Baltimore Ravens Dominate Cleveland Browns With Lamar Jackson, Shutdown Defense

A sterling defensive effort from the Baltimore Ravens kept the Cleveland Browns out of the end zone and allowed the visitors to jump to 2-0 in AFC North play.

O-H ... B-A-L.

The Baltimore Ravens played a catchy defensive tune in the Rock 'n Roll Capital of the World, crushing the Cleveland Browns 28-3 on Sunday afternoon at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Lamar Jackson was responsible for all four scores, picking up two each on the ground and through the air. Each of the latter two landed in the hands of tight end Mark Andrews.

This Week 4 victory allowed the Ravens (3-1) to complete a two-game sweep of the Buckeye State, having previously bested the Cincinnati Bengals two weeks prior. The Ravens are also 2-0 in AFC North competition after dropping each of their final three games within the division last season.

Sunday's win was a sterling defensive showcase, one that limited Cleveland (2-2) to 13 first downs and 166 yards of offense. The Browns were handicapped from the get-go with starting quarterback Deshaun Watson, forcing the team to turn to rookie thrower Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

Lamar Jackson (8) lets it fly in the Ravens' 28-3 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday / USA TODAY SPORTS

Early in the game, Baltimore's defense was, in fact, its finest offensive asset. With the offensive forced to start with consecutive three-down drives, Brandon Stephens set his teammates up in prime territory with a 52-yard runback on his first career interception. Jackson needed but one play to give the Ravens an early, permanent lead, scoring from 10 yards out for the opening tally.

All Cleveland could muster in response was a field goal, one where most of the work was done on a 37-yard pass interference penalty from Stephens. Momentum permanently shifted to the visitors' side when Jackson led an eight-play, 93-yard drive that concluded with his second tally, this one from a mere two away. Andrews hinted at what was to come with a 36-yard reception earned before his scores, the first of which came 11 seconds before halftime.

Baltimore and Cleveland will wrap up their yearly couple at M&T Bank Stadium on Nov. 12 as part of Week 10 play. The former will seek its first sweep in the divisional rivalry since 2020.

The Ravens have a chance to further improve their divisional mark next Sunday when they face the latter half of a two-game domestic road trip against the Pittsburgh Steelers at 1 p.m. ET.