CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns upset their AFC North Division rival Baltimore Ravens, 13-3, on a cold late Saturday afternoon at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.
The Browns improve to 6-8 on the season and the Ravens fall to 9-5 as the two teams split the season series. With Cleveland beating Baltimore, the Cincinnati Bengals are now in first place in the AFC North leading the Ravens by a half-game.
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The Browns defense forced two second half turnovers and stopped the Ravens three times on fourth down. Baltimore kicker Justin Tucker missed a pair of field goals.
Deshaun Watson threw for 161 yards and a touchdown and Nick Chubb ran for 99 yards. Cleveland rushed for 143 yards. Myles Garrett had 1.5 sacks.
Baltimore had a chance to score in the first quarter but Patrick Ricard was stopped on fourth and one from the Browns seven-yard line to keep the game scoreless after one quarter.
Cade York’s 47-yard field goal put Cleveland on the board, 3-0, early in the second quarter. Tucker’s 53-yard field goal with 5:31 left in the first half tied the game at 3-3. The Browns drove to the Raven four-yard-line but could not get into the end zone as York’s second field goal, 23-yards, put them ahead, 6-3, with 1:52 left until halftime.
Baltimore had a chance for more points before the first half ended but Tucker’s 48-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left at the half ended and Cleveland led, 6-3, at halftime.
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The Ravens took the second half opening kickoff and drove to Cleveland’s 15-yard line but Tyler Huntley was intercepted by Denzel Ward and the Browns took over at their nine-yard-line.
Cleveland drove 91-yards on 12 plays capped by Watson’s three-yard touchdown pass to Donovan Peoples-Jones to increase it to 13-3.
Baltimore had several miscues in the second half. Damarcus Robinson’s fumble was recovered by John Johnson II with just over two minutes left in the third quarter. Tucker’s 50-yard field goal attempt in the fourth quarter was blocked by Jordan Elliott with 14:02 to play. The Ravens also went 0-2 on fourth down in the final quarter.
Cleveland will host New Orleans on Christmas Eve, December 24, for the Browns’ final home game of the season at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Kickoff is at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast on WHIO Radio.