Greg Joseph #17 of the Cleveland Browns kicks the game winning field goal in overtime against the Baltimore Ravens – (Image: Jason Miller/Getty Images)
WELCOME TO THE FANS PERSPECTIVE
*Editor’s Note*
Anthony D. Stevenson is not only our latest addition to the Baseline Perspective team, he’s born and bred from the “HARDLAND OF AMERICA”, Cleveland, Ohio! Anthony’s passion for football has always been there as far back as he can remember and so has his love for the Cleveland Browns.
While in the U.S. Air Force, Anthony played cornerback for the Bitburg Barons CSC football team in Europe. He then played cornerback for the Tri-Country Gamecocks semi-pro football team, in South Carolina.
Anthony offers not only his insight, having played, but also his passion as a fan! It’s only right then that a “dawg pounder for life” gives you his weekly FANS PERSPECTIVE on the 2018-19 season for the Cleveland Browns. Here’s his latest:
Not A Pretty Win, But We’ll Take It!!!!
Cleveland Browns fans didn’t realize that FirstEnergy Stadium would become Cedar Point Amusement Park, because today was a crazy roller coaster ride of emotions as the Browns pulled out the win in overtime against the Baltimore Ravens 12 – 9.
It was a hard-fought game and typically in these types of scenarios, the Browns would find a way to lose. But oh, it’s a new day in Cleveland sports fans!
Baker Mayfield’s first home start is an overtime win against the hated Ravens. He showed the calmness of a veteran today. It wasn’t pretty by any means, especially after putting up 42 points last week against Oakland. He threw another interception on the very first drive of the game. Miscommunication was a factor on that play as wide receiver Rashard Higgins was thinking one thing and Mayfield another. The drop monster reared his ugly head again with some crucial drops by Browns receivers along with an enormous amount of penalties. Despite all that, Mayfield carved up that vaunted Ravens defense like a turkey on Thanksgiving. That was the high! The low? The offense only scored 6 points and special teams gave us the other 6.
Browns’ Defense Strong Again
What can I say about the Browns defense! They didn’t allow a touchdown today; that is huge for this defense. Remember, this is a Ravens offense that came into this game averaging 30.75 points a game. They frustrated Joe Flacco all afternoon. The bend don’t- break defense was led by rookie Denzel Ward. Ward grew up in Cleveland, so he knows how much beating the Ravens would do for the city…his city! He did everything in his power to make it happen with 5 tackles, a couple of pass deflections, 1 interception and a blocked field goal. Ward, along with Jabrill Peppers led the Browns defense to a couple of huge stops in the red zone and kept the Ravens out of the end zone.
Familiar Endings
So remember that emotional roller coaster I was telling you about?
Well, late in the fourth quarter the defense stepped up again, stopping the Ravens and forcing a field goal which tied the game at 9 all. Then Mayfield and the offense drove down the field to put the Browns in position to attempt a game winning field goal at the end of regulation. FirstEnergy Stadium was rocking at this point and Browns fans were losing their minds.
Yes, we’ve had some kicking issues before in previous games, but we have a new kicker now, right? So there should be no problems with this game-winning field goal, right? Wrong!!! Greg Joseph stepped into the ball and kicked a 55 yarder to win the game… but it sailed wide left; no good!
You could feel the energy go out of the stadium like the air from a punctured tire. For the third time in 5 games we’re going to overtime! How much more of this can the hearts of Cleveland Browns fans take? Another close game down to the wire, with a chance to win in regulation and we can’t get the job done. To overtime we go!
That Mayfield Magic
Browns get the ball first and the offense could not do anything on their first drive. So now the Ravens get the ball and the defense stands tall, forcing a punt. The crowd’s on fire once again and now all we need is a field goal to win it. Remember overtime is only 10 minutes now and we’re running out of time. The first play was a poorly executed reverse which lