Ravens win 2nd game in 4 days… but the real test lies ahead in Dallas…

It was far from a decisive show of dominance by the 5-4 Ravens over the 0-10 Cleveland Browns until the second half…the Browns actually led the game 7-6 at halftime.

But something kicked in for the Ravens in terms of confidence and technique going into the 3rd quarter…

Ravens safety Eric Weddle said: “This is a building block for the team and gives us momentum heading into a game against one of the best teams in the league (Dallas).”[That game in Dallas is 10 days away, which in effect gives the Ravens a mini-Bye week…]

The Ravens win by more than one score for the first time in two years by beating the winless Browns, 28-7. Baltimore forced three turnovers and totaled 396 yards of offense. The Ravens (5-4) are in sole possession of first place in the AFC North.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh: “We’re in a building process with our team, especially on offense, which has the longest to go. Maybe at the end of the season, we’ll look back on this as the turning point.”

The Baltimore Ravens gained sole possession of first place in the AFC North at the expense of the winless Cleveland Browns, who reached a historic low point in franchise history. Joe Flacco threw three touchdown passes, and the Ravens used a strong second half to notch a 28-7 victory Thursday night.

Baltimore trailed at halftime before gaining control during a third quarter in which Flacco went 10 for 12 with two scores. The Ravens (5-4) have won two in a row following a four-game losing streak. Baltimore is the only team in the AFC North division above .500.

Cleveland (0-10) has opened a season with 10 consecutive losses for the first time since joining the NFL in 1950. The Browns have dropped 11 straight on the road since winning in Baltimore in October 2015. The defeat left Cleveland’s all-time record at 461-461-10. The Browns have never been below .500.

Down 7-6 at halftime, the Ravens moved 64 yards on their first possession of the third quarter to take a 13-7 lead. Flacco connected with five different receivers on the drive, closing with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Darren Waller.

Browns coach Hue Jackson then opted to insert Josh McCown at quarterback after watching starter Cody Kessler go 10 for 17 for 94 yards. McCown’s second pass was intercepted, giving Baltimore the ball at the Cleveland 40 with a chance to break the game open.

The Ravens moved to the 15 before Flacco heaved an ill-advised throw into the end zone that was picked off by Joe Haden.

Baltimore’s next drive, however, was run on a short field. After a 32-yard punt gave the Ravens the ball at the Cleveland 43, Flacco threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Steve Smith, and a 2-point conversion made it 21-7.

A 27-yard touchdown throw to Breshad Perriman sealed it with 6:21 remaining and marked the 10th straight game in which the Browns yielded at least 25 points.

Flacco went 30 for 41 for 296 yards and two interceptions.

McCown went 6 for 13 for 59 yards. He was picked off twice and lost a fumble when hit by Terrell Suggs, who was playing with a torn biceps.

“Adrenaline. Adrenaline was working tonight,” Suggs said.

Jackson said Kessler will start the Browns’ next game, at home against Pittsburgh on Nov. 20.

The first time these teams played this season, the Ravens had to rally from 20 points down to pull out for a 25-20 win. Baltimore needed another comeback in this one, though the deficit wasn’t nearly as imposing.

After their first three series produced two punts and an interception , the Ravens gained possession at the Cleveland 48 following a punt and used a 25-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead.

Kessler followed with a 25-yard touchdown pass to tight end Seth DeValve who crossed a route which fooled safety Eric Weddle very badly, and at that point the Browns looked very little like a team that hadn’t won a game in 11 months. But halftime adjustments prevailed.

It was the first time this season that the Ravens had a game decided by more than eight points. It was their most lopsided victory since a 20-10 win over Cleveland on Dec. 28, 2014.

“It’s fair to say we didn’t expect to be here at 0-10, but it’s also fair to say we expect to grow from this,” McCown said.

“T-Sizzle is a once-in-a-generation type player,” Baltimore safety Eric Weddle said about Suggs, who had a sack and a forced fumble.

Steve Smith Sr. had five catches for 60 yards and moved into eighth place on the NFL career list with 14,349 yards receiving. He passed Reggie Wayne, and now is in pursuit of No. 7 Marvin Harrison (14,580).

INJURIES: Browns: CB Jamar Taylor (groin) was inactive.

Ravens: LG Alex Lewis injured his right ankle in the third quarter, was carted off the field and did not return. X-rays were negative. … C Jeremy Zuttah injured his right ankle on Smith’s TD.

Final:

Matchup
1st Downs	11	29
Passing 1st downs	9	19
Rushing 1st downs	1	7
1st downs from penalties	1	3
3rd down efficiency	2-10	7-12
4th down efficiency	0-0	0-0
Total Plays	48	77
Total Yards	144	396
Total Drives	11	12
Yards per Play	3.0	5.1

Baltimore Passing

Baltimore Rushing

Baltimore Receiving

Baltimore Defense

Baltimore Interceptions

Cleveland Passing

Cleveland Rushing

Cleveland Receiving

Baltimore dominated the Browns in time of possession, 38.36 to 21.24. Usually when that happens at such a great margin, you’re going to win big. But the Browns are one thing— the Dallas Cowboys are going to be the litmus test for the Ravens going forward.