ANOTHER FEATHER IN THE RAVENS’ CAP
Baltimore clinches AFC’S top seed, ensure Browns finish under .500
RAVENS 31, BROWNS 15
Lamar Jackson passed for three touchdowns and rushed for 103 yards, helping the Baltimore Ravens pull away for a 31-15 win over the host Cleveland Browns on Sunday afternoon to secure a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.
Tight end Mark Andrews hauled in two of Jackson’s touchdown passes. Running back Mark Ingram II caught the third one.
Justice Hill added a rushing touchdown for Baltimore (13-2), which extended its franchise record with its 11th win in a row.
Baker Mayfield tossed one touchdown apiece to tight end Demetrius Harris and wideout Odell Beckham Jr. for Cleveland (6-9), which lost for the third time in its last four games. The Browns guaranteed a sub-.500 season for the 12th year in a row.
The Browns opened the scoring with 11:53 remaining in the second quarter when Mayfield found Harris for a one-yard score. It was Harris’ third touchdown catch of the season, matching his career high from 2018. Moments later, Austin Seibert missed an extra-point attempt to keep the score at 6-0.
The Ravens pulled in front 7-6 with 1:18 left in the second quarter. Jackson spotted Andrews running down the right seam and hit him with a pinpoint pass for a 39-yard touchdown.
Jackson connected with Andrews for a second touchdown to make it 14-6 with nine seconds to go before halftime. The play increased Andrews’ touchdown total to 10 and gave him two multi-touchdown performances this season.
Midway through the third quarter, the Ravens increased their lead to 21-6. Jackson tossed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Ingram, who tied a single-season franchise record with his 15th score (10 rushing, five receiving).
A 47-yard field goal by Seibert cut the Browns’ deficit to 21-9 late in the third quarter.
Baltimore responded with its own field goal, a 31-yarder by Justin Tucker to make it 24-9 with 11:34 left in the fourth quarter.
Cleveland pulled within 24-15 when Beckham hauled in a threeyard touchdown pass from Mayfield with 8:01 to play. The Browns tried for a two-point conversion on the next play, but Mayfield’s pass was incomplete.
Hill capped the scoring with an 18-yard rushing touchdown to put Baltimore on top 31-15 with 3:39 remaining.
THOMAS CLAIMS CATCH RECORD AS SAINTS WIN
Drew Brees threw three touchdown passes and Michael Thomas set an NFL single-season record for pass receptions as the visiting New Orleans Saints overcame a 14-0 deficit to beat the Tennessee Titans 38-28.
Brees, who became the NFL’S career leader in touchdown passes six days earlier, increased his career total to 544 and upped his lead over New England’s Tom Brady and the retired Peyton Manning by five.
Thomas caught Brees’ third touchdown pass on the day and finished with 12 receptions for 136 yards, giving him 145 catches, two more than Marvin Harrison had in 2003.
Jared Cook caught Brees’ other touchdown passes and Alvin Kamara ended a 12-game touchdown drought as he scored on third-quarter runs of 40 yards and one yard.
With the win, the NFC South-champion Saints (12-3) remained in contention for a firstround playoff bye. They finish the regular season at Carolina.
The Titans (8-7), eliminated from the AFC South title chase Saturday when Houston beat Tampa Bay, still can earn a wild-card berth. They finish the season at Houston.
Brees completed 27 of 38 passes for 279 yards. The Titans’ Ryan Tannehill completed 17 of 27 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns.
The Saints took their first lead on the second play of the third quarter at 17-14 following Kamara’s 40yard touchdown run.
After Kamara’s touchdown, the Titans scored for the first time since the first quarter when Tannehill threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to Tajae Sharpe.
New Orleans responded with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Brees to Cook to take a 31-21 lead after three quarters.
Tannehill and Sharpe combined on a seven-yard touchdown to trim the Saints’ lead to 31-28 with 7:27 remaining.
The Titans took over at their 38 when the Saints faked a punt on fourth and seven and Justin Hardee dropped a pass from Taysom Hill that would have produced a first down.
New Orleans got the ball back one play later when C.J. Gardner-johnson forced and recovered a fumble by Kalif Raymond after a 23-yard pass completion.
Four plays later, Brees hit Thomas for a 13-yard gain to break Harrison’s record, then threw a twoyard touchdown toss to Thomas.