Joe Flacco threw two touchdown passes and the Baltimore Ravens clinched a playoff spot with a 20-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
Baltimore (11-4) has won three straight since a tough 13-10 loss to Pittsburgh that may end up deciding the AFC North Division title. The Ravens and Steelers are tied for the top spot in the division, but the Steelers will win a tiebreaker based on a better division record.
Now the Ravens will need the Browns (5-10) to step up and upset the Steelers next week, but at least Baltimore knows it will be a part of the postseason thanks to Flacco and the defense.
Flacco threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Derrick Mason just over a minute into the third quarter to give the Ravens a 20-10 lead.
Those were the only points of the second half as the Browns were unable to generate any offense. Cleveland’s first four possessions of the second half ended with three punts and an interception.
For its part, Baltimore’s offense did not exactly have its way. The Ravens were outgained 280-258, but the Browns kept shooting themselves in the foot with four turnovers, including three interceptions by rookie quarterback Colt McCoy.
Baltimore | Cleveland | |
Ray Rice | Player | Peyton Hillis |
25 | Attempts | 12 |
92 | Yards | 35 |
3.7 | Avg Yards | 2.9 |
0 | Touchdowns | 0 |
11 | Long | 7 |
Baltimore | Cleveland | |
Derrick Mason | Player | Mike Bell |
4 | Receptions | 2 |
50 | Yards | 48 |
12.5 | Avg Yards | 24.0 |
1 | Touchdowns | 0 |
22 | Long | 28 |
Yards | Scoring | Defense | ||||||
Team | Tot | Rus | Pas | TD | FG | INT | Sck | FF |
Baltimore | 258 | 161 | 97 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0.0 | 1 |
Cleveland | 280 | 102 | 178 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 |