Flacco's Three TD Passes Trump Hillis's Rushing -- Ravens Win

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) – Joe Flacco threw for 262 yards on 22-of-31 passing, including a trio of touchdown passes to Anquan Boldin, as the Ravens rallied to defeat the pesky Browns, 24-17, in Baltimore’s 2010 home opener from M&T Bank Stadium.

Flacco, who struggled mightily by throwing four interceptions in last Sunday’s loss at Cincinnati, rebounded by leading a victory in which he committed no turnovers. His third scoring hook-up of the day with Boldin, a 27-yard lob with 9:13 to play in the fourth quarter, provided the Ravens (2-1) with the winning points.

Boldin finished with eight receptions for 142 yards, and his three touchdowns matched the career-high the then-Cardinal established in an Arizona win over the Dolphins on Sept. 14, 2008.

The late heroics of the Ravens offense helped snuff out an upset bid by the Browns (0-3), whose loss wasted a yeoman’s effort for running back Peyton Hillis. Hillis, filling in for injured starter Jerome Harrison (thigh), made the most of his first start in a Cleveland uniform by carrying 22 times for 144 yards and a touchdown. The former Bronco also caught seven passes for 36 yards out of the backfield.

Harrison wasn’t the only Browns backup who made a splash on Sunday, as quarterback Seneca Wallace nearly engineered his first victory in a Cleveland uniform. The ex-Seahawk, making his second straight start for the Browns in place of the injured Jake Delhomme (ankle), completed 18-of-24 for 141 yards with one touchdown and no turnovers.

It was Wallace’s 1-yard touchdown pass to fellow Browns newcomer and tight end Benjamin Watson on the first play of the fourth quarter that gave the Browns a 17-14 lead and stunned the pro-Ravens crowd, before a heavily favored Baltimore team re-assumed control.

Following the Watson TD, the Ravens answered back when Flacco led a 10-play, 69-yard drive covering 5:41 and culminating in another Boldin TD to help Baltimore go ahead for good.

Billy Cundiff added a 49-yard field goal to provide the final points of the 24-17 affair.

The Ravens looked to be in firm control as halftime neared, building a double- digit lead on the first two scoring hook-ups between Flacco and Boldin.

The duo put the Ravens on the board with an eight-yard pass play late in the first quarter, on a 10-play, 85-yard march that answered a 38-yard field goal for Cleveland’s Phil Dawson and gave Baltimore a 7-3 lead.

On the Ravens’ next drive, Flacco led a a 10-play, 93-yard drive covering 5:53, culminating in a 12-yard scoring connection to Boldin to put the home team ahead, 14-3.

But the Browns took the momentum into halftime, as Hillis crashed in from one yard out to cut the deficit to 14-10. Hillis’ TD, which snapped Baltimore’s nine-quarter streak without a touchdown surrendered to start the season, capped off an 11-play, 83-yard drive covering 5:46 on the clock.

Hillis was a one-man wrecking crew on the drive, rushing six times for 38 yards and the touchdown while also contributing two catches for 16 yards.

Baltimore has now won five straight over Cleveland, and Ravens have also won five straight home openers…Browns are 0-3 for the fourth time in the last five years…With his eight-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter, Boldin reached 600 catches faster than any player in NFL history. Boldin’s 600th reception came in his 98th game, besting the previous mark of the Colts’ Marvin Harrison, who reached the plateau in 102 games…Sunday marked Boldin’s seventh multi-touchdown game…Hillis’ touchdown was the first regular season TD against the Ravens since the Raiders’ Charlie Frye threw a TD pass to tight end Zach Miller in the second quarter of a Baltimore win in Week 17 of the 2009 season…Hillis’ TD also broke a Browns streak of 18 consecutive quarters without a rushing TD against the Ravens, dating back to 2007…Browns wideout Sam Aiken, who was signed by the team on Saturday to take the roster of the spot of the injured D’Qwell Jackson (pectoral) , played but did not have a catch…Ravens defensive tackle Cory Redding left the game with a concussion and did not return…Cleveland kicker Phil Dawson’s 38-yard field goal in the first quarter made the Browns the 32nd and final NFL team to successfully make a field goal in 2010.

Flacco's Three TD Passes Trump Hillis's Rushing, Ravens Win

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) – Joe Flacco threw for 262 yards on 22-of-31 passing, including a trio of touchdown passes to Anquan Boldin, as the Ravens rallied to defeat the pesky Browns, 24-17, in Baltimore’s 2010 home opener from M&T Bank Stadium.

