Ravens @ Browns
Final Score: Ravens 28, Browns 3
Writer: Brett Ford (@FadeThatMan on Twitter)
The Browns lost their second offensive centerpiece of the season, resulting in a lack of execution and output as Cleveland mustered just three points of offense in a 28-3 loss at Baltimore on Sunday. The news broke around 11:00 a.m. that Deshaun Watson would be held out and Dorian Thompson-Robinson would be thrust into his first career NFL regular season start, just a couple of weeks after losing Nick Chubb to a season-ending injury. The Browns offense looked out of sync as the Ravens’ defense licked its chops against the rookie. On the opposite side of the ball, Lamar Jackson and company took advantage of multiple short field opportunities, but also put together a pair of long touchdown drives against a previously impervious Cleveland defense. With a run-heavy attack with passes sprinkled in strategically, the Ravens moved deliberately and methodically down the field and wore down the Browns for the win.
Let’s dig in.
Three Up
- Lamar Jackson – Vintage Lamar. Literally the best game we’ve seen from Lamar Jackson since his MVP season.
- Mark Andrews – Vintage Andrews. He should probably run for Governor of Ohio, because he has owned Cincinnati and Cleveland on the road.
- David Njoku – This guy survived severe burns and went to not only play, but lead his team in receiving yards and catches.
Three Down
- Dorian Thompson-Robinson – This Ravens defense was better than anything he had seen in the preseason, and it showed.
- Cleveland pass-catchers – DTR dragged the whole airborn operation to nearly a standstill.
- Isaiah Likely – With just 15 offensive snaps and no targets, Likely was a non-factor.
Baltimore Ravens
Quarterback
Lamar Jackson: 15/19, 186 Yards, 2 TD | 9 Carries, 27 Yards, 2 TD, 1 Fumble (Lost), 1 Fumble (Recovered)
Lamar Jackson looked like 2019 Lamar Jackson, doing nearly everything right against one of the best defenses in the NFL to lead his team to a victory. Missing two of his top three wide receivers and his all-pro left tackle, Jackson still managed to complete over 75% of his passes and four total touchdowns. He was as accurate as he’s ever been, which shined most on his first touchdown pass to Mark Andrews.
The ball placement by Lamar Jackson??
The catch by Mark Andrews?? pic.twitter.com/Qv8T0d5ViS
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) October 1, 2023
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Tyler Huntley: 2 Carries, 8 Yards
Running Back
Gus Edwards: 15 Carries, 48 Yards | 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 1 Yard
Edwards ran hard against a stout run defense, but the most notable thing about his performance was the passing game involvement. Edwards was in the game for eight of the Ravens’ 11 third down snaps, and caught two passes on three targets. It marked the first time that Edwards recorded more than one catch in a game since 2020. With Hill still on the mend, Edwards took over the passing downs but it likely isn’t sustainable.
Melvin Gordon III: 3 Carries, 21 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 23 Yards
On the field for less than 30% of the offensive snaps, Gordon had a minuscule role, even with Justice Hill resting in the second half. He did pop off for a 23-yard gain on a nice touch throw on a wheel route.
Justice Hill: 3 Carries, 33 Yards
Hill was efficient and explosive on his carries, but didn’t play in the second half. He was nursing an injury all week and was questionable to play. It’s likely that he’ll take away the pass game involvement that Edwards got this week once he returns to full health.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Zay Flowers: 1 Carry | 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 56 Yards
With Rashod Bateman and Odell Beckham Jr. both out with injuries, fantasy managers may have been hoping for more from the rookie wide receiver, even against a tough matchup. Flowers was limited to a career-low three catches for 56 yards. Most of his yardage came on a broken play that Lamar extended for quite a while, escaping the pocket to find Flowers deep down the sideline for 43 yards. The Ravens did not scheme many gadget looks for Flowers, likely due to Cleveland’s defensive speed and discipline.
Mark Andrews: 5 Targets, 5 Receptions, 80 Yards, 2 TD
Andrews was playing with intensity and was very clearly completely healthy. He pulled in all five of his targets and found the end zone twice. He looked absolutely elite, which could be just because he loves facing the Browns. Of Andrews’ eight career multi-touchdown games, three of them have come against Cleveland.
Lamar Jackson to Mark Andrews Passing TD (4/3)
pic.twitter.com/Xsh0kmI6VD— NFL TD Videos (@NFLTDVideos2023) October 1, 2023
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Nelson Agholor: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 4 Yards
Devin Duvernay: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 8 Yards
Patrick Ricard: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 14 Yards
Cleveland Browns
Quarterback
Dorian Thompson-Robinson: 19/36, 121 Yards, 3 INT | 4 Carries, 24 Yards
Buddy got thrown to the wolves on Sunday… and it did not go well. The decision making was questionable. The speed of the game had him looking overwhelmed. It was not a good debut. Browns fans are clamoring for Watson to get back for Week 5, because Thompson-Robinson was historically bad. According to RBSDM.com, Thompson-Robinson averaged -0.58 EPA per play, meaning he cost the Browns more than a point for every two plays he was on the field. Oof.
Where was Dorian Thompson-Robinson throwing this ball?
Easy INT..pic.twitter.com/t9Q3j3jpRAhttps://t.co/XvQtZaca1V
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 1, 2023
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Running Back
Jerome Ford: 9 Carries, 26 Yards | 6 Targets, 5 Receptions, 19 Yards
Ford is still the primary pass-catching back for the Browns, but he carried the ball less than half of the time. He dominated third down usage and played on 43 of 69 total offensive snaps, so his on-field presence in encouraging but an uptick in usage would be nice for fantasy managers to see.
Pierre Strong Jr.: 5 Carries, 49 Yards
The most efficient runner of the Browns backfield, Strong is likely just a spell back for the other guys to catch a breather.
Kareem Hunt: 5 Carries, 12 Yards
Hunt carried five times but wasn’t very effective against a stout Ravens’ front. He did get 60% of short-yardage snaps, which could mean goal line looks in games that the Cleveland offense is actually effective.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
David Njoku: 7 Targets, 6 Receptions, 46 Yards
Despite suffering facial burns this week and being listed as questionable entering the game, Njoku led the Browns with six catches and 46 yards receiving. He was the one Cleveland offensive piece that reached expectations on Sunday, and he very well could have been on the bench based on his injury designation leading up to this week’s action.
Amari Cooper: 6 Targets, 1 Reception, 16 Yards
How did we get here? Well, when your quarterback is incompetent, it’s difficult for him to get his pass-catchers to their expected stat lines. Though one might think that a novice quarterback might lean on his best pass-catcher in his debut, Cooper himself was critical of the Browns’ supporting cast saying that he and his teammates “didn’t do a good job of making things easier” on DTR.
Elijah Moore: 1 Carry | 4 Targets, 2 Receptions, 20 Yards
Typically a safety valve option for Watson, even Moore couldn’t get to his expected numbers with DTR under center.
Harrison Bryant: 1 Carry, 2 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 2 Yards
Donovan Peoples-Jones: 4 Targets, 1 Reception, 7 Yards
DTR couldn’t have hit DPJ on a downfield route is his life depended on it. The former Michigan Wolverine is anxiously awaiting the return of Deshaun Watson.
Jordan Akins: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 6 Yards
Cedric Tillman: 3 Targets, 1 Reception, 5 Yards
Marquise Goodwin: 1 Target, 1 Reception