Decleated: Baltimore's Morgan Cox tackles Cleveland's Josh Cribbs on a kick return in the first quarter on Thursday night. The Ravens beat the Browns 23-16. APThis time, however, there were no replays or arguments at the end. Just another win by the Baltimore Ravens over the Cleveland Browns, 23-16 on Thursday night.If not for two failed desperation passes into the end zone in the closing seconds, the returning officials might have had to work overtime on their first night back.Cleveland began its final drive with 1:05 to go on its own 10. Rookie Brandon Weeden moved the Browns to the Baltimore 33 before a fourth-down pass into the end zone fell incomplete. But a personal foul penalty on Baltimore linebacker Paul Kruger gave winless Cleveland one more chance.That pass sailed out of the end zone."Too much juice," Weeden lamented.The final sequence was not unlike the controversial ending of Monday night's Green Bay-Seattle game, when a Hail Mary pass was ruled a touchdown. That play, and the furor it created, hastened negotiations that brought the regular officials back.The lockout ended late Wednesday, bringing about the exit of the unpopular replacement refs. And so, finally, the tenured officials were in place for Week 4."I felt so bad for that Green Bay situation," Ravens running back Ray Rice said. "Replacement refs, their families, I can't knock them. The scrutiny they were under. That kind of scrutiny is bad. It's hard going from like Pop Warner to the big leagues."As they walked onto the field hours before this game, the officiating crew received a round of applause and shouts of encouragement from fans in the lower sections. Head linesman Wayne Mackie and line judge Jeff Seeman both tipped their caps to acknowledge the support.Many in the sellout crowd of 70,944 stood and roared their approval.Afterward, Baltimore coach John Harbaugh echoed the sentiment of the crowd."Welcome back to the officials. Good to have them back," he said. "These guys are really good. The communication was good. I didn't agree with every call, but they were excellent."Joe Flacco went 28-for-46 for 356 yards, threw one touchdown and ran for another. Yet, it wasn't until Cary Williams returned an interception 63 yards for a score at the end of the third quarter that the Ravens (3-1) put some distance between themselves and the young Browns (0-4)."I thought our secondary made plays that had to be made, especially at the end there when they were knocking at the door," Harbaugh said.The fans waited until the third quarter to boo the officials. On a 13-yard completion from Weeden to Benjamin Watson, Ravens safety Bernard Pollard was called for a helmet-to-helmet hit. The crowd jeered the call, but replays appeared to confirm the penalty.The 15-yard mark off set up a 51-yard field goal by Phil Dawson that got the Browns within 16-10.Late in the quarter, Williams ambushed an out pattern by Travis Benjamin and took the interception down the right sideline for a 13-point lead.Anquan Boldin caught nine passes for 131 yards, and Torrey Smith had six catches for 97 yards and a score.Weeden went 25-for-52 for 320 yards, but rookie running back Trent Richardson gained only 47 yards rushing on 14 carries.Dawson kicked field goals of 51, 50 and 52 yards, the last one with 4:33 left to make it 23-16.Cleveland played the majority of the game without wide receiver and punt returner Josh Cribbs, who sustained a concussion while returning a kick late in the first quarter.
Showing posts with label Browns. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Browns. Show all posts
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Ravens hold off Browns as real officials return to field
BALTIMORE — The regular NFL officials returned to action, and the ending of their first game was eerily familiar to the one that hastened the exit of the replacement refs.Decleated: Baltimore's Morgan Cox tackles Cleveland's Josh Cribbs on a kick return in the first quarter on Thursday night. The Ravens beat the Browns 23-16. APThis time, however, there were no replays or arguments at the end. Just another win by the Baltimore Ravens over the Cleveland Browns, 23-16 on Thursday night.If not for two failed desperation passes into the end zone in the closing seconds, the returning officials might have had to work overtime on their first night back.Cleveland began its final drive with 1:05 to go on its own 10. Rookie Brandon Weeden moved the Browns to the Baltimore 33 before a fourth-down pass into the end zone fell incomplete. But a personal foul penalty on Baltimore linebacker Paul Kruger gave winless Cleveland one more chance.That pass sailed out of the end zone."Too much juice," Weeden lamented.The final sequence was not unlike the controversial ending of Monday night's Green Bay-Seattle game, when a Hail Mary pass was ruled a touchdown. That play, and the furor it created, hastened negotiations that brought the regular officials back.The lockout ended late Wednesday, bringing about the exit of the unpopular replacement refs. And so, finally, the tenured officials were in place for Week 4."I felt so bad for that Green Bay situation," Ravens running back Ray Rice said. "Replacement refs, their families, I can't knock them. The scrutiny they were under. That kind of scrutiny is bad. It's hard going from like Pop Warner to the big leagues."As they walked onto the field hours before this game, the officiating crew received a round of applause and shouts of encouragement from fans in the lower sections. Head linesman Wayne Mackie and line judge Jeff Seeman both