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| Other Week 3 Game Recaps | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL at NE | CAR at DAL | CHI at SEA | CLE at BAL | DEN at OAK | GB at STL | IND at ARI | JAX at HOU |
| KC at PHI | MIA at SD | NO at BUF | NYG at TB | PIT at CIN | SF at MIN | TEN at NYJ | WAS at DET |
Week 3 Game Recap: Cleveland Browns 3, Baltimore Ravens 34
Cleveland Browns
| QB Derek Anderson, Pass: 11 - 19 - 92 - 0 TD / 3 INT |
Anderson replaced Brady Quinn at the start of the second half against Baltimore. He was able to move the offense at times but managed only a field goal against three interceptions. Anderson continues to be a stark contrast to Quinn in his preference to force the ball down the field, almost regardless of consequence.
| QB Brady Quinn, Pass: 6 - 8 - 34 - 0 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 2 - 9 - 0 |
Though a running game that continues to struggle didn't help, Quinn was unable to move the Browns offense again this week. The Browns seemed to game plan around short drops and short passes early to counter an aggressive Raven defense. Though he completed six of eight passes and was effective getting the ball to his hot receivers during the first half, head coach Eric Mangini benched Quinn at the start of the second half. Despite three interceptions by Derek Anderson in the second half, Quinn stayed on the sideline for the remainder of the game.
| RB Jerome Harrison, Rush: 16 - 52 - 0, Rec: 5 - 33 - 0 (7 targets) |
Harrison started in place of an injured Jamal Lewis. While able to break a couple of longer runs, Harrison was mostly bottled up around the line of scrimmage by a stout Baltimore defense. When he was able to get the ball in space, Harrison was elusive and ran with good speed. Harrison resumed his pre-injury role as an effective pass-catcher out of the backfield with five catches, but the Ravens often had him surrounded in space and kept him from breaking loose for long gains.
| RB James Davis, Rush: 5 - 10 - 0, Rec: 1 - 1 - 0 (1 targets) |
Though starting running back Jamal Lewis was inactive, Jerome Harrison got the majority of the snaps and carries against Baltimore. Davis didn't get his first snaps until midway through the third quarter. On his few carries, Davis was indecisive behind the line of scrimmage and unable to generate any momentum on his carries.
| WR Mike Furrey, Rec: 4 - 40 - 0 (6 targets) |
Furrey was frequently targeted as an outlet receiver by both Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson. He finished with the second most targets behind Jerome Harrison.
| WR Braylon Edwards, Rec: 3 - 35 - 0 (5 targets) |
Edwards managed only three catches on five targets on 27 pass attempts by both Cleveland quarterbacks. Edwards frequently had to break off routes to give Quinn a potential target against the Baltimore pass rush. He was targeted a couple of times downfield by Derek Anderson, but was marginalized by the Raven defense.
| WR Mohamed Massaquoi, Rec: 1 - 13 - 0 (3 targets) |
Massaquoi saw snaps in relief of Josh Cribbs after kickoff returns and some extended time late in the game when the outcome had already been decided.
| WR Josh Cribbs, Rec: 1 - 2 - 0 (2 targets) |
Targeted only twice, Cribbs was again not a factor in the Cleveland offense. Both Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson preferred check down targets to Cribbs' downfield routes. On his lone downfield target from Anderson, Cribbs didn't drive back to the ball hard enough and the pass was incomplete.
| TE Robert Royal, Rec: 1 - 7 - 0 (1 targets) |
Both Cleveland quarterbacks preferred to check down to Mike Furrey and Jerome Harrison on the rare occasions Royal went out on a pass route rather than stay in to assist with pass protection and run blocking.
Baltimore Ravens
| QB Joe Flacco, Pass: 25 - 35 - 342 - 1 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 2 - 5 - 0 |
Flacco had an easy time against a weak Cleveland defense, spreading targets around to open receivers on a variety of deep and underneath patterns. He led his receivers well and only rarely missed his targets on miscommunications. He and Derrick Mason connected on a deep sideline pass for a touchdown. Flacco also showed a strong and accurate arm on multiple passes over the middle to Kelley Washington and deep outs to Mason. He shredded the Browns on dump passes and seam routes to backs and tight ends. There were no obvious weaknesses in his game this week.
| RB Ray Rice, Rush: 11 - 48 - 1, Rec: 4 - 27 - 0 (7 targets) |
Rice was effective between the tackles, grinding out yards on early downs and between the twenties before giving way to Willis McGahee in the red zone. Rice was also productive as a receiver out of the backfield, as the Ravens targeted him over the middle and on flares frequently.
| RB Willis McGahee, Rush: 7 - 67 - 2 (1 targets) |
Willis McGahee had only seven carries, but nearly all were high leverage carries inside the red zone. He ran hard through massive holes, then broke tackles by Cleveland defensive backs who seemed disinterested in wrapping him up. He looked as quick as ever to the hole and showed good straight line speed on a long 34 yard run after reaching open space.
| RB LeRon McClain, Rush: 2 - 7 - 0, Rec: 3 - 29 - 0 (3 targets) |
McClain only had two carries, but was targeted three times out of the backfield over the middle before the game was out of control. It took multiple Browns to bring him down, with the majority of his receiving yards coming after first contact.
| WR Derrick Mason, Rec: 5 - 118 - 1 (8 targets) |
Mason looked anything like an aging receiver who was considering retirement this offseason against Cleveland. He was quick in and out of his breaks and broke the ankles of a Brown defensive back after a long sideline route that he turned into a touchdown. He frequently gained separation on deep outs and often had the ball right at his numbers on those timing routes from Joe Flacco.
| WR Kelley Washington, Rec: 5 - 66 - 0 (6 targets) |
Washington continues to gain Joe Flacco's confidence as an underneath option from the slot. He was targeted frequently on third downs and showed good hands and some power after the catch.
| WR Mark Clayton, Rush: 2 - 15 - 0, Rec: 3 - 35 - 0 (6 targets) |
Clayton and Flacco missed on a couple of routes or his numbers might have looked better. He was also used on two rushing attempts, one a decent gainer on an endaround.
| TE Todd Heap, Rec: 4 - 41 - 0 (4 targets) |
The improvement in the Baltimore offensive line has allowed Heap to run more pass routes and Joe Flacco targeted him often over the middle against Cleveland. Heap looked like the Heap of old, showing sure hands and carrying tacklers downfield after the catch.
| TE L.J. Smith, Rec: 1 - 26 - 0 (1 targets) |
Smith took a flat route and turned it upfield for a long gain, breaking multiple tacklers along the way.