the browns called an end-around to Elijah Moore, ending a twenty-yard loss.  The Browns did manage a field goal from Dustin Hopkins.

Head Coach Kevin Stefanski must do a better job of calling plays when a rookie is behind center.  Stefanski made no adjustments with DTR starting.

3 – Jackson Goes Off 

The one concern going into the game, even before DTR was announced as the starter, was Lamar Jackson going off in the game, and he sadly did just that.   Jackson was 15 for 19 for 186 yards for 2 TDs.  He was very accurate all day and Mark Andrews had another big day as well against the Browns getting 80 yards on 5 receptions and 2 touchdowns.

Overall:

It is one thing to lose without Watson and Nick Chubb in the lineup against the Ravens, it is another to get blown out and bullied along the way.  The Browns got roughed up in this game and it will be back to the drawing board during the off week to figure out what went wrong for our Browns.


Game Summary

Lamar Jackson showcased his incredible skills by running for two touchdowns and throwing for two more against the formidable Cleveland Browns’ top-ranked defense. This exceptional performance led the Baltimore Ravens to a commanding 28-3 victory on Sunday, even though the Browns were missing their injured quarterback, Deshaun Watson.

Jackson’s touchdowns included a 10-yard run, a 2-yard run, and a precise 7-yard pass to tight end Mark Andrews, which occurred with just 11 seconds remaining before halftime and gave the Ravens a substantial 21-3 lead. The electrifying Baltimore QB wasn’t finished there, as he added an 18-yard touchdown pass to Andrews in the fourth quarter to emphasize the one-sided nature of the game.

The Browns, now 2-2, had to turn to rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson due to Watson’s right shoulder injury. Thompson-Robinson, a fifth-round pick from UCLA, struggled in his NFL debut. The Cleveland offense, which was already without star running back Nick Chubb due to a knee injury, managed just 166 yards, with 53 of those coming during a meaningless final drive. Thompson-Robinson threw three interceptions and was sacked four times.

Despite missing six starters, including Odell Beckham Jr. and Rashod Bateman, the Ravens relied on Jackson’s brilliance. He outshone Cleveland’s top-ranked defense, completing 15 of 19 passes for 187 yards and adding 27 yards on the ground. Jackson made several remarkable plays, with his first touchdown throw to Andrews standing out as a highlight – a pinpoint pass over multiple defenders into the back corner of the end zone.

Deshaun Watson had injured his throwing shoulder the previous week in a game against Tennessee. Although he had been limited in practice all week and was listed as questionable, the Browns ultimately opted to start Thompson-Robinson over him.

Jackson’s first touchdown run occurred after an interception by the Ravens, which was a reflection of Thompson-Robinson’s struggles throughout the game. On a crucial third down, Thompson-Robinson’s intended pass to Amari Cooper was deflected by cornerback Arthur Maulet and intercepted by Brandon Stephens. Stephens returned the interception 52 yards to Cleveland’s 10-yard line, setting up Jackson’s untouched scoring run to give the Ravens an early 7-0 lead.


Up Next

After a bye, host San Francisco on Oct. 15.

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