tipped their caps to acknowledge the support.Many in the sellout crowd of 70,944 stood and roared their approval.Afterward, Baltimore coach John Harbaugh echoed the sentiment of the crowd."Welcome back to the officials. Good to have them back," he said. "These guys are really good. The communication was good. I didn't agree with every call, but they were excellent."Joe Flacco went 28-for-46 for 356 yards, threw one touchdown and ran for another. Yet, it wasn't until Cary Williams returned an interception 63 yards for a score at the end of the third quarter that the Ravens (3-1) put some distance between themselves and the young Browns (0-4)."I thought our secondary made plays that had to be made, especially at the end there when they were knocking at the door," Harbaugh said.The fans waited until the third quarter to boo the officials. On a 13-yard completion from Weeden to Benjamin Watson, Ravens safety Bernard Pollard was called for a helmet-to-helmet hit. The crowd jeered the call, but replays appeared to confirm the penalty.The 15-yard mark off set up a 51-yard field goal by Phil Dawson that got the Browns within 16-10.Late in the quarter, Williams ambushed an out pattern by Travis Benjamin and took the interception down the right sideline for a 13-point lead.Anquan Boldin caught nine passes for 131 yards, and Torrey Smith had six catches for 97 yards and a score.Weeden went 25-for-52 for 320 yards, but rookie running back Trent Richardson gained only 47 yards rushing on 14 carries.Dawson kicked field goals of 51, 50 and 52 yards, the last one with 4:33 left to make it 23-16.Cleveland played the majority of the game without wide receiver and punt returner Josh Cribbs, who sustained a concussion while returning a kick late in the first quarter.
Decleated: Baltimore's Morgan Cox tackles Cleveland's Josh Cribbs on a kick return in the first quarter on Thursday night. The Ravens beat the Browns 23-16. APThis time, however, there were no replays or arguments at the end. Just another win by the Baltimore Ravens over the Cleveland Browns, 23-16 on Thursday night.If not for two failed desperation passes into the end zone in the closing seconds, the returning officials might have had to work overtime on their first night back.Cleveland began its final drive with 1:05 to go on its own 10. Rookie Brandon Weeden moved the Browns to the Baltimore 33 before a fourth-down pass into the end zone fell incomplete. But a personal foul penalty on Baltimore linebacker Paul Kruger gave winless Cleveland one more chance.That pass sailed out of the end zone."Too much juice," Weeden lamented.The final sequence was not unlike the controversial ending of Monday night's Green Bay-Seattle game, when a Hail Mary pass was ruled a touchdown. That play, and the furor it created, hastened negotiations that brought the regular officials back.The lockout ended late Wednesday, bringing about the exit of the unpopular replacement refs. And so, finally, the tenured officials were in place for Week 4."I felt so bad for that Green Bay situation," Ravens running back Ray Rice said. "Replacement refs, their families, I can't knock them. The scrutiny they were under. That kind of scrutiny is bad. It's hard going from like Pop Warner to the big leagues."As they walked onto the field hours before this game, the officiating crew received a round of applause and shouts of encouragement from fans in the lower sections. Head linesman Wayne Mackie and line judge Jeff Seeman both tipped their caps to acknowledge the support.Many in the sellout crowd of 70,944 stood and roared their approval.Afterward, Baltimore coach John Harbaugh echoed the sentiment of the crowd."Welcome back to the officials. Good to have them back," he said. "These guys are really good. The communication was good. I didn't agree with every call, but they were excellent."Joe Flacco went 28-for-46 for 356 yards, threw one touchdown and ran for another. Yet, it wasn't until Cary Williams returned an interception 63 yards for a score at the end of the third quarter that the Ravens (3-1) put some distance between themselves and the young Browns (0-4)."I thought our secondary made plays that had to be made, especially at the end there when they were knocking at the door," Harbaugh said.The fans waited until the third quarter to boo the officials. On a 13-yard completion from Weeden to Benjamin Watson, Ravens safety Bernard Pollard was called for a helmet-to-helmet hit. The crowd jeered the call, but replays appeared to confirm the penalty.The 15-yard mark off set up a 51-yard field goal by Phil Dawson that got the Browns within 16-10.Late in the quarter, Williams ambushed an out pattern by Travis Benjamin and took the interception down the right sideline for a 13-point lead.Anquan Boldin caught nine passes for 131 yards, and Torrey Smith had six catches for 97 yards and a score.Weeden went 25-for-52 for 320 yards, but rookie running back Trent Richardson gained only 47 yards rushing on 14 carries.Dawson kicked field goals of 51, 50 and 52 yards, the last one with 4:33 left to make it 23-16.Cleveland played the majority of the game without wide receiver and punt returner Josh Cribbs, who sustained a concussion while returning a kick late in the first quarter.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Big Ben guts it out as Steelers stick it to Browns once more
PITTSBURGH — Ben Roethlisberger laid on the Heinz Field turf, convinced his left leg was broken. The Pittsburgh Steelers huddled around their franchise quarterback, concerned their promising season was in jeopardy.