Flacco, who struggled mightily by throwing four interceptions in last Sunday’s loss at Cincinnati, rebounded by leading a victory in which he committed no turnovers. His third scoring hook-up of the day with Boldin, a 27-yard lob with 9:13 to play in the fourth quarter, provided the Ravens (2-1) with the winning points.

Boldin finished with eight receptions for 142 yards, and his three touchdowns matched the career-high the then-Cardinal established in an Arizona win over the Dolphins on Sept. 14, 2008.

The late heroics of the Ravens offense helped snuff out an upset bid by the Browns (0-3), whose loss wasted a yeoman’s effort for running back Peyton Hillis. Hillis, filling in for injured starter Jerome Harrison (thigh), made the most of his first start in a Cleveland uniform by carrying 22 times for 144 yards and a touchdown. The former Bronco also caught seven passes for 36 yards out of the backfield.

Harrison wasn’t the only Browns backup who made a splash on Sunday, as quarterback Seneca Wallace nearly engineered his first victory in a Cleveland uniform. The ex-Seahawk, making his second straight start for the Browns in place of the injured Jake Delhomme (ankle), completed 18-of-24 for 141 yards with one touchdown and no turnovers.

It was Wallace’s 1-yard touchdown pass to fellow Browns newcomer and tight end Benjamin Watson on the first play of the fourth quarter that gave the Browns a 17-14 lead and stunned the pro-Ravens crowd, before a heavily favored Baltimore team re-assumed control.

Following the Watson TD, the Ravens answered back when Flacco led a 10-play, 69-yard drive covering 5:41 and culminating in another Boldin TD to help Baltimore go ahead for good.

Billy Cundiff added a 49-yard field goal to provide the final points of the 24-17 affair.

The Ravens looked to be in firm control as halftime neared, building a double- digit lead on the first two scoring hook-ups between Flacco and Boldin.

The duo put the Ravens on the board with an eight-yard pass play late in the first quarter, on a 10-play, 85-yard march that answered a 38-yard field goal for Cleveland’s Phil Dawson and gave Baltimore a 7-3 lead.

On the Ravens’ next drive, Flacco led a a 10-play, 93-yard drive covering 5:53, culminating in a 12-yard scoring connection to Boldin to put the home team ahead, 14-3.

But the Browns took the momentum into halftime, as Hillis crashed in from one yard out to cut the deficit to 14-10. Hillis’ TD, which snapped Baltimore’s nine-quarter streak without a touchdown surrendered to start the season, capped off an 11-play, 83-yard drive covering 5:46 on the clock.

Hillis was a one-man wrecking crew on the drive, rushing six times for 38 yards and the touchdown while also contributing two catches for 16 yards.

Baltimore has now won five straight over Cleveland, and Ravens have also won five straight home openers…Browns are 0-3 for the fourth time in the last five years…With his eight-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter, Boldin reached 600 catches faster than any player in NFL history. Boldin’s 600th reception came in his 98th game, besting the previous mark of the Colts’ Marvin Harrison, who reached the plateau in 102 games…Sunday marked Boldin’s seventh multi-touchdown game…Hillis’ touchdown was the first regular season TD against the Ravens since the Raiders’ Charlie Frye threw a TD pass to tight end Zach Miller in the second quarter of a Baltimore win in Week 17 of the 2009 season…Hillis’ TD also broke a Browns streak of 18 consecutive quarters without a rushing TD against the Ravens, dating back to 2007…Browns wideout Sam Aiken, who was signed by the team on Saturday to take the roster of the spot of the injured D’Qwell Jackson (pectoral) , played but did not have a catch…Ravens defensive tackle Cory Redding left the game with a concussion and did not return…Cleveland kicker Phil Dawson’s 38-yard field goal in the first quarter made the Browns the 32nd and final NFL team to successfully make a field goal in 2010.

Jerome Harrison, Shaun Rogers, Marcus Benard All Inactive For Cleveland

The gameday inactive list contains several of the Cleveland Browns’ starters:

The Cleveland Browns have declared WR Brian Robiskie, WR Carlton Mitchell, QB Jake Delhomme, RB Jerome Harrison, LB Marcus Benard, DL Shaun Rogers, OG Shawn Lauvao, C Steve Vallos inactive for Week 3.

That list contains five starters and the team’s leading pass rusher (Benard). Peyton Hillis will probably start at running back for Cleveland, with James Davis getting reps as well. Joshua Cribbs is active but showed up to the stadium in a boot.

