Ravens–Browns Recap: Baltimore Loses 10-Point Lead in 13–10 Defeat
Baltimore built a 10-point lead in Cleveland, kept the Browns scoreless through halftime, and still left without a division win. Andre Szmyt’s 37-yard field goal on the final snap delivered a 13–10 Browns victory on Sunday, October 18th, after the Ravens failed to score over their final nine possessions.
The Ravens–Browns recap turns on two fourth-quarter mistakes: Derrick Henry’s lost fumble helped Cleveland tie the game, and a defensive offside penalty erased Baltimore’s block of Szmyt’s first potential winning kick. Both teams finished the afternoon 4–2, with Cleveland holding the head-to-head edge.
A fast start that never became a cushion
Tyler Huntley, starting again with Lamar Jackson sidelined by an ankle injury, took Baltimore 66 yards in 11 plays on its opening possession. The drive ended with a 2-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Josh Cuevas on fourth down, giving Cuevas his first NFL touchdown and Baltimore a 7–0 lead with 8:11 left in the first quarter.
Cuevas contributed another important play on the next possession, catching a 29-yard pass after lining up at guard. Tyler Loop’s 34-yard field goal made it 10–0 with 4:37 remaining in the quarter. At that point, Baltimore had scored twice while its defense was repeatedly getting Cleveland off the field.
The Browns’ official game account records just 46 net yards and three first downs for Cleveland before halftime. Yet the Ravens could not use that defensive control to extend their advantage. Their early efficiency gave way to punts, leaving a two-possession game close enough for one turnover to change it.
Henry’s fumble changes the fourth quarter
Szmyt’s 48-yard field goal midway through the third quarter cut the margin to 10–3. Baltimore later had an opportunity to restore its 10-point lead, but Loop missed from 49 yards early in the fourth quarter.
Then Carson Schwesinger forced Henry to fumble, and Tyson Campbell recovered at the Baltimore 35. Cleveland needed seven plays to turn that short field into a touchdown. Audric Estime scored from 2 yards out with 8:33 remaining, and the extra point tied the game at 10.
Baltimore still had chances. Szmyt missed a 48-yard attempt that would have put Cleveland ahead, but Huntley and the offense could not produce a first down on either of their final two possessions. The Browns got the ball back at their own 20 with 1:59 left.
A third-down completion—and a second kick
Deshaun Watson’s 33-yard completion to Jerry Jeudy on third-and-5 moved Cleveland into field-goal range. The final sequence initially appeared to give Baltimore another reprieve: Keyon Martin blocked Szmyt’s 42-yard attempt.
The play-by-play, however, records Martin offside. The five-yard penalty wiped out the block and gave Szmyt a 37-yard attempt on an untimed down. He converted, ending a game in which Baltimore’s defense had carried the team for long stretches but could not protect the lead indefinitely.
The numbers behind the result
Huntley completed 19 of 31 passes for 165 yards and one touchdown. Henry finished with 58 yards on 17 carries. Zay Flowers led Baltimore with six catches for 66 yards, while Ja’Kobi Lane added four catches for 40 yards in his return to action.
Baltimore’s official recap credits the defense with a season-high five sacks and Kyle Hamilton with three tackles for loss. The final yardage totals were almost even—237 for Cleveland and 235 for Baltimore—but the Ravens’ scoring stopped after their second drive. Watson finished 16 of 26 for 164 yards.
What comes next
The Associated Press reported that Rashod Bateman left with a shoulder injury and did not return. Baltimore now heads home to face Cincinnati on October 25th, another AFC North matchup. Cleveland visits Tennessee that day.
Our Friday injury report explains the absences Baltimore carried into Cleveland. Sunday added a different problem: even with the defense creating repeated stops, the Ravens could not find the additional score that would have forced the Browns to chase a larger deficit. Readers can also watch the official game highlights from Cleveland’s coverage.
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