GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NFL: CLEVELAND (5-4) at BALTIMORE (4-5)

NFL: CLEVELAND (5-4) at BALTIMORE (4-5)

<h3>Browns look to rebound from tough loss, face Ravens</h3>

Cleveland (5-4) at Baltimore (4-5) Sunday 1:00 pm


BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- If the Cleveland Browns want to beconsidered serious playoff contenders, they need to reboundfrom a crushing loss.


The Browns will look to get back on track Sunday, when theyvisit the Baltimore Ravens in another key AFC North contest.

Last week, the Browns squandered a 15-point lead and suffered a31-28 loss to the division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers.Cleveland had a chance to force overtime, but Phil Dawson's53-yard field goal fell short as time expired.


The Browns could have pulled into a tie with the Steelers.Instead, they fell two games behind Pittsburgh (7-2), which alsohas a tiebreaker edge based on a season sweep.


While the loss likely ended Cleveland's division title hopes,the Browns are still in the wild-card picture, trailingJacksonville (6-3) and Tennessee (6-3) by one game.

"We have to get ready for next week because we still haveourselves in a position that we can get something done with therest of this season if we play," Browns coach Romeo Crennelsaid.


"If we don't play, if we go down the tubes or in the tank, thenit will be back to the same old thing. We're not going to letthat happen."


Derek Anderson threw three touchdown passes against theSteelers, increasing his total to 20, which ranks fourth in theleague behind New England's Tom Brady, Dallas' Tony Romo andPittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger.


The issue for Cleveland, however, continues to be a spottydefense, which ranks last in the league, allowing 410 yards pergame. The Browns gave up 401 yards against the Steelers.

Cleveland will look for a better defense effort against theoffensively-challenged Ravens, who were shut down in last week's21-7 loss to the Cinncinati Bengals.


Facing a team that yields 28.3 points per game, thesecond-highest total in the league, the Ravens were blankeduntil Willis Mcgahee scored in the final two minutes.

Baltimore quarterback Steve McNair struggled for the secondstraight week and was benched after throwing for only 128 yardsand committing three turnovers.


McNair was replaced in the fourth quarter by Kyle Boller, wholed the Ravens to their only score.


Cleveland is fourth in scoring (28.3 ppg) while Baltimore is28th (15.3 ppg).


In the first meeting between the teams in Week Four, McNairpassed for 304 yards and Mcgahee rushed for 104 yards. But itwas not enough for the Ravens as the Browns posted a 27-13victory.

 

NFL: CLEVELAND at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">NFL
CLEVELAND 0
BALTIMORE 0 14:53 LEFT, 1ST QTR

CLE BALL ON CLE 36 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: CLEVELAND at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">NFL
CLEVELAND 0
BALTIMORE 0 13:05 LEFT, 1ST QTR

BAL BALL ON BAL 30 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: CLEVELAND at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">NFL
CLEVELAND 0
BALTIMORE 0 11:46 LEFT, 1ST QTR

CLE BALL ON CLE 26 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: CLEVELAND at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">NFL MISSED FG CLE
PHIL DAWSON 35 YD ATTEMPT WIDE RIGHT

CLEVELAND 0
BALTIMORE 0 8:27 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: CLEVELAND at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">NFL
CLEVELAND 0
BALTIMORE 0 8:27 LEFT, 1ST QTR

BAL BALL ON BAL 25 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: CLEVELAND at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">NFL
CLEVELAND 0
BALTIMORE 0 7:45 LEFT, 1ST QTR

CLE BALL ON CLE 20 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: CLEVELAND at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">NFL
CLEVELAND 0
BALTIMORE 0 5:36 LEFT, 1ST QTR

BAL BALL ON BAL 29 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: CLEVELAND at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">NFL
CLEVELAND 0
BALTIMORE 0 4:47 LEFT, 1ST QTR

CLE BALL ON BAL 23 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: CLEVELAND at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">NFL FG CLE
PHIL DAWSON 28 YD

CLEVELAND 3
BALTIMORE 0 2:34 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: CLEVELAND at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">NFL
CLEVELAND 3
BALTIMORE 0 2:28 LEFT, 1ST QTR

BAL BALL ON BAL 34 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: CLEVELAND at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">NFL
CLEVELAND 3
BALTIMORE 0 0:20 LEFT, 1ST QTR

CLE BALL ON CLE 20 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: CLEVELAND at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">NFL END, 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
CLEVELAND 3 3
BALTIMORE 0 0 END, 1ST QTR

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER: CLE - FG, PHIL DAWSON 28 YD, 12:26. Drive: 6
plays, 13 yards in 2:13. Key plays:
McGinest recovery of Boller fumble
at Baltimore 23. CLEVELAND 3-0</div>

 

NFL: CLEVELAND at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">NFL CLEVELAND 3
BALTIMORE 0 14:55 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: CLEVELAND at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">NFL TD CLE
JAMAL LEWIS 1 YD RUN
(PHIL DAWSON KICK)

CLEVELAND 10
BALTIMORE 0 12:23 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: CLEVELAND at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">NFL
CLEVELAND 10
BALTIMORE 0 12:17 LEFT, 2ND QTR

BAL BALL ON BAL 25 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: CLEVELAND at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">NFL
CLEVELAND 10
BALTIMORE 0 10:16 LEFT, 2ND QTR

CLE BALL ON CLE 26 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: CLEVELAND at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">NFL TD BAL
RAY LEWIS 35 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN
(MATT STOVER KICK)

CLEVELAND 10
BALTIMORE 7 8:47 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: CLEVELAND at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">NFL
CLEVELAND 10
BALTIMORE 7 8:40 LEFT, 2ND QTR

CLE BALL ON CLE 36 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: CLEVELAND at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">NFL CLEVELAND 10
BALTIMORE 7 3:06 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>