Ravens' Self-Destruction Is Complete

McNair's 53 Passes Are a Career High, but Mistakes Leave Baltimore at a 'Pretty Low Point': Browns 27, Ravens 13

CLEVELAND, Sept. 30 -- The Baltimore Ravens have displayed an alarming self-destructive streak this season, a tendency that cost them in their season opener (a turnover-filled loss to the Cincinnati Bengals) and nearly cost them during the past two weeks (narrow victories over the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals).

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But it had not been so complete as it was Sunday in Cleveland. Breakdowns by Baltimore in every facet helped the Browns stun the Ravens, 27-13, before 73,024 at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

"Beyond the loss, it's always disappointing to play that way," Coach Brian Billick said. "We just got our butts beat, plain and simple, across the board."

Baltimore's offense scored one touchdown despite driving into Cleveland territory on eight of nine possessions. The defense failed to get a sack and gave up four plays of 25 yards or longer -- including a 78-yard touchdown catch by Braylon Edwards. On special teams, rookie returner Yamon Figurs fumbled a kickoff, veteran place kicker Matt Stover was wide right on two field goals. A neutral zone infraction on a missed field goal by Phil Dawson gave the Browns a first down, and they used the second chance to score a touchdown.

As a result, the Ravens (2-2) fell to 0-2 in the AFC North.

"It's a pretty low point for us," tight end Todd Heap said. "Not a whole lot went our way. We didn't capitalize when we had our opportunities, we made a lot of mistakes as far as turning the ball over and giving them opportunities -- those are the most frustrating games, where you feel like we didn't even put ourselves in position to win."

The first 10 minutes, in which Cleveland (2-2) built a 14-0 lead, set the tone.

The Browns got good field position on their opening possession, thanks to a 41-yard kickoff return by Josh Cribbs (Dunbar), and then drove 55 yards for a touchdown. Quarterback Derek Anderson, a former Baltimore draft pick who was making his sixth career start, had time to throw and calmly completed 4 of 5 passes, including a two-yard scoring toss to wide receiver Joe Jurevicius.

The Ravens responded by moving the ball to the Cleveland 27, but cornerback Leigh Bodden darted in front of a pass intended for Heap and swiped the ball. The interception was quarterback Steve McNair's sixth turnover of the season -- and like four previous ones, it set up a score for the opposing team.

On the next play, Anderson found an open Edwards along the left sideline for a 78-yard touchdown. Cornerback Chris McAlister, who was defending Edwards, was asked to describe what he saw on the play.

His response: "Him running by me."

Edwards had a more thorough answer: "It was a simple go-route. Chris McAlister is known to sit on some things. I gave him a quick inside move, and he bit, so I exploded past him."