Ravens Gut Out An Ugly Win In Cleveland On A CRAZY 4th and 1 House Call by Mark Andrews

Nick Cammett. Getty Images.

Whewww what a sweat that was. Survive and advance.

Ravens dug themselves an obnoxious hole in the first half of this game by playing like a real bunch of goofballs. They have made a habit from time to time of doing some of the dumbest shit imaginable and this was one of those games. And they seem to choose to do these things in games where all they really have to do is tie their shoes and they'll be sure to be on the right side after 60 minutes. 

The punt muff was bad on so many fronts. There is just no reason for any punt returner in the kind of wind we saw across the rust belt to force trying to catch a punt on the run, especially one that is called a fair catch. I haven't seen enough ROI from Lajohntay Wester to where he should feel entitled to try to make plays like that. Part of that in my mind is coaching - Harbaugh and the special teams staff should be up their guys' ass that this is a day to PETER PETER PETER your peter right off. Just no need for that. That feels like a failure on the coaching staff provided Wester didn't go rogue. An offsides on a punt on 4th and 4 is beyond excus

The pick 6 was just a lack of focus. Many have wondered why Keaton Mitchell hasn't gotten more run early in the year. It's a fair question to ask, but I suspect it's because of a tendency to do shit like that in practice. Just gotta see the ball in. Really fucking weird how the CBS crew tried to make that anybody else's fault but Keaton's. Folks will do whatever they can to make something Lamar's fault, it's actually fucking wild. Lamar's other pick… yeah, not much he can do either. Of the 7 or so picks Lamar has thrown since the beginning of last year, I think 6 were either batted or off his own receivers hands. Just goes to show the level of football he's been playing.

WITH THAT SAID…. easily Lamar's worst game going back a couple years. Just couldn't get the boys in a rhythm and the lack of time in the pocket had a big part to play in that. The rush attack was hit or miss… but all in all, not an inspiring offensive effort by a unit that is supposed to carry the team. I'm not convinced Lamar is totally healthy. He doesn't have that burst in his first step and just seems to be a little less confident taking off. Maybe it's the hammy, maybe it's the knee, but it's something to keep an eye on in coming but weeks.

But HOLY SHIT. What a moment that was by Mark Andrews on a game winning boot.

They've been running their version of the tush push with him with mild success. Last week they rolled out the toss to Lamar in a key spot. This week it was just a pull and boot by Andrews that they are apparently calling "Hurricane". 

What a time to call it, especially after it was right there to use on the prior 3rd and 1.

Road divisional games are always tough. That's no secret. I was worried all day about this one and those fears turned out to be true. But there's something refreshing about the notion of coming out the right side of one like this. No two ways about it, the Browns are absolute dog poo, but they still had to answer the bell and come up big down the stretch.

5-5 and still rolling on a 4 game win streak. Jets up next week at home, Bengals on Thanksgiving, and then it's Pittsburgh time. Let's go.