Poor Late Game Execution Leads To Baltimore Ravens Loss vs. Browns
When Gus Edwards scored a one-yard touchdown to put the Baltimore Ravens up 31-17 over the Cleveland Browns with 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter, ESPN Analytics gave them a 97.1% probability of winning the game.
However, the Ravens found a way to lose the game, falling 33-31 at home to the Browns to move to 7-3 on the season. A late Lamar Jackson pick-6 and an inability to stop Cleveland's offense when it mattered was ultimately what did Baltimore in.
At times this season, the Ravens have looked like one of the best teams in the NFL, but losses like these make it hard for fans to buy into what Baltimore is selling.
Read up on all you need to know about the Ravens' loss to the Browns.
Poor Late Game Execution
There is rarely a good excuse for losing a game after building a two-touchdown lead in the fourth quarter. Baltimore looked as though it was going to win its fifth-straight game to move to 8-2 on the season, but an inability to ice the game cost it the win.
The Ravens got the ball back after Jackson's pick-6, up one point with 8:16 left in the game. They proceeded to gain 16 yards on six plays and had to punt the ball back to Cleveland with 5:03 remaining. Baltimore would not see the ball again as the Browns put together a 12-play, 58-yard game-winning drive that ended in a Dustin Hopkins field goal.
Lamar Struggles vs. Top Defense
While Jackson has looked like an MVP candidate for much of the season, he struggled heavily against Cleveland's defense. The former MVP went 13-of-23 for 223 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. He was also sacked three times and had a third interception called back due to a holding penalty.
His 56.5 completion percentage was his lowest mark in a game this year, and he nearly threw as many interceptions in this game as he had in the previous nine games of the season (3).
All-Around Offensive Struggles
Despite putting up 31 points in the game, the Ravens struggled offensively against one of the league's best defenses. They picked up 17 first downs while going just 2-8 on third downs for the game.
Baltimore also only made it down to the red zone twice in the game with one of those times coming on a muffed punt from the Browns that it recovered at the 12-yard line. That was also the only successful red zone trip with the other ending in a field goal.
