Baltimore Ravens edge Cleveland Browns, 33-26, on a blocked field goal

The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Cleveland Browns, 33-27, on a blocked field goal returned 64 yards for a touchdown by safety Will Hill.

The Baltimore Ravens did not have the best game of the season, but it was easily the most exciting for a team that has endured the most disappointing season in franchise history. Brent Urban, activated for his first game of the season, blocked a 51-yard field goal try by Cleveland Browns kicker Travis Coon with no time remaining and Will Hill returned the block 64 yards for the game-winning touchdown to give the Ravens an improbable 33-27 win. It was another crazy ending to a Monday night game, but the Ravens were finally on the right side to get their fourth win of the season and win two in a row for the first time all season.

Matt Schaub, starting his first game for the injured Joe Flacco, threw a late interception that looked to be the nail in the coffin for the Ravens. Austin Davis, who came on late for an injured Josh McCown, drove the Browns into position to win the game before the Ravens heroics to steal a win on the road.

The scoring opened on an 82-yard punt return by Kaelin Clay who took advantage of Andy Lee’s bomb of a kick. He outkicked his coverage, however, and gave Clay enough room to make a cut and take it to the house for the Ravens first punt return for a touchdown this season, giving Baltimore an early 7-0 lead.

The Ravens second possession started off with a pair of Javorius Allen runs that quickly put Baltimore into Cleveland territory. The drive stalled as Schaub overthrew his intended target on a third down play, but Justin Tucker came on for a 49-yard field goal to make it a 10-0 in the first quarter.

Baltimore took advantage of Coons kick out of bounds on the kickoff with just three plays to score the second touchdown of the night. Schaub found Chris Givens deep down the field for a 48-yard pickup and two plays later Schaub connected with Allen on a 13-yard reception for a touchdown. Allen broke several tackles to reach the end zone that gave the Ravens a 17-3 lead.

The Browns scored their first offensive touchdown on a broken play in which Josh McCown eluded the pressure to find a wide open Marlon Moore for a 10-yard score to cut the Ravens lead to 17-10. It was a terrific play by McCown, and many were saying the play looked Johnny Manziel-esque, who was in uniform, but did not take the field despite the injury to McCown.

The Browns had another solid drive as the first half came to a close, advancing the ball all the way to the 3-yard-line. The Ravens defense did a great job of keeping Cleveland out of the end zone to force another field goal, and took a 17-13 lead into halftime.

In the five keys to victory, I said one of the keys would be that Schaub does not cause any turnovers. On the third play of the second half, Schaub did just that, throwing a pick-six to Karlos Dansby, who took it 52 yards for a score to make it a 20-17 Browns lead. Unfortunately, that would not be the only turnover for Schaub on the night.

Baltimore responded on the ensuring drive with a terrific drive that ended on a 15-yard touchdown to Kamar Aiken. Terrance West saw his first action of the game and rushed for 28 yards on the drive that took 12 plays to go 80 yards before the Aiken score. It was a terrific response from Schaub following the interception that gave the Browns their only lead of the night.

The Ravens had another solid drive that took 17 plays to go 82-yards, which ended in another Tucker field goal to give the Ravens a 27-20 lead. The drive was kept alive by a gusty 4th-and-1 play on the Ravens own 25 in which Schaub converted the first down on a quarterback sneak. West was once again a key part of the drive, picking up 15 yards on the ground, but also had a key block that allowed Schaub to keep the drive alive on a third down play.

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Davis entered the game for an injured McCown in the fourth quarter and quickly found Travis Benjamin wide open down the middle of the field for a 42-yard touchdown. The drive was kept alive on an 8-yard completion to Hartline on fourth down before Davis hit Benjamin for the score two plays later. For many Ravens fans, it seemed as though another tough loss was brewing.

The final minute and a half of the game gave fans a heart attack. Baltimore had two chances to get Tucker into field goal range, but one drive ended in a punt and another ended in another Schaub interception. The Browns took advantage of the Schaub INT to kick a potential game-winning field goal, but the 51-yard field goal was blocked and the rest is now history.

The Ravens offense finished with a solid night, despite Schaub almost giving the game away late. Aiken finished with six receptions for 80 yards and the touchdown, while Allen and West combined for 92 yards on 19 carries.

Some Ravens fans do not want to hear the magic word again, but the win actually puts them back into the playoff chase. The AFC is in the midst of a down year, with the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers currently hold the final two spots with six wins each. Baltimore’s chances are slim, but there is still something to play for despite the substandard season.

The Ravens travel to South Beach next week to take on the Miami Dolphins, who are also sporting a 4-7 record. Another win at Miami will put Baltimore right in the thick of the wild card race, although the matchups the rest of the way is no cake walk.

Next: Ravens 5 Keys to Victory vs. Browns

What is remarkable is somehow this team is still alive despite the poor start of the season. It has been frustrating to watch at times this season, and with the injuries this team has suffered, it is hard to imagine the Ravens somehow sneaking into the playoffs.

More importantly, let’s stop with this chatter that “the Ravens should lose for a better draft pick.” That is not going to happen, ever.

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