The Baltimore Ravens have declared DL Arthur Jones, WR Donte’ Stallworth, OT Jared Gaither, DL Lamar Divens, LB Paul Kruger, CB Prince Miller, LB Tavares Gooden, DL Terrence Cody inactive for Week 3.

Browns Injury Updates

The Browns injury situation is going from bad to worse.

First, D’Qwell Jackson was put on Injured Reserve. Now Brian Robiskie (hamstring) and Shaun Rogers (ankle, hip) have been downgraded from doubtful to out.

Rogers absence will be especially tough considering the run attack that the Ravens feature. Coleman and Smith will have to play more minutes at end and Tuba Rubin will have to be a one man wrecking crew at NT.

It doesn’t stop there either. Josh Cribbs has been downgraded to questionable. If Cribbs is unable to go, newly signed Sam Aiken very well may be an integral part of the passing offense. Yikes.

Friday Injury Update - Jackson Out, Delhomme/Robiskie Doubtful

The Browns released their final injury report in preparations for Sunday's game against the Ravens in Baltimore and unless some guys get healthy fast the team could be a little thin in a number of areas.

Linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, who had hoped to get back on the field this week, still is not ready to go with an issue in his pectoral.  He ruled himself out of the game, though the Browns listed him as doubtful.

Also doubtful are QB Jake Delhomme(ankle) and WR Brian Robiskie(hamstring).  Adding to the issues the Browns already have at wide receiver are injuries to Robiskie and Carlton Mitchell,who suffered a head injury at practice on Thursday.

Others listed as Questionable -  linebacker Marcus Benard (ankle), running back Jerome Harrison (thigh),  nosetackle Shaun Rogers (ankle, hip), and fullback Lawrence Vickers (illness).

Jake Delhomme Could Play Against The Baltimore Ravens

Cleveland Browns quarterback Jake Delhomme sprained his right ankle in the season opener at Tampa Bay and has not practiced in two weeks, but the Browns have not ruled him out for this weekend.

"I don't know," Browns coach Eric Mangini said Friday before practice on the status of Delhomme. "He's very aggressive with his rehab. It's like everything else he does, he does it very aggressively and each day it gets a little better. I have total confidence to operate the plan if he is available. We'll just have to see if he's available."

Delhomme still is wearing a protective boot for walking aaccording to the ESPN report. Mangini is confident the 35-year-old veteran could run the game plan without practicing.    

Jerome Harrison Misses Friday Practice

Seneca Wallace Hopes Unknown Helps Against Ravens

Seneca Wallace is hoping the threat of the unknown will help the Browns against the Ravens this week. It appears more and more likely that Wallace will get his second straight start, and neither he, nor the Ravens defense, has much experience against the other.

This is my first time playing against them, I know they are a very physical defense. They do a lot on third down to try and create a lot of turnovers and disguise some things. That’s the only thing I can say about them. Everybody knows they are a good defense, a great defense.

Ravens LB Ray Lewis knows that Wallace brings a different set of skills at quarterback:

The difference [between Delhomme and Wallace] is Seneca can really move with his legs," Lewis said. "He’s looked at as a quarterback, but he’s more of an athlete really playing quarterback.

“Pocket passers are what they are,” Lewis continued. “If you let them sit in the pocket, they can pick you apart. A quarterback that runs with the ball . . . they can hurt you on big third downs when your back is turned. They make a big first down and that keeps drives going, and that kills you.”

Wallace is going to need to do whatever he can to stay out of the grasp of Lewis and an angry Ravens defense after last week’s loss.

Report: Jake Delhomme Suffers High-Ankle Sprain

The situation at quarterback for the Browns has taken a decisive turn for the worst. Going into his second week of being unable to practice due to an ankle injury, word of the severity of Jake Delhomme's gimpy ankle are beginning to come to light. 

NFL Sources are saying that Delhomme suffered a high-ankle sprain, much more serious than the traditional type, with a recovery time of up to 6 weeks.

That means Browns fans should get used to seeing a lot of Seneca Wallace over the next month or so.

Current Browns Take On Former Browns In Baltimore

Could the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens come down to a defensive struggle?  If what these two offenses have done the first two weeks of the season is any indication it just might be.  

Baltimore has allowed just 24 points in its 10-9 win over the New York Jets and 15-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. The Browns?  They have been pretty good too, allowing just 33 points in their two losses - 17-14 to Tampa Bay and 16-14 to Kansas City.

The Ravens have yet to really get RB Ray Rice going, something I think will change this week. Cleveland could be playing without starting QB Jake Delhomme who hasn't practiced since injuring an ankle against Tampa Bay.

Tensions are always high when the 'new' Browns play the 'old' Browns.