Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns
Final Score: Ravens 23, Browns 16
Writer: Brett Ford (@FadeThatMan)
This was a fascinating game to watch, albeit mostly ugly from an offensive and fantasy standpoint, but a lot of interesting storylines will come from this one as the Ravens did just enough to edge the AFC North rival Browns, 23-16, in Cleveland on Sunday. Penalties, turnovers, and Myles Garrett ruined things for the Baltimore Ravens in the first half as the Cleveland Browns created short fields for their offense with strong defensive and special teams play. After a defensive touchdown, Cleveland took a 16-10 lead into the halftime break. In the second half, the Ravens’ defense stood tall as the Browns became almost entirely one-dimensional with Shedeur Sanders under center. The Ravens were good enough to move the ball into the red zone – relying heavily on their running backs – but struggled to punch the ball into the end zone on multiple occasions, settling for field goals on their drives. In the final four minutes, Baltimore finally found the end zone, faking a tush push and sweeping it around the outside with Mark Andrews for a 35-yard rushing score that ended up being the difference. It was an ugly, grind-it-out affair with few fantasy stars. Let’s dig in.
Two Up
- Derrick Henry – He wore down the Cleveland defense until they finally gave up a big run, topped 100 yards, and found the end zone.
- Shedeur Sanders – He wasn’t as bad as the box score looked, and he got on the field. That’s a win for the rookie.
Two Down
- Browns pass-catchers – If the Browns don’t open up the playbook at some point, they’re just not going to be fantasy viable. None of them!
- Quinshon Judkins – Held without a score, Judkins saw stacked boxes all day long as the Browns posed very little threat through the air.
Baltimore Ravens
Quarterback
Lamar Jackson: 14/25, 193 Yards, 2 INT | 4 Carries, 10 Yards
The Browns’ front seven did a good job in keeping Jackson uncomfortable for most of the game, and it showed in his lack of accuracy on passes that he typically makes look routine. He turned the ball over twice – though one of those picks was clearly not his fault. Jackson and the Ravens leaned heavily on the running game to bring them back in the second half as the Browns’ pass rush proved too much for the Ravens on several occasions. Perhaps it’s the glaring inefficiencies of the offensive line, but Lamar just hasn’t looked like Lamar since even before the injury, probably all the way back to Week 2. He’s still one of the best athletes in the NFL and could pop off for a massive game at any point, but it feels like the floor is lower this year without the consistent rushing production we used to see.
Running Back
Derrick Henry: 18 Carries, 103 Yards, TD | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 19 Yards
Henry converted a rushing touchdown from inside the five-yard line for the first time since Week 7, punching it in from the two. In the second half, he continued to grind down the Cleveland defense until he finally broke free for a 60-yard run. He looked poised to score, but he was caught inside the red zone just shy of his second score. With Justice Hill missing, Henry was more involved in the passing game as well – a welcome sight for fantasy managers.
Thank you, Derrick Henry pic.twitter.com/f9xWvtfYCI
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) November 16, 2025
Keaton Mitchell: 6 Carries, 31 Yards | 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 23 Yards
With Justice Hill out of the mix with an injury, Mitchell had more of an opportunity to make plays in this one than he has practically all season. He allowed an easy screen to go off his hands and right to a defender for a pick six, but looked reliable outside of that. He averaged just over five yards per carry and was an excellent change of pace to the lumbering Henry. If Hill misses again, there’s a chance Mitchell becomes fantasy relevant in deeper leagues. He’s certainly got the speed and talent to break a big play.
Lamar Jackson gets sold by Keaton Mitchell.
Devin Bush Pick 6 🔥 pic.twitter.com/vZCUt7Zw2h
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) November 16, 2025
Rasheen Ali: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 15 Yards
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Zay Flowers: 5 Targets, 3 Receptions, 78 Yards | 1 Carry, 5 Yards
Largely forgotten as the Ravens struggled to protect Jackson, Flowers caught his longest pass on a play-action route across the field, cutting it up for several yards after the catch before being pulled down inside the five-yard line. Still the Ravens’ clear WR1, managers were likely frustrated that Flowers didn’t get an uptick in production with Bateman out.
