Tickets might have been cheap for tonight's game, but there's no place to get more insight on Browns-Ravens than the Megablog!
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- How far have the Browns fallen this season?
WKYC's 90-minute pregame was just 12 minutes into its coverage when the question was asked on social media: How late are you willing to stay up on the Monday night to see a 2-8 franchise? The answer wasn't all that encouraging for the home team.
The Megablog never asks such a question, because we're here for the duration. Once again, we'll have coverage from reporters and columnists from cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer, along with observers from around the NFL Twitterverse.
Just keep refreshing to get the latest.
Ravens 24, Browns 20; 5:30 left in third quarter
10:22 p.m.: Touchback, Ravens ball on the 20.
On first down, Terrence West gets a yard, Barkevious Mingo clamping down. On second-and-9, West finds a gaping hole on the zone stretch right up the middle for 11.
On first down, Allen on a stretch right for no gain, good close by Craig Robertson. On second-and-10, Schaub hits Aiken for 10 against Tramon Williams. Browns continue to play soft to protect the secondary.
On first down at the 42, Schaub throws behind TE Nick Boyle. On second-and-10, West gets another gaping hole on a stretch right, cutting back for 16 yards to the Browns 42.
On first down, West for no gain. On second-and-10, Schaub to Jeremy Butler for nine. K'Waun Williams in soft zone. On third-and-1, West is stuffed for a yard loss by Jamie Meder. Ravens on fourth-and-2 will go for it at the 34. In I formation, Schaub will pass and hits Juszczyk in the right flat for 15 yards. He's had a number of good gains on short passes vs. the Browns the last couple of years.
On first down at the 19, Schaub to Aiken for four, stopped by K'Waun Williams. On second-and-6, Schaub to Aiken, who has a cushion against K'Waun Williams and scores.
Browns defense will definitely "own" that series. No worries.
Browns 20, Ravens 17; 12:16 left in third quarter
10:15 p.m.: Losers in time of possession in the first half, the Ravens look for a two-score edge with this drive.
On first down, play action to Kamar Aiken at the Browns 45 is behind him. On second-and-10, Buck Allen gets three, stopped by Tashaun Gipson and Nate Orchard. On third-and-7, Schaub intercepted by Karlos Dansby at the Browns 49 and returns 51 yards for the touchdown. Ball was well, well short of Aiken and Dansby had an easy pick.
10:10 p.m.: Justin Tucker's kickoff is a touchback.
On first down at the 20, McCown nearly intercepted by C.J. Mosely at the 40 as Hartline stopped in his route over the middle. On second-and-10, Duke Johnson for three over the left side. On third-and-7, McCown in shotgun hits Johnson on a dumpoff for five. Ravens were very aware of Johnson on that short crossing route.
Andy Lee's punt nearly blocked, sails out of bounds at the Ravens 36.
10:04 p.m.: Browns get the ball to start the second half. Can McCown continue his barrage? Can the secondary not get carved up by Matt Schaub?
9:58 p.m.: Browns have nearly doubled the Ravens in offense, 232-125, but the Kaelin Clay TD punt return is the key play of the first half. McCown is 16-for-26 for 189 yards. Schaub is 7-of-9 for 86.
Halftime: Ravens 17, Browns 13
9:52 p.m.: Kickoff is a kneel down and we're at halftime.
Ravens 17, Browns 13; 0:03 remaining in second quarter
9:50 p.m.: On first down at the 45, McCown hits Barnidge behind the linebackers for 31 yards to the 14.
On first down, clock running, McCown incomplete to Moore at the 10, defended by Shareece Wright. On second-and-10 with 1:09 left, McCown in shotgun gives to Johnson on a draw to the 8, gain of six. Clock running. On third-and-4, snap at 0:25 seconds and McCown hits Hartline at the 5, stumbling backwards to the 3. Browns timeout at 0:19.
This has been a leisurely, if successful so far, two-minute drill.
On first and goal, empty backfield for McCown and pass incomplete as McCown is hit by Canty, who is terrorizing Cam Erving. 0:15 left.
On second down, Ravens call second timeout.
After timeout, pass to Johnson incomplete at the 1. On third-and-goal at 0:12, McCown rushed by Canty, who overpowers Erving again. He's not a guard, folks.
Coons' 21-yard field goal is good.
"We've seen this many times this season, driving down the field only to get a field goal," laments Jim Donovan on Browns radio.
Ravens 17, Browns 10; 2:00 left in second quarter
9:41 p.m.: Browns start with all three timeouts.
After the obligatory shot of Manziel on the sideline, ESPN gets the cameras back on the field as McCown hits Hartline for 16 yards. McCown is 12 of his last 13 for 139 yards and a TD.
Browns decide not to get a play off in the last 30 seconds before the two-minute warning. Play Like A Brown.
9:38 p.m.: Clay returns kickoff to the Ravens 21.