Fortitude: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is helped off the field after injuring his left ankle in the second quarter against Cleveland. The Steelers won 14-3. APNot quite.Same old Big Ben. And same old Cleveland Browns.Roethlisberger added to his burgeoning reputation as one of the toughest players in the game by returning from a gruesome second-quarter sack to pass for 280 yards and two scores — including a 79-yard strike to Antonio Brown with 2:52 remaining — to lift the Steelers to a 14-3 victory Thursday night."You can't say enough about our quarterback," Brown said. "It's amazing to play with a guy like that who exemplifies that type of toughness."Not that Roethlisberger felt particularly tough after getting his left leg caught underneath Cleveland's Scott Paxson midway through the second quarter."It was one of the most painful things I ever felt," Roethlisberger said. "It felt like the middle of my leg was just, cracked . . . it felt like my foot was outside of my leg."He went to the locker room for X-rays while veteran Charlie Batch tried to fill in. The X-rays showed no break and Roethlisberger returned."Doctors said 'Just keep moving,' " Roethlisberger said. "As we kept going they said, 'Just keep moving' because it literally felt like it was about to explode."Roethlisberger received a rousing ovation when he walked back onto the field to start the second half, though it was obvious he was in serious pain. He hobbled to the line of scrimmage, he tip-toed while handing the ball off and he grimaced while stepping up to throw.Yet he somehow completed 8 of 12 passes for 178 yards after the break, including the sealing touchdown to Brown, who caught the ball near midfield then beat Cleveland's Mike Adams to the end zone."I'm proud of him and glad he scored because I wouldn't have been able to make it down there if we had to run another play," Roethlisberger said, laughing.Roethlisberger will have an MRI exam Friday to determine the extent of the damage. Pittsburgh has 10 days off before a game in San Francisco.Brown finished with five receptions for 151 yards and a score as the Steelers (10-3) won for the eighth time in their last nine games to move a half-game in front of Baltimore for the AFC North lead.Yet the night won't be remembered for Brown's spectacular catch-and-run but Roethlisberger's John Wayne impersonation and Cleveland's typical meltdown against its biggest rival.The Browns (4-9) lost for the 15th time in their last 16 games with the Steelers, though they had plenty of chances to pick up their first victory at Heinz in eight years.Colt McCoy passed for 209 yards but also threw two interceptions for Cleveland (4-9).McCoy left briefly in the fourth quarter after taking a crashing helmet-to-helmet hit from Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison.
Fortitude: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is helped off the field after injuring his left ankle in the second quarter against Cleveland. The Steelers won 14-3. APNot quite.Same old Big Ben. And same old Cleveland Browns.Roethlisberger added to his burgeoning reputation as one of the toughest players in the game by returning from a gruesome second-quarter sack to pass for 280 yards and two scores — including a 79-yard strike to Antonio Brown with 2:52 remaining — to lift the Steelers to a 14-3 victory Thursday night."You can't say enough about our quarterback," Brown said. "It's amazing to play with a guy like that who exemplifies that type of toughness."Not that Roethlisberger felt particularly tough after getting his left leg caught underneath Cleveland's Scott Paxson midway through the second quarter."It was one of the most painful things I ever felt," Roethlisberger said. "It felt like the middle of my leg was just, cracked . . . it felt like my foot was outside of my leg."He went to the locker room for X-rays while veteran Charlie Batch tried to fill in. The X-rays showed no break and Roethlisberger returned."Doctors said 'Just keep moving,' " Roethlisberger said. "As we kept going they said, 'Just keep moving' because it literally felt like it was about to explode."Roethlisberger received a rousing ovation when he walked back onto the field to start the second half, though it was obvious he was in serious pain. He hobbled to the line of scrimmage, he tip-toed while handing the ball off and he grimaced while stepping up to throw.Yet he somehow completed 8 of 12 passes for 178 yards after the break, including the sealing touchdown to Brown, who caught the ball near midfield then beat Cleveland's Mike Adams to the end zone."I'm proud of him and glad he scored because I wouldn't have been able to make it down there if we had to run another play," Roethlisberger said, laughing.Roethlisberger will have an MRI exam Friday to determine the extent of the damage. Pittsburgh has 10 days off before a game in San Francisco.Brown finished with five receptions for 151 yards and a score as the Steelers (10-3) won for the eighth time in their last nine games to move a half-game in front of Baltimore for the AFC North lead.Yet the night won't be remembered for Brown's spectacular catch-and-run but Roethlisberger's John Wayne impersonation and Cleveland's typical meltdown against its biggest rival.The Browns (4-9) lost for the 15th time in their last 16 games with the Steelers, though they had plenty of chances to pick up their first victory at Heinz in eight years.Colt McCoy passed for 209 yards but also threw two interceptions for Cleveland (4-9).McCoy left briefly in the fourth quarter after taking a crashing helmet-to-helmet hit from Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison.
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