The Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens have something of an interesting rivalry with each other. After all, the Ravens used to be the original iterations of the Browns until the mid-1990s when owner Art Modell became Northeast Ohio’s greatest supervillain by moving the team east.
The Browns and Ravens met in a riveting contest on Sunday, and when Baltimore took a 24-9 lead in the third quarter, it looked like the team was on its way to a relatively easy win. Instead, the Browns, as they have for much of this season, found a way to grind out a victory when Dustin Hopkins nailed a 40-yard field goal with time expiring.
The 33-31 victory improved the Browns’ record to 6-3. It also served as revenge for the Ravens’ 28-3 beatdown back in Week 4.
Just prior to that game, Roquan Smith, the Ravens’ star inside linebacker, had this to say about the contest.
NFL News & Rumors: Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns, Roquan Smith, Baltimore Ravens Updates
“At the end of the day, you’re considered the bad guy because you’re going into essentially another man’s house, and you’re trying to take over,” Smith told reporters in Baltimore. “His wife, kids, (and) everyone is there to watch them. So, we’re going over there to beat their tails in front of their wife and kids.
“I think they call it the Dawg Pound, (and) I consider myself a dog, so I’m right at home in that place.”
But after Sunday’s win, Browns running back Kareem Hunt had the final word.
“In front of their wife and kids!” Hunt could be heard yelling on social media after the game.
Smith played very tall in this contest with 21 tackles (14 solo), but he and the rest of Baltimore’s defense were unable to keep the Browns at bay as the second half progressed. Hunt had just 32 rushing yards, but his touchdown with 2:20 left in the third quarter started his team’s comeback.
Much-maligned quarterback Deshaun Watson played well down the stretch, and he ran the ball into the endzone right after Hunt’s touchdown for a two-point conversion that cut Baltimore’s lead to 24-17. After Baltimore boosted its lead back to 14, Watson found wide receiver Elijah Moore for a touchdown to make it a one-possession game again.
Moments later, Cleveland cornerback Greg Newsome II intercepted a Lamar Jackson pass and turned it into a pick-six to bring his team to within one point.
With a 6-3 record, Cleveland is now just half a game behind the Ravens for first place in the AFC North. After all the injuries it has been through this season, including the season-ending knee injury to star running back Nick Chubb, winning the division would be a major accomplishment in itself.
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