Ravens win on blocked kick
Field-goal try returned for TD as time expires; Browns also lose QB
Brent Urban blocked Travis Coons’ field-goal attempt, and Will Hill returned it 64 yards for a touchdown as time expired, giving the Baltimore Ravens a stunning 33-27 win Monday night over the host Cleveland Browns, who lost their sixth straight game along with starting quarterback Josh McCown.
Coons lined up to kick a potential winning 51-yard field goal with 3 seconds to go for the Browns (2-9), but it was deflected by Urban, who was playing his first NFL game after missing the past two seasons with injuries to his knee and right arm.
“It’s surreal,” said a beaming Urban, a fourthround pick in 2014 who missed all last season and tore his biceps earlier this year. “After being out so long, it’s crazy. I’m almost speechless. It’s just a wonderful feeling.”
Quarterback Matt Schaub, making his first start since 2013, threw two touchdown passes for the Ravens (4-7).
“One of the greatest football games you’re probably ever going to see in terms of excitement,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said.
McCown injured his collarbone in the fourth quarter and was replaced by Austin Davis, whose 42-yard TD pass to Travis Benjamin tied it with 1:47 remaining. Benjamin got inside Hill, who spent the waning moments hoping for a chance at redemption.
“I was desperate and frustrated at the same time,” Hill said. “I was praying that we could get a block, and it bounced my way, and I took it to the end zone.”
The Browns appeared to be in position to pull out a comeback win after cornerback Tramon Williams intercepted Schaub with 50 seconds left at Baltimore’s 46.
“It’s a tough one to wrap your brain around,” Browns coach Mike Pettine said. “It’s frustrating we didn’t finish it.”
Patriots: An MRI exam showed that New England tight end Rob Gronkowski has a bruised right knee but no tears, a source told ESPN’s Dianna Russini.
A source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Gronkowski’s injury, suffered late in the Patriots’ loss at Denver on Sunday, is considered a “minor knee strain.”
Gronkowski is not expected to play this week against the Eagles, a source told Schefter, and he is considered week-to-week.
Cardinals: The team has not confirmed a report that running back Chris Johnson fractured the tibia in his left leg Sunday against the 49ers. The injury was reported by Fox Sports.
Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said earlier in the day it was a bruised knee, but MRI results on Johnson weren’t available then.
Johnson is fourth in the NFL in rushing with 814 yards. His backup, Andre Ellington, also was hurt in the game. Arians says Ellington has turf toe.
Rams: Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has met with owner Stan Kroenke a day before an NFL owners meeting in Dallas where teams will discuss putting a franchise in Los Angeles. Nixon formed a task force to create a funding plan for a new stadium to keep the Rams in St. Louis, but he and Kroenke have had little or no contact until Monday.
Nixon spokeswoman Channing Ansley confirmed the Monday meeting at Rams headquarters but declined further comment.
Raiders owner Mark Davis as well as owners of the Rams and San Diego Chargers are all exploring moves to Los Angeles.
Chiefs: All-Pro linebacker Justin Houston appears to have a strained ligament in his left knee, though the team is still awaiting MRI exam results to determine the severity of the injury.
Houston was hurt when he tripped over a teammate Sunday against Buffalo. He has 71⁄2 sacks heading into Sunday’s game in Oakland.
Dolphins: Interim coach Dan Campbell fired offensive coordinator Bill Lazor and gave Zac Taylor primary responsibility for calling plays. Taylor will remain the quarterbacks coach.