What started out looking like a loss for the Cleveland Browns ended up not and instead the Browns had one more comeback up their sleeves in the fourth quarter to beat their AFC North rivals Baltimore Ravens by the score of 13-10. Cleveland kicker Andre Szmyt did it again with late game heroics nailing a game winning 37 yard field call with no time on the game clock.
Szmyt after the game said this about the game winner and doing his job:
“I hear the fans say we believe in you, we believe in you, that means alot…the trust that everyone has in me from top down feels good and it allows me to go there without nerves and just go out there and do my job.”
The game-winning kick is now Szmyt’s third of the season.
This victory gives the Browns a season record of 4-2. Cleveland has been making it a habit with these late game wins and it’s giving fans a lot to cheer about along with the anxiety. In the end, especially in the NFL, it comes down to wins and the team is certainly doing that. The Browns are now atop the AFC North, something they hadn’t done this far into the season since the 2014 season.
Photo via Reuters
Cleveland looked lost at the start of the game as they quickly went down 10-0 in the first quarter. But then the Browns defense started to lock in and forced the Ravens into seven punts the rest of the way. That gave their team’s offense enough time to find itself after being stuck in the mud for the entire first half.
With the Browns trailing 10-3 going to the fourth quarter, Cleveland linebacker Carson Schwesinger made the defensive play of the game midway through the quarter when he knocked the ball loose from the Ravens running back Derrick Henry and the Browns recovered the ball at the Baltimore 35 yard line. Schwesinger said after the game about the forced fumble:
“ I hope it’s always on my mind when I’m making the tackle, if there’s an angle for the ball, I’m thinking about that, obviously securing the tackle but making sure the hit’s made.”
Cleveland took advantage of the field position as Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson hit wide receiver KC Concepcion for 15 yards. Then there was a key pass interference call on Baltimore down near the goal line and set up a two yard touchdown run by new Browns running back Audric Estime. Estime was literally just brought onto the team this week after being on the Minnesota Viking’s practice squad.
Photo via Reuters
The excitement for the Browns wasn’t over. With the game locked in a 10-10 tie, Cleveland’s defense forced Baltimore into another three and out. The Browns got the ball back and marched down the field again but Szmyt, who would moments later be the hero, missed a field goal attempt with 3:44 left in the game. That ended a 25 made field goals in a row by the hot kicker. But we’d soon find out that another streak would start.
The Ravens got the ball back but they again stumbled and Cleveland got the ball back again at the two minute mark.
From there, the cardiac moments persisted for the Browns fan base. On a third and five play at their own 35 yard line, Watson delivered a perfect pass to a cutting Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy who bolted 33 yards across the field after the catch to the Ravens 29 yard line. The play forced Baltimore into using its last two timeouts.
Photo via Reuters
Jeudy said after the game about that play:
“… when your number’s called then make a play and that’s what I did.”
The Browns were then able to run the clock down. That set Cleveland up for the game winning field goal attempt. The first try was blocked by the Ravens but they had jumped offsides giving Szmyt an easier 37 yard field goal that ended up being the game winner.
Watson spoke about the unity of the team after the game and talked about how the defense has continually battled and pushed their offense to keep working and that seems to have paid off with this latest Cleveland victory.
Watson had this to say:
“ …the defense is constantly making plays and stopping the team and the offense has picked up our pace yet but their still encouraging us when we come onto the field, let’s go let’s go you all got it and that’s all very motivating…then we get to the fourth quarter, you can just feel the energy within the stadium and on the sideline, like we’re about to go win this game…”
When you look at the stats from this game they weren’t all that great especially for the Browns offense. Watson ended up going 16 for 26 for 164 yards. He also ran the ball eight times for 29 yards. Watson’s hot receiver was Jeudy who grabbed four passes for 69 yards. The Cleveland defense was more impressive in this game again keeping the Ravens within striking distance.
Schwesinger finished with 13 tackles and forced that critical turnover. The Browns front four pressured the Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley, especially in the fourth quarter and sacked him three times.
Now Cleveland hits the road for three straight weeks. First up will be a game against the Tennessee Titans next Sunday.
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