Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Monday night thriller
Baltimore Ravens running back Gus Edwards (left) pushes past Cleveland Browns middle linebacker B.J. Goodson during the second half Monday in Cleveland. Edwards had two touchdowns for the Ravens, who outlasted the Browns 47-42 for their second win in a row after a three-game losing streak.
CLEVELAND — Lamar Jackson emerged from the locker room, saved the game and maybe Baltimore’s season.
Back on the field after being sidelined by cramps, Jackson threw a 44- yard touchdown pass to Marquise Brown and then set up Justin Tucker’s 55-yard field goal with two seconds left, helping the Ravens to a wild 4742 win over the Cleveland Browns that helped them stay in the playoff picture.
A Monday night game dripping with playoff intensity delivered with endless drama and stunning twists.
Tucker, who made 70 straight field goals inside 40 yards before he missed last week, had plenty of distance on his kick to give the Ravens (8-5) a much-needed win.
It was a gut punch for the Browns (9-4), who had rallied from a 14-point deficit to take the lead while Jackson was out.
The Browns had one last chance after Tucker’s kick, but a series of laterals on the final play ended with a safety that affected gamblers all over the country. The Ravens were favored by three on the opening line.
The NFL’s top two rushing teams combined for nine rushing touchdowns, tying a league record set in 1922.
Jackson rushed for two touchdowns while helping his teammates, who have overcome a covid-19 outbreak and numerous schedule changes so far in 2020.
With the Ravens down 42-35, Jackson returned from the locker room after backup quarterback Trace McSorley suffered a leg injury when he slipped on a slick FirstEnergy Stadium field that was tough for players to cut on all night.
On fourth and 5, Jackson rolled to his right and found a wide-open Brown in the middle of the field. He easily outran Cleveland’s defenders for the touchdown.
But Baker Mayfield wasn’t going to be denied. He drove the Browns 75 yards, hitting running back Kareem Hunt for a 22-yard TD pass with 1:04 left.
Jackson, the reigning NFL MVP, then completed two straight passes to tight end Mark Andrews for 28 yards and moved the Ravens in range for Tucker, one of the most accurate kickers in league history.
Mayfield had shaken off a costly interception and brought the Browns back, scrambling from the pocket a la Jackson and scoring on a run with 6:33 left.
Jackson was playing in his second game since returning from the covid-19 list. Before he left late in the third quarter with the Ravens leading 34-20, he had rushed for 124 yards and two TDs.