Browns Vs. Ravens Final Score: Despite Late Rally, Cleveland Falls 20-14

Miscues hurt the Cleveland Browns early on against the Baltimore Ravens, allowing sacks at inopportune times (not that there's ever a good time to allow a sack) and having an early interception turning into Baltimore points, but a strong second half led to a Cleveland resurgence, bringing the game within one score.

Josh Cribbs returned a punt for a touchdown late in the third quarter, and Cleveland orchestrated a nice drive that went for 13 plays and ended with a touchdown. Starting from their own 20-yard line, the Browns converted two third downs, and a third if you count the one in which Seneca Wallace hit Moore for a six-yard touchdown to bring them within six points. After forcing a Baltimore punt, they were driving again.

But they were eventually held on a fourth down with five yards to go, and the Ravens escaped with a 20-14 win. Cleveland actually looked good on offense, thanks to running back Peyton Hillis, who rushed for 112 yards against a tough Baltimore defense. Wallace actually threw for more yardage than Joe Flacco did, with 147 to 132, but Flacco had two touchdowns, including a beautiful 42-yarder to running back Ray Rice.

The Browns move to 4-11 on the season and next will take on the rival Steelers on Jan. 1st, while the Ravens move to 11-4, and are looking ahead to the playoffs.

VIDEO: Josh Cribbs Returns Punt For Touchdown, Browns Trail 20-7 After Third

The Cleveland Browns started out the second half much better than the first, forcing the Ravens to punt right off the bat, but then went on to punt themselves, going three-and-out. The game turned into a regular punt-fest at that point, with both teams going three-and-out again, but Baltimore broke through first after an 18-yard completion from Joe Flacco set the Ravens up in Cleveland territory. The Browns would eventually tighten up, but Baltimore was in range and and Shayne Graham nailed his second field goal of the game, this one from 43 yards out, putting the Ravens up 20-0.

What followed was a Cleveland punt and then, you guessed it, another Baltimore punt. This time, though, the always-dangerous Josh Cribbs came through for the Browns, returning the punt all the way for a touchdown to put Cleveland on the board. Cribbs weaved around tacklers, making three people miss and fall, and Cleveland trailed 20-7.

We've got a video of the punt return touchdown below.

Browns Vs Ravens Score Update: Baltimore Leads 17-0 At Halftime

The Cleveland Browns are playing for pride, but things aren't exactly conveying that message thus far. Baltimore immediately picked off Seneca Wallace in the first, and turned that into seven points with an Ed Dickson touchdown pass. Then, the Browns were forced to punt after Seneca Wallace was sacked big time, and the Ravens turned that into a 48 yard field goal.

With their first possession of the second quarter, Baltimore drove nine plays, going 82 yards in under five minutes, finishing off with a beautiful touchdown pass from Joe Flacco to Ray Rice for 42 yards. Flacco dropped the ball into Rice's hands perfectly, it was caught in stride and the Ravens were suddenly leading big time.

Seneca Wallace hasn't been playing too poorly, but he's got that interception with no touchdowns. He's throwing nine of 16. The only good part right now is the fact that Peyton Hillis has 68 yards through one half against a tough Ravens defense, off of 15 carries. Cleveland will have to change a lot heading into the third quarter if they want to get back in this one.

VIDEO: Joe Flacco, Ray Rice Connect To Put Ravens Up 17-0 Over Browns

After essentially starting the first quarter off with an interception, Seneca Wallace got the second started by being sacked for a 7-yard loss. So they were forced to punt, and then the Ravens were set up with the ball inside their own twenty-yard line. Naturally, Ray Rice took things into his own hands and led the Ravens offense down the field. He ran for eight yards, and then 11 yards, and eventually, the Ravens were set up at the Cleveland 42-yard line.

Rice then struck again, running down the right sideline, and Flacco knew he had him immediately. Flacco dropped the ball right into Rice's hands, as perfect a pass that has ever been thrown, which Rice caught in stride and took all the way to the end zone for a 42-yard touchdown and a Baltimore 17-0 lead. Below, we've got a video of the hookup that put the Browns down by three scores.

Browns Vs. Ravens Score Update: Turnover Puts Baltimore Up 10-0 After First

Well, the Cleveland Browns are playing for pride on Christmas Eve, but there's not much to be proud of with the way their first drive ended. On third and short, Seneca Wallace threw a pass that was picked off by Ladarius Webb, and that gave the Baltimore Ravens possession. It was a tough break, considering Wallace had led the Browns into Baltimore territory, something that might be a rarity on Saturday.

Even worse for Cleveland, Joe Flacco immediately went deep to receiver Torrey Smith, and though it was incomplete, the referees called defensive pass interference, giving Baltimore a 60-yard penalty, setting them up at the nine-yard line. After an incomplete pass and a short run from Ray Rice, Flacco hit Ed Dixon for a five-yard touchdown pass to put the Ravens up 7-0 following an extra point.

Cleveland couldn't get anything done on the following possession, and were forced to punt. Baltimore immediately started driving again though, going from their own nine to the Cleveland 33 before Flacco was sacked by Ahtya Rubin for a ten-yard loss. Flacco would come back to pick up a few yards, and eventually, replacement kicker Shayne Graham booted a 48-yard field goal, putting Baltimore up 10-0.

The first quarter came to an end after a couple short gains by the Browns.

Baltimore Ravens Injury Reports And Inactive List, Week 16: WR Anquan Boldin, K Billy Cundiff Out For Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens endured a miserable game last week when they were pounded by the San Diego Chargers.

Quarterback Joe Flacco had trouble getting the ball down field and that task won't be any easier today with his top receiving target Anquan Boldin ruled out against the Browns after suffering a knee injury in San Diego. With Boldin out, deep threat Torrey Smith will attract more attention from Cleveland's pass defenders, which could make tight end Dennis Pitta a favorite target for Flacco.

