Poor play calling, terrible time management and exasperating execution resulted in another Cleveland Browns’ loss to division rival Baltimore Ravens, this time by a 20 to 14 margin.
Once again, veteran quarterback Seneca Wallace got the start over Colt McCoy, who is still reeling with concussion symptoms after being blasted by Steelers’ lineback James Harrison. Wallace and the Browns’ offense showed promise in the opening drive, pounding the ball behind resurging running back Peyton Hillis. Though that glimmer of hope was quickly dashed by an interception by Raven’s Lardarius Webb. There was some questioning the call for a pass play on third and one, as Hillis was bashing his way though Baltimore’s defense.
On the day Hillis rolled up a season best 112-yards rushing on 24 attempts against the stout Ravens’ D. Unfortunately, the passing game didn’t improve much after the initial drive, as Wallace finished the day going 14 out of 33 for 147 yards, one touchdown and one interception. His only touchdown came during the fourth quarter on a six yard throw to tight end Evan Moore, which put the Browns’ within six points with around seven minutes to play.
Josh Cribbs also had a return to form of sorts, with a 84-yard punt return for a touchdown, one of only two the Browns scored on the day.
During the Ravens’s ensuing possession, Cleveland’s defense held tight and forced a three and out, giving the ball back to the Browns’ offense with only a minute and a half taken off the clock.
Following Baltimore’s punt, Cleveland’s offense again moved the ball effectively with Hillis, picking up a first down. However, again after early success the team fizzled out, follwing a holding call on lineman Shawn Lauvao. Tailing a 11-yard completion to Moore, Wallace threw two incomplete passes, followed by a pass to Hillis that fell short of the first down on a fourth and five play. With no timeouts left, the Browns gave the ball back to Baltimore.
Again the Browns’ defense remained stout, looking as if it would cause another three and out. On third down and three, the Ravens’ attempted to draw the Cleveland defense men offsides and rookie Phil Taylor bit on the hard count. With another set of downs and inside a minute and a half, the Ravens had simply to line up in the victory formation and run out the clock.
The other major flub up came at the end of the first half, the Browns were driving in the closing moments of the second quarter, thanks in large part to a 30-yard pass interference call. However, as the clock ticked inside 10 seconds, Wallace failed to line up and spike the ball to stop the clock. Instead they ran a hand off to Hillis for a three yard gain as the clock trickled to half time.
After the game both Wallace and head coach Pat Shurmur took blame for the botch call. Of the play, Shurmur said that he needed to communicate better, what it is that the nine year veteran Wallace needs communicated better about basic clock management is beyond me.
