This one’s going to hurt for Cleveland.
Placekicker Justin Tucker’s 32-yard field goal as time expired gave the Ravens 23-21 victory over the Browns in Cleveland on Sunday.
It was a thoroughly frustrating fourth quarter for the Browns (1-2). First, kicker Billy Cundiff missed a 50-yard field goal and had a 36-yard field goal blocked. Then, with a 21-20 lead and chance to close out the game in the final minutes, the Browns went three-and-out deep in their own end, setting up the Ravens at midfield at the two-minute warning.
Two plays later, the Ravens made the game’s pivotal play. Wide receiver Steve Smith beat cornerback Joe Haden off the line, and quarterback Joe Flacco hit him for a 32-yard gain. Now, the Ravens were in slam-dunk field goal range, and Tucker — one of the game’s clutch kickers — gave Baltimore the win.
In victory, Flacco completed 19-of-31 passes for 217 yards with one TD and one pick. The Ravens’ ground game was very productive even without Bernard Pierce, racking up 160 yards. Rookie Lorenzo Taliaferro helped pick up the slack with 91 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.
The Browns got another solid performance from quarterback Brian Hoyer, who connected on 19-of-25 passes for 290 yards and a touchdown. But Hoyer also went over the line of scrimmage on a fourth quarter TD pass to Miles Austin, resulting in a loss of down. On the next play, Cundiff’s field goal was blocked.
And in the end, Cleveland couldn’t close out Baltimore (2-1).
The Ravens suffered a potentially serious personnel loss in the win, as tight end Dennis Pitta departed the game on a stretcher after a right hip injury. He was taken to a hospital, according to the club.
