Chattanooga Times Free Press

Ravens keep Browns winless with 28-7 rout

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BALTIMORE — Joe Flacco threw three touchdown passes, and the Baltimore Ravens beat Cleveland 28-7 on Thursday night to leave the winless Browns at a historic low point in franchise history.

Baltimore trailed 7-3 late in the second quarter before gaining control during a third quarter in which Flacco went 10-for-12 with two scores.

The Ravens (5-4) have won two in a row following a fourgame losing streak. Baltimore is the only team in the AFC North above .500.

Cleveland (0-10) has opened a season with 10 consecutiv­e losses for the first time since joining the NFL in 1950. The Browns have lost 11 straight on the road since winning in Baltimore in October 2015.

The loss left Cleveland’s all-time record at 461-461-10. The Browns have never been below .500.

Down 7-6 at halftime, the Ravens moved 64 yards on their first possession of the third quarter to take a 13-7 lead. Flacco connected with five different receivers on the drive, closing with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Darren Waller.

Browns coach Hue Jackson then opted to insert Josh McCown at quarterbac­k after watching starter Cody Kessler go 10-for-17 for 94 yards. McCown’s second pass was intercepte­d, giving Baltimore the ball at the Cleveland 40 with a chance to break the game open.

The Ravens moved to the 15 before Flacco heaved an ill-advised throw into the end zone that was picked off by Joe Haden.

Baltimore’s next drive, however, was run on a short field. After a 32-yard punt gave the Ravens the ball at the Cleveland 43, Flacco threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Steve Smith, and a 2-point conversion made it 21-7.

A 27-yard touchdown throw to Breshad Perriman sealed it with 6:21 remaining and marked the 10th straight game in which the Browns yielded at least 25 points.

Flacco went 30-for-41 for 296 yards and two intercepti­ons.

The first time these teams played this season, the Ravens had to rally from 20 points down to pull out for a 25-20 win. Baltimore needed another comeback in this one, though the deficit wasn’t nearly as imposing.

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