Mark Andrews: 5 Targets, 3 Receptions, 32 Yards | 1 Carry, 35 Yards, TD
Andrews became the Ravens’ all-time leader in receiving yardage with his first catch of the game and added to his total with three total receptions on the day. His biggest play of the day was the game-winner, a tight end bootleg (Really!) for a 35-yard touchdown on a fourth-and-one play in the fourth quarter. Lined up in a tush push formation, Andrews faked the sneak and looped around, followed fullback Pat Ricard to the right, clearing the edge and scooting to the end zone. The Ravens have now run a three-play package out of that look with Andrews under center, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see the tight end throw a pass or two before the end of the regular season as well.
MARK ANDREWS TAKES IT HIMSELF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tune in on CBS pic.twitter.com/GJEbNW7ooy
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) November 17, 2025
DeAndre Hopkins: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 11 Yards
No Bateman meant a few additional snaps for the veteran wide receiver, but he managed just one catch for 11 yards.
Charlie Kolar: 1 Target
Isaiah Likely: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 15 Yards
Cleveland Browns
Quarterback
Dillon Gabriel: 7/10, 68 Yards | 2 Carries, 2 Yards
The crowd turned on Gabriel despite the rookie managing the game and quarterbacking the Browns to a halftime lead. To be fair, Gabriel didn’t give the Browns much life as he constantly threw underneath, but it was enough to keep them in the lead. At halftime, he was evaluated for a concussion, and the Cleveland faithful got what they wanted – Shedeur Sanders under center.
Shedeur Sanders: 4/16, 47 Yards | 3 Carries, 16 Yards
The change was made at halftime as Gabriel was assessed for a concussion, and the backup quarterback brought an immediate surge of energy into the stadium. He completed each of his first two passes for short gains and was sacked on third-and-medium. The Browns seemed to keep the training wheels on for their rookie backup, dialing up quick-hitting pass plays and pocket-movers almost exclusively while leaning heavily on the run. During Sanders’ first 20 offensive snaps, the Browns gained a composite total of four yards. It wasn’t until Cleveland trailed by a touchdown that they allowed Sanders to open up the playbook – and he converted on a couple of intermediate throws for first downs. He should have had the game-tying touchdown, hitting his wide receiver in the end zone, but it was ripped out by the defensive back at the last second.
Shedeur might not be as bad as this box score indicates. But if he’s truly “Ready,” as the coaching staff says, the Browns will need to stop playing it safe and allow Sanders to actually be a quarterback for more than just one series. Otherwise, opposing defenses are going to pin their ears back, stack the box, and make camp in the Cleveland backfield like the Ravens did Sunday.
Fans react to Shedeur Sanders taking the fieldpic.twitter.com/E0lAb5HLAW
— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) November 16, 2025
Running Back
Quinshon Judkins: 17 Carries, 59 Yards | 2 Targets
Dylan Sampson: 1 Carry, 19 Yards | 1 Target
Jerome Ford: 1 Carry, 2 Yards
Judkins had what might be considered a down game on Sunday afternoon against a revamped Ravens run defense, gaining under 4.0 yards per carry and being held without a touchdown. It’s difficult to gain yards on the ground when the whole stadium knows you’re running the football on nearly every handoff. That was certainly the case in the second half as the Browns did all they could to run out the clock with a lead instead of allowing Sanders to cut loose.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Jerry Jeudy: 7 Targets, 3 Receptions, 21 Yards
Malachi Corley: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 9 Yards
Cedric Tillman: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 52 Yards
Isaiah Bond: 1 Target | 1 carry, 8 yards
It felt like a lot of cardio for most of these guys, especially in the second half. The Browns played it incredibly safe offensively, running the ball a ton. On the pass plays that they did have, the Ravens were able to attack the pocket and disrupt Sanders’ rhythm to make his throws more difficult. Jeudy and Tillman each caught one pass from the quarterback, but that was all the production from the entire wide receiver room in the second half. A playbook with most of the pages torn out isn’t much fun for Browns receivers or their fantasy managers.
David Njoku: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 7 yards
Harold Fannin, Jr.: 5 Targets, 2 Receptions, 26 Yards
Njoku and Fannin each caught one pass from Sanders in the second half, while neither was highly utilized by Gabriel before he left. It’s so difficult to trot out any Cleveland pass-catchers when the team is so clearly afraid to throw the ball downfield. I know I sound like a broken record, but this whole Browns offense is basically bench fodder unless the play-calling fundamentally changes.