On first down, Allen slips down at the 23, gain of two. On second-and-8, Allen loses three on a screen, superbly read by Whitner. On third-and-11, Schaub rolls out of pressure and runs out of bounds at the 27. No false courage with Jimmy Clausen knowing maybe a dozen plays.
Sam Koch's punt caught by Benjamin on a bounce at the 27, returned 13 yards to the 39 with 2:38 remaining in the half.
9:35 p.m.: ESPN spends a lot of money for a Tinkertoy recital of Browns history. Pretty funny.
Ravens 17, Browns 10; 4:36 left in second quarter
9:32 p.m.: With millions flipping over to "A Charlie Brown Christmas," Gilbert returns to the 31.
On first down, McCown to Johnson (who was in the right slot) for 21 to the Baltimore 48.
On first down, McCown in shotgun hits Hartline, who breaks a tackle at the 43 and gets a first down at the 38.
On first down, Crowell for no gain into DT Za'Darius Smith, who chased down the play. Sharp running attack again. On second-and-10, McCown to Benjamin on a slant for 11.
On first down at the 27, McCown to Hartline for five, but NT Brandon Williams flagged for hands to the face, first down at the 22.
On first down, Crowell for a yard as Schwartz/Greco get nothing on the right side. On second-and-9, McCown to Duke Johnson for eight -- he was uncovered by the Ravens until after the snap. On third-and-1, Johnson gets four as he hits the right side much faster than Crowell so far tonight.
Injury timeout for Ravens LB C.J. Mosely, who has a left leg injury.
On first and goal at the 10, McCown in shotgun incomplete for Barnidge in the right corner. Dumervil had pressure. On second down, McCown forced left and hits Marlon Moore at the goal line for the touchdown.
Josh Football Scramble.
Ravens 17, Browns 3; 9:58 left in second quarter
9:19 p.m.: Coons' kickoff goes out of bounds at the 2, Ravens ball at the 40.
Play Like A Brown.
On first down, play action by Schaub finds Chris Givens wide open to the Browns 12. Tramon Williams was well behind the receiver, a better lead by Schaub and it's a TD.
On first down, Allen loses one on good penetration by Karlos Dansby. On second-and-11, Schaub hits Allen at the 10 and Dansby and Kirksey both whiff as Allen strolls into the end zone.
No worries -- Mike Pettine and the Browns will "own" this start.
Ravens 10, Browns 3; 11:27 left in second quarter
9:14 p.m.: With a third-and-10 at the Ravens 46, McCown hits Barnidge for nine to the 37 -- good tackle by Will Hill. Browns will go for it (as if there was another, better, option). On fourth-and-1, Ravens call timeout with 14:21.
After the quick consultation, Browns go empty backfield. McCown to Barnidge for 17 yards up the left seam. Nice throw by McCown as Barnidge was double-teamed.
First down at the 20. McCown in pistol hits Benjamin on bubble screen for seven -- good blocking by Hartline to give the Rabbit room. On second-and-3, Crowell sweeps left for two, solid tackle by LB Daryl Smith. On third-and-1, Crowell stuffed as C.J. Mosely for loss of two, Mosely sprinted around the right side of the Browns line -- no one accounted for him.
Travis Coons' 31-yard field goal is good.
Ravens 10, Browns 0; end of first quarter
9:07 p.m.: After a touchback, the Browns start at their 20.
With the Muni Lot about to get a lot more crowded once halftime arrives, the Browns start their third series with McCown hitting a leaping Benjamin for 11 yards.
On first down at the 31, Crowell runs left for a yard -- Browns had no push on the left side. On second-and-9, McCown hits Brian Hartline up the middle for 10 yards and a first down.
At the 42, Crowell pushes the left side for two. Browns lined up strong right and ran away from the formation directly into a Ravens run blitz. On second-and-8, a jet sweep to Benjamin gets nine and a first down at the Ravens 46.
On first down, McCown to Barnidge for nine. On second-and-1, Johnson sweeps right for seven, but WR Marlon Moore flagged for holding. Jon Gruden isn't a fan of the call. On second-and-11, McCown sacked by Elvis Dumervil at the 46 -- Dumervil's 11th sack in his career against Cleveland.
End of quarter.
Ravens 10, Browns 0; 4:22 left in first quarter
8:56 p.m.: On first down, Buck Allen blows over right guard on a zone stretch blocking scheme for 21 to the Browns 49.
On first down, Allen again for four on another zone blocking this time to the left. On second-and-6, Schaub to Jeremy Butler for 10 yards against soft coverage by Tramon Williams.
On first down, Schaub hits FB Kyle Juszczyk for three. On second-and-7, Allen gets one over right tackle. On third-and-6, Schaub has pressure and misses TE Nick Boyle.
Justin Tucker's 49-yard field goal just slips inside the right upright.
And all those folks who thought the Browns would come in strong after the bye week?
8:50 p.m.: Justin Tucker's kickoff is a touchback. Gilbert was the returner for the Browns.
