The Ravens returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown as time-expired to beat the Browns on the road.
The matchup between the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football was never going to light the world on fire as it was more a matchup to see which of the two teams was going to be in the driver’s seat for the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. When Johnny Manziel was benched and moved from starter to third-string quarterback for Cleveland and with Joe Flacco lost for the rest of the year due to an ACL injury, the game lost even that bit of potential excitement coming into it.
However, the two teams delivered on the drama despite their lack of starting quarterbacks and the lack of wins between the two teams. Matt Schaub threw a pick-six when the Ravens looked like they might jump out to a big lead at the start of the second half, Josh McCown made way for Austin Davis after getting injured, and then Davis converted on a fourth down and threw a 42-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 27-27 late in the fourth quarter.
With under five minutes in the final period, both the Ravens and Browns managed to put forth three-and-out possessions, leaving Schaub and the Ravens with the ball and just over a minute left. Ever the Matt Schaub thing to do, the Ravens quarterback threw an interception at around midfield. This allowed Austin Davis and the offense to come in and gain a first down and put the game in the hands of kicker Travis Coons. Then came all of the drama that anyone needed. Coons’ kick was blocked and Will Hill picked it up. He looked like he might go down, but he wandered into space, got some blocking, and turned on the jets as he returned it for a touchdown and the walkoff victory as time expired.
Three stars
The Ravens special teams came up huge in this game as they opened up the game with a punt return touchdown and the game-winning blocked field goal returned for a touchdown.
Cleveland quarterbacks were quite solid in this game. Before his injury, Josh McCown threw for 212 yards and a touchdown. Austin Davis came in after the injury to McCown and went 6-9 for 71 yards and a touchdown, including the late game-tying touchdown.
Kamar Aiken was solid in the loss for the Ravens as he caught six passes for 80 yards and a touchdown despite the fact that Matt Schaub started at quarterback for Baltimore.
Highlights
Kaelin Clay ran a 4.51 40 at the NFL Combine.
— NFL (@NFL) December 1, 2015
He flashes all that and more in this 82-yard TD punt return #BALvsCLE https://t.co/lv0O6DeiuK
Matt Schaub: Throwing NFL deep balls since 2004.
— NFL (@NFL) December 1, 2015
And this one goes for 48 to Chris Givens. #BALvsCLE https://t.co/OXxeeMFc4s
Josh McCown was gonna throw it.
— NFL (@NFL) December 1, 2015
Then was gonna run it.
Then DEFINITELY had to throw it.
Hey look, he's open: TD https://t.co/dAIsI9kWdf
Matt Schaub entered tonight having thrown a pick six in 4 of his previous 7 starts.
— NFL (@NFL) December 1, 2015
Cue Karlos Dansby. #BALvsCLE https://t.co/yKpNqOnwSt
You need to be resilient if you want to play QB in the NFL for 12 years.
— NFL (@NFL) December 1, 2015
Watch Matt Schaub find Kamar Aiken for SIX. https://t.co/7pre1CGd6J
Uh oh. #BALvsCLE pic.twitter.com/ZqYGiAOTSM
— NFL (@NFL) December 1, 2015
4th quarter. Clutch drive.
— NFL (@NFL) December 1, 2015
Austin Davis has got this.
42 deep ball to Travis Benjamin --> SIX. #BALvsCLE https://t.co/bKprDw79IM
Will hill! SportsCenter ESPN https://t.co/vMa7oYJePM pic.twitter.com/u4lwycxz9N
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) December 1, 2015
Odds
The Browns were 2.5-point favorites in this game, which they failed to cover in the loss. The over/under was set at 41 points, with the two teams combining to hit on the over.
Next Week
The Ravens will be on the road again next week to take on the Miami Dolphins.
Cleveland will be at home again next week as they will be put to the test against Ohio rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals.