In one of the most entertaining football games of a crazy season, the Cleveland Browns came up just short of the Baltimore Ravens in a wild, 47-42 shootout that had a little bit of everything.
So many things happened in the four quarters, from crazy runs to unpredictable special teams and even Lamar Jackson missing time while indisposed with “cramps”. The highlight reel from the game can fill an entire 30-minute sports show. But there is one overriding takeaway for the Browns:
Resiliency.
The Browns did not collapse under the pressure of a game with playoff intensity. Given several chances to wilt away as they had done in the first meeting, a 38-6 blowout loss in Baltimore in Week 1, coach Kevin Stefanski’s Browns did not quit. They rose up and asked for more.
Down 14 in the third quarter after a bad Baker Mayfield interception that was quickly cashed in by the Ravens, the Browns faced a real turning point. The Week 1 Browns would have fallen apart. The snowball would have rolled into a Baltimore avalanche, burying the Browns dignity underneath the crushed expectations.
Not this time.
Kevin Stefanski’s Browns processed the adversity and progressed. They methodically rolled up points to take a lead, thanks in part to Lamar Jackson’s crappy timing to cramp up. The defense finally made a couple of plays, while Mayfield and the offense were firing on all cylinders.
When the Ravens seized the lead again on a beautiful play from Jackson to Marquise Brown, the Browns once demonstrated resilience. Mayfield led them on a game-tying drive, a well-conceived and nicely executed drive from the young QB and the rookie head coach.
The Ravens had just a little too much time to get into position for the Justin Tucker game-winning field goal. His 55-yarder was never in doubt. It took everything the reigning MVP had to thwart the Browns. It didn’t feel like the Browns lost as much as they just ran out of time. The last-ditch free-for-all play ended in a safety to make the final margin five.
Moral victories are not the goal, not for the 9-4 Browns. But even in the loss, the Browns proved they can compete with a good team under the spotlight. Given the struggles the Browns had in handling adversity early in the year in ugly losses to the Ravens and Steelers, they needed some validation. More to the point, the fans needed some reason to believe in the team. Last week’s road win over the AFC South-leading Titans was a big step in that direction.
Even in a heartbreaking loss, the Browns took another big step. The loss stings now, but this is a game the team and the fans can point to and say, “we’ve got ourselves a chance” with these talented Browns and their newfound resilience.