Ravens kick Billy Cundiff was held out of action all week with a calf injury and will not be able to kick today. Veteran Shayne Graham will take over the kicking duties for Cundiff which shouldn't alter any kicking decisions by coach John Harbaugh.

Here is the full inactive list for Baltimore.

#Ravens Inactives: K Billy Cundiff, WR LaQuan Williams, RB Anthony Allen, DB Danny Gorrer, WR Anquan Boldin, DE Cory Redding, OLB Sergio Kindle

Cleveland Browns Injury Report And Inactive List, Week 16: Joshua Cribbs Available For Browns

Cleveland Browns kick returner and all-around playmaker Joshua Cribbs is dealing with a groin injury which made him questionable to face the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. Cribbs is not on the Cleveland inactive list which will make him available to give it a go against Baltimor.

As expected, concussion issues will keep quarterback Colt McCoy off the field today. Seneca Wallace will be running the show for the Browns at quarterback against a stout Ravens defense trying to secure a home playoff game.

McCoy is still recovering from the hit he took from Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison nine days ago. Considering the Browns are playing to muck up Baltimore's playoff scenario and little else, there is no need to chance playing McCoy. Plus, the team has fared okay with Wallace playing quarterback despite the end results being similar.

Here is the full list of inactive players for Cleveland.

#Browns inactives vs. Baltimore: WR J. Norwood and R. Windsor, QB C. McCoy, DB J. Dockery, OL S. Vallos and O. Cousins and DL K. Tripp.

Browns Vs. Ravens: Time, TV Schedule, Radio Streaming And More

Though the Cleveland Browns are out of the playoff race and will be picking near the top-end of the 2012 NFL Draft, they've got an AFC North rival to take on in Week 16, and as usual, they'll play extremely hard. Draft positioning is never something a coaching staff cares about while the season is underway, and Cleveland would rather beat the Ravens than pick a spot ahead any day. They're playing for pride, but more than that, they're also looking to evaluate the entirety of the roster before the season is over. They've got a good look already, but this is a point where they can make mostly-final judgments before heading into the offseason with the draft and free agency.

Baltimore has punched their ticket into the playoffs and are playing for seeding and not much else. Well, that's not entirely true - they're looking to beat their divisional rivals just as much as the Browns want to, of course. It's a battle for pride on both sides, even if one team will be going to the playoffs while the other may be picking in the top five come draft day.

Game Date/Time: Saturday, Dec. 24, 1:00 p.m. ET

Location: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD

TV Schedule: CBS (TV Distribution Map)

TV Announcers: Spero Dedes, Rich Gannon

Radio: WMMS/WTAM-100.7

Colt McCoy Injury: Browns QB Ruled Out Against Ravens

Though there was actually little hope that he'd be able to play regardless, Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy has officially been ruled out by the team for Saturday's game against the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens. McCoy didn't practice at all this week after suffering a concussion following a brutal helmet-to-helmet hit from Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison on Thursday Night Football.

It's likely that, even if McCoy had been medically cleared to play, the team would have been careful with him after being so thoroughly chastised for letting McCoy go back into Thursday's game following the hit. Following the game, many were upset about the fact, including McCoy's father, who said the second-year quarterback told him that he didn't remember anything following the hit. Not to mention the fact that McCoy's replacement played well in his absence.

That is to say, Seneca Wallace may have earned more starting time when he nearly led the Browns to a victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Arizona would end up winning in overtime, but it was a close game regardless and Wallace gave the offense a spark it didn't have with McCoy at the helm. 

Week 16 NFL Lines And Odds: Browns Vs. Ravens

For more on the Browns, visit SB Nation's Dawgs By Nature.

T.J. Ward Placed On Injured Reserve With Sprained Foot

The Cleveland Browns, after hearing that Anquan Boldin will be out for Saturday's game, got some bad news of their own. After hoping that safety T.J. Ward could make a return this season at some point during its final two games, there's now no such sentiments, as the team placed him on injured reserve, ending his season. Ward has a foot injury, and has already missed six games since spraining it against the Houston Texans on Nov. 6.

Ward was playing very well to start the season, through its first eight games he had made 38 tackles and was a big part of Cleveland's very strong pass defense (which ranked at the top of the league for much of the beginning of the season). He'll continue to be replaced by Usama Young, who is also playing well in relief, so it's not a huge loss.

Still, the team was hoping to see more of Ward before the season was over, but it wasn't worth potentially re-injuring his foot and hampering a healthy, workout-oriented offseason.

Anquan Boldin To Miss Saturday's Game Against Browns, Rest Of Regular Season With Knee Surgery

The Cleveland Browns are going to catch a bit of a break on Saturday when they take on the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens. It looks like the Baltimore offense will be without one of its play-makers as wide receiver Anquan Boldin is set to miss the final two weeks of the regular season. The Ravens announced on Thursday that Boldin was going to have surgery on his knee to deal with torn cartilage, a meniscus injury.

He's getting his surgery done with hopes of returning for the playoffs (it's being done by Dr. James Andrews), but for the Browns, it means an increased chance to pick up a morale-oriented win against one of the better teams in the AFC and division rivals. Cleveland already boasts a strong pass defense, so without Boldin, their chances of beating the Ravens significantly increase.

Boldin injured his knee earlier in the week during some form of team practice. The team doesn't expect him to be 100% healthy if they have to play in the first round of the playoffs, but they expect him back nonetheless. In his place, the Browns will have to deal with Lee Evans, who is expected to start with Boldin sidelined.

Browns Vs. Ravens: Cleveland Heads To Baltimore Playing For Pride

The Browns are looking to end a 7-game losing streak to the Ravens on Saturday.