First down at the 20, play action by McCown complete to Travis Benjamin for just two yards. On second-and-8, McCown to Barnidge for 12 yards -- really good pass protection after some secondary blitzes produced pressure on the first series.
On first down, Isaiah Crowell cutback over right guard for four. On second-and-6, McCown incomplete to the right sideline -- NT Tim Jurnigan with pressure up the middle. On third-and-6, McCown to Dwayne Bowe (!!!) is well overthrown.
Another Lee punt to Clay at the 15, returned 15 yards to the 30.
Ravens 7, Browns 0; 9:54 left in first quarter
8:43 p.m.: On first down at the 11, Browns go five wide and McCown is incomplete for Gary Barnidge at the 22 -- Travis Benjamin was uncovered at the 17 but ignored. On second-and-10, Duke Johnson gets four yards up the middle. On third-and-6, McCown scrambles up the middle and gets a first down at the Browns 24 -- diving head first.
On first down, Johnson is stuffed by C.J. Mosely on a cutback over the middle, but still gets three yards. He's a tough runner, if smallish. On second-and-7, McCown throws the ball away after being chased by DE Chris Canty on a bootleg right. On third-and-7, McCown avoids a blitzing Lardarius Webb and throws it away.
Referee Brad Allen signals false start on Christian Kirksey. On fourth-and-12, punter Andy Lee punt caught by Kaelin Clay at the 18 and returned up the right sideline and is untouched for an 82-yard TD return.
8:34 p.m.: On first down at the 26, Schaub to Crockett Gilmore for six yards on a rollout right. On second-and-4, Javorius (Buck) Allen finds a crease for six yards and a first down at the 37.
On first down, Schaub to Kamar Aiken for seven against soft coverage by Gilbert. On second-and-2, no gain by Allen as the right side of the defense is firm. On third-and-2, Schaub dumpoff to Allen incomplete as Donte Whitner was in good coverage and wouldn't have allowed a first down anyway.
Sam Koch's punt OB at the Browns 11.
8:31 p.m.: Travis Coons' kickoff to Raheem Mostert is returned to the 25 and we're underway.
8:29 p.m.: Ravens call tails, lose the coin toss and the Browns will defer and start on defense.
Doug Dieken says Baltimore's backup QB, Jimmy Clausen, was still going over the playbook during warmups tonight. So perhaps that's a little worse than a partying third-stringer?
Meanwhile, ESPN's Jon Gruden is giving a full breakdown of gametape for a QB who isn't supposed to get a snap tonight. No love for Josh McCown at all.
8:19 p.m.: John Harbaugh tells ESPN that he expects Matt Schaub "to play great" tonight and that his team is "ready to go."
He looks like a coach who believes the breaks (and broken bones) have gone against his team, but it hasn't quit.
Does Mike Pettine feel the same way? Hmmmm.
8:15 p.m.: ESPN's pre-game predictions: Trent Dilfer, Steve Young, Tom Jackson, Mike Ditka, Cris Carter pick the Browns, which get five of the nine votes.
Whatever that means.
8:11 p.m.: Tom Reed gives the back story on tonight's start for Justin Gilbert:
"If dressing Johnny Manziel for the game was a mild surprise after his latest off-field escapade, starting Gilbert constitutes a bigger one given his lack of playing time on defense.
"The defensive back, who's run back kickoffs, is making his first start of the season. Gilbert has earned just 31 defensive snaps as he continued his slide down the depth chart in his second year. His last start was Week Six of last season against the Jaguars.
"'Up until the day off, he had a good practice,' defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil said on Friday. '(Gilbert) had a couple good practices last week during the bye.'"
8:06 p.m.: In a scathing feature on ESPN before the game broadcast, Jeremy Schapp had this line about a franchise that had been deluding itself ever since the 2014 draft that somehow a Texas party boy would ever mature enough to be an NFL QB.
"The Browns say Johnny Manziel violated their trust. But the Browns violated common sense." And "For this wreck, the Browns bear as much responsibility, even more, than Johnny Football."
It's appointment TV everyone!
8 p.m.: The inactive list:
Browns: WR Andrew Hawkins, WR Taylor Gabriel, DB Joe Haden, DB Pierre Desir, DB Don Jones, OL Joel Bitonio, DL Randy Starks.
Ravens: WR Marlon Brown, DE Carl Davis, DE Kapron Lewis-Moore, OT Eugene Monroe, OG Kelechi Osemele, DB Cassius Vaughn, CB Tray Walker.
Johnny Manziel is the third QB tonight "behind" Josh McCown and Austin Davis, but if you're wondering what happens if McCown gets dinged again, you're not the only one.
Meanwhile, CB Justin Gilbert is starting across from Tramon Williams -- which is either the result of a good week in practice for Gilbert, a bad one for Pierre Desir or simply "put up or shut up" for the former Oklahoma State Cowboy.
Yes, Dwayne Bowe is active. Not that it means he'll play, but ...
