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Mike Ford Jr. Picks Off Lamar Jackson, Browns Can't Cash In

The Ravens had one minute to go in the first half, Lamar Jackson dropped back and threw a fade up the right side and it was intercepted by Mike Ford Jr. setting the Browns up with great field position.
Anthony Moeglin|
Mike Ford Jr. Picks Off Lamar Jackson, Browns Can't Cash In
Mike Ford Jr. Picks Off Lamar Jackson, Browns Can't Cash In

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Cleveland Browns

The Browns and Ravens find themselves in a typical AFC North slugfest. Both defenses are playing well - the Ravens' defense is playing a touch better. 

With one minute left in the first half, the Ravens got the ball back leading 17-9 trying to get some points before half. On first down Lamar broke the pocket and scrambled for a nine-yard gain. He was escorted out of bounds by Browns defensive back Mike Ford Jr.

A scuffle ensued after that first down play.

As the dust settled the Ravens lined up for a 2nd and 1. Lamar dropped back to pass and underthrew a streaking Rashad Bateman into the waiting arms of, you guessed it, Mike Ford Jr. 

His back-to-back plays set the Browns up with a chance to get three or seven more points before the half. 

After a crucial 3rd and 7 conversion to Elijah Moore had Cleveland just on the outskirts of Dustin Hopkins' range. They needed about three yards to get into range and a five-plus yards to feel comfortable about the try.

The Browns had three straight dropbacks that yielded three straight incompletions. On fourth and 10, the Browns field goal team ran onto the field and looked like they were going to attempt a 60-yard field goal. 

When that group came on, Deshaun Watson ran with the training staff into the locker room. Kevin Stefanski second-guessed the 60 yard attempt, called a timeout and ran the offense back onto the field. 

With Watson in the locker room, PJ Walker came out for the Hail Mary effort.  The attempt fell about five yards short and the Browns were unable to cash in on the Lamar Jackson turnover. 

That is a huge swing in momentum in favor of the Ravens. Baltimore turned their Browns' turnover directly into seven points. Cleveland has taken both of Baltimore's two turnovers and got only three points out of them.

The second half starts now, Browns trail 19-7.

Published
Anthony Moeglin
ANTHONY MOEGLIN

Anthony Moeglin is a northeast Ohio native, who most notably quarterbacked John Carroll University to the NCAA DIII National Semifinals in 2016 after beating the No. 1 team in the country twice in a 4-week stretch. He contributes written and video/podcast content for Browns Digest, as well as serving as the lead football analyst for BuckeyesNow on the FanNation network.

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