BALTIMORE – Life returned to normalcy for the Baltimore Ravens, a football team accustomed to certain traditions when squaring off with the overmatched Cleveland Browns.
Although the Ravens nearly squandered a commanding lead and transformed a routine game into something of an adventure in the fourth quarter, they generally thrashed the Browns on Christmas Eve to go undefeated at home this season.
Star running back Ray Rice dominated the open field against slow-footed linebackers during a 20-14 victory before 71,083 at M&T Bank Stadium as they defeated the Browns for the eighth consecutive time and finished 8-0 at home for the first time in franchise history.
"I’ve never been perfect at home in 16 years of football," said middle linebacker Ray Lewis, the lone remaining player on the roster from the Ravens’ inaugural team in 1996. "And that’s amazing because as good of teams as we’ve had here, we’ve always found a way to lose one or two here or three. This year, we really made our focus on taking care of home."
It wasn’t a game with many style points and the final score was closer than the Ravens (11-4) would have preferred, but it accomplished their goal. Now, they’re one win away from clinching the AFC North division title and earning a first-round bye as at least the second seed in the AFC.
"A little bit, I was definitely disappointed out there because it’s not big things that we didn’t do," quarterback Joe Flacco said. "It was just little things that we didn’t do very well in the second half, and it could’ve gotten us beat."
A crucial special-teams breakdown and dropped passes from the Ravens contributed to the Browns’ comeback attempt.
The Ravens finally closed the Browns out after allowing 14 unanswered points in the second half after building a 20-0 lead when inside linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo shoved running back Peyton Hillis out of bounds on fourth-and-five to allow them to take over on downs late in the fourth quarter.
Earning a first down on the ensuing Baltimore possession, Flacco drew rookie defensive tackle Phil Taylor offsides on fourth down with a hard count that got the big first-round draft pick to jump on fourth down. Then, Flacco kneeled down three times to end the game.
"It was the first hard count and we stayed onside," Taylor said. "The second time, I just jumped. Of course you feel bad, but you just got to move on."
That allowed the Ravens to finally put the Browns away after allowing an 84-yard punt return for a touchdown to Josh Cribbs and a touchdown pass to tight end Evan Moore.
"Come on, you guys can figure it out," Flacco said when asked if there was an actual play called. "The play clock was at two seconds, and we hadn’t snapped the ball yet. I don’t know if I’ve ever been in position for that to happen. It’s never worked."
Successfully defending their territory six days after a humbling road setback against the San Diego Chargers that temporarily dropped them back in the AFC North and playoff standings, the Ravens are now well-positioned as long as they beat the Cincinnati Bengals on the road to conclude the regular season next week.
Since the Pittsburgh Steelers also won Sunday, the Ravens have to beat the Bengals to assure themselves of hosting an AFC divisional round playoff game.
"Sometimes, we say it’s not perfect and it’s not pretty," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "Our guys found a way to win the game at the end, and that’s what counts. Thank you to our fans, you are a huge part of an undefeated season at home."
If the Ravens beat the Bengals and the New England Patriots lose to the Buffalo Bills, the Ravens would clinch the top seed in the AFC and home-field advantage throughout the postseason.
"It’s going to be a war, man," outside linebacker Jarret Johnson said. "They’re fighting for their life. We’re fighting for the division. So, it’s going to be a playoff game."
Not surprisingly, little was different from the Ravens after the belt-whipping they delivered to the Browns in Cleveland three weeks ago.
After rushing for a career-high 204 yards in the first meeting, Rice rendered the Browns powerless to stop him again.
He rushed for 87 yards on a mere 23 carries, but his most impressive play was in the second quarter when he ran a wheel route and left former University of Maryland middle linebacker D’Qwell Jackson flatfooted.
Rice curled out of the backfield and Jackson was unable to match his speed and acceleration as he hauled in a perfectly-timed spiral from quarterback Joe Flacco. Jackson could only watch as Rice scooted behind him into the end zone.
The 42-yard touchdown up the right sideline staked the Ravens to a 17-0 advantage and gave Rice his 13th score of the year.
"I saw man coverage from the get-go," Rice said. "I said, ‘If I get a step on him, I got him.’ It was a great call by Cam Cameron and great execution by me and Joe."
An opportunistic defense stymied the Browns immediately.
With starting quarterback Colt McCoy sidelined with a concussion suffered weeks ago on an illegal hit by Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison, his replacement had issues against the NFL’s third-ranked defense.
Telegraphing a throw intended for wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi, Seneca Wallace didn’t connect with his target.
Instead, the football fluttered into the hands of cornerback Lardarius Webb as he swooped in front of Massaquoi for the interception.
The Ravens capitalized on the turnover five plays later.
The Ravens got down to the Browns’ five-yard line a few plays after rookie wide receiver Torrey Smith drew a 60-yard pass interference penalty on Cleveland free safety Mike Adams when he made contact with the second-round draft pick downfield.
And then Flacco darted a throw over the middle to tight end Ed Dickson for a five-yard touchdown pass as he adjusted to a throw slightly behind him.
The victim in this case was Jackson, allowing his first of two touchdowns.
"It’s just a read play on the goal line," Dickson said. "I give him a little move and then go over top of him. Joe made a good read and put it on my back shoulder. I think we’re getting into a pretty good rhythm."
The Ravens expanded their lead to 10 points when newly-acquired kicker Shayne Graham booted a 48-yard field goal.
Graham was signed Wednesday as an injury replacement for struggling Pro Bowl kicker Billy Cundiff, who was scratched due to a left calf injury.
Cundiff has missed 3 of 5 field goals in December.
In his second injury stint this season after previous work with the Miami Dolphins, Graham made both his field goal tries as he also connected on a 43-yarder in the third quarter.
The Browns prevented a shutout in the third quarter on an electrifying punt return for a touchdown against the beleaguered Ravens special teams.
His 84-yard jaunt up the middle marks the11th of his career, and it’s the third return the Ravens have allowed this season for a score. That hasn’t happened in nine years.
"He made us pay for it," Harbaugh said. "It was not good coverage, it was not a good punt and we have to do better than that. That’s really what got them back in the game."
Flacco was intercepted by cornerback Sheldon Brown in the end zone on a deep ball intended for veteran wide receiver Lee Evans, who was unproductive as he started with Anquan Boldin out after undergoing knee surgery to repair a slightly torn meniscus.
Evans has only four receptions this season after being acquired in a trade from the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick.
He was targeted four times, but caught no passes.
"I put it all on my shoulders," Evans said. "I wasn’t where Joe wanted me to be. When you don’t make the best of opportunities, you can’t really earn that trust. Until we get it corrected, it’s just going to be like it is."
Following the interception, the Browns drove 80 yards on a dozen plays and scored on Wallace’s touchdown pass to tight end Evan Moore from six yards out in front of strong safety Bernard Pollard.
Although the Ravens were unable to sustain their momentum in the second half and got pounded on the ground by Browns bruising running back Peyton Hillis for 112 yards on 24 carries, the outcome of the was fairly safe until a late charge.
Now, the Ravens close out the regular season next week on the road at Paul Brown Stadium where they could go undefeated in the AFC North for the first time in franchise history.
They’ll have some healing up to do before kickoff since kick returner David Reed is out for the season with a major knee injury, offensive guard Marshal Yanda has bruised ribs and cornerback Cary Williams and backup linebacker Dannell Ellerbe both left the game with concussions.
The Browns couldn’t get out of their own way at times, utilizing questionable play-calling from coach Pat Shurmur.
Overall, the game was tougher than it should have been like many AFC North clashes.
"It went all the way to the 12th round and we did it," said outside linebacker Terrell Suggs, who was held without a sack. "We had to go to scorecard, they weren’t going to let us knock them out. They fought. It just goes to show if we want to go on a championship run we’ve got to be tight, offense, defense alike."
