This is a game Cleveland likely has to win if they want to stay in the AFC North race.
BALTIMORE — We’ve reached halftime in a crucial Week 7 in Baltimore, and the Browns are currently trailing the Ravens 13-10.
Here are three observations from the action so far:
1. Defensive report card
This past week was all about what players like John Johnson III and Joel Bitonio had to say about members of the Browns’ defense possibly not showing enough commitment. In the first half, Joe Woods’ unit hasn’t looked terrible, but also began to show some of its old tendencies as the game wore on.
Cleveland got off to a hot start, containing Lamar Jackson and forcing a pair of Justin Tucker field goals. But on the final drive before halftime, Jackson came to life, making tacklers miss and finding open receivers to put up a combined 63 rushing and passing yards on the series that ended with a Gus Edwards touchdown.
Baltimore managed 146 total yards in the first 30 minutes. That’s not a bad number to give up, but the Browns can’t keep giving up drives like that last one.
2. Improved QB play
Jacoby Brissett had his worst game as a Brown last Sunday, but so far, the quarterback is looking like a Pro Bowler. He’s completed 12-of-14 passes for 165 yards, including a 55-yard strike to Amari Cooper that set up a field goal. Cleveland may need him to deliver today, as the normally potent running game has just 17 yards over the first two quarters.
Brissett did have a bit of a rough end to the half, though, holding onto the ball too long and taking a pair of sacks that knocked the Browns out of field goal range. It’s missed opportunities like that that can bite teams in the end.
3. More odd decisions
Early in the second quarter, Lamar Jackson gained seven yards on third-and-17 after wiggling his way out of a potential sack. Either way, it was fourth down and the Ravens were going to punt from their own territory, but the Browns curiously chose to challenge the play and claim Jackson was down further back.
The original ruling stood, costing Cleveland one of its two challenges as well as a timeout. Given that the only thing they may have gotten out of that was marginally better field position, it probably wasn’t worth it to take a second look at that run.