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Sports TwitterRavens take out Browns, 28-10
Browns fall to 0-3; offense struggles again to produce points.
Monday, September 22, 2008
BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Ravens were struggling to score, and then Derek Anderson came to the rescue.
Unfortunately for the Cleveland Browns, Anderson is their quarterback.
Baltimore turned two of Anderson's interceptions into a pair of touchdowns during a 50-second span of the third quarter, and the Ravens further damaged an already agonizing season for the Browns with a 28-10 victory Sunday.
Ed Reed returned one of the interceptions 32 yards for a score, and Le'Ron McClain scored his first two NFL touchdowns on a pair of 1-yard runs — both during a 21-point third quarter that enabled Baltimore (2-0) to turn a 10-7 halftime deficit into an 18-point lead.
Anderson had another trying day in an effort to generate some offense for Cleveland, which was picked by many to be a contender in the AFC North. Anderson went 14-for-37 for 125 yards, was sacked five times and threw three interceptions.
The Browns (0-3) have scored only two touchdowns in their three defeats.
Back from a knee injury, Willis McGahee rushed for 64 yards and a touchdown for the Ravens, who were forced to take last week off when Hurricane Ike postponed their game at Houston.
Maybe it was the layoff, but Baltimore looked sluggish in falling behind 10-7 at halftime. But the Ravens took the lead for good by taking advantage of a turnover on the Browns' first possession of the third quarter.
Kellen Winslow was hit by Ray Lewis while trying to catch a pass, and Chris McAlister plucked the ball from the air and took the interception to the Cleveland 12. Four plays later, McClain scored.
Reed then stepped in front of tight end Steve Heiden, caught Anderson's pass and sprinted into the end zone for his fourth career interception return for a touchdown. Reed said he saw the play before, then pounced when the Browns ran it again.
Asked about the 0-3 start, former Ravens running back Jamal Lewis (56 yards on 12 carries) said: "It's pathetic. I don't know what else to say."
