The Ravens season appeared to be over when Lamar Jackson was carted off the field in Cleveland.
Jackson suffered a sprained ankle and could be able to get back in the lineup at some point.
Backup Tyler Huntley entered the game and efficiently led a spirited rally that fell short with the Ravens losing 24-22.
The Browns should not be celebrating after narrowly beating a Ravens team that has 20 players on Injured Reserve.
“I feel like we won the game,” said Ravens running back Devonta Freeman, who had 64 yards rushing on 16 carries. “I feel like we physically beat them, but we’ve just got to finish and execute. We beat them, but they won the game. I just think we’ve got to execute better and get back to the details, get back to the drawing board, and let’s just figure out ways to finish. Because in the NFL, you never know how it’s going to go. It’s ‘Any Given Sunday,’ and it can go any way. So, we’ve just got to figure out how to finish better.”
The Ravens are 8-5 with games against the Packers and Rams sandwiched around a trip to Cincinnati before ending the season against the Steelers. The Ravens probably need to win three of those games for a spot in the postseason. The Ravens have lost back-to-back games for the first time since last December.
“It’s just time to go to work,” linebacker Patrick Queen said. “We just have to capitalize on the things that we can capitalize on and the plays that we can make. Down the stretch, [we have to] just get the wins that we need, one win at a time.”
If Jackson is out for another game or two, Huntley showed he can lead the offense.
Huntley pulled the Ravens to within two points with an 8-yard touchdown pass to tight end Mark Andrews. Safety Chuck Clark then recovered the onside kick to give the Ravens a chance to win the game.
However, Cleveland’s defense managed a sack and Huntley’s pass to rookie Rashod Bateman was short on a fourth-and-6.
Huntley was 27 of 38 for 270 yards with the score. He also lost two fumbles, one that was returned for a touchdown by Myles Garrett.
Andrews had 11 catches for 115 yards. Bateman finished with seven catches for 103 yards.
The Ravens had 10 penalties for 124 yards.
Refs are really putting it to the Ravens! pic.twitter.com/dOGTbctUEb
— Tony Lombardi (@RSRLombardi) December 12, 2021
Coach John Harbaugh opened another debate when he decided to go for a 2-point conversion after Latavius Murray‘s 1-yard touchdown run cut the deficit to 24-15. Huntley threw an interception in the end zone and the Ravens only got the six points. They scored late in the game, but the 2-point conversion was a moot point.
Some of the critics said he should have kicked the extra point to keep the game to one score.
Harbaugh defended the decision after the game.
“Well, it’s pretty much a standard non-decision,” he said. “You do it at that point in time because you’re going to have to win a two-point conversion [at some point]. So, you understand if you get it or won’t get it early, where you’re at and go from there – how many possessions you’re going to need and what you’re going to have to do.
“If you wait until the last two-point conversion, and you don’t get it, the game’s over. You’ve lost. So, you try it early. We’re in a 7-point game, and we know where we stand. If we don’t get it, we’re in a 9-point game, and we know that we need two possessions.”
The Ravens’ secondary played fairly well despite missing three starters. They had some struggles early with pass interference penalties but played better down the stretch. Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield consistently picked on cornerback Chris Westry, who had trouble covering the Browns wide receivers before finishing the game strong.
“We’re headstrong. We just … We understand our obligation and our job,” Westry said. “For some of us, this is a life-changing opportunity. The ‘Next Man [Up]’ mentality, you have to do your job. From my personal experience, I just have to do better. The performance today by me wasn’t good enough. [We] just have to go to work and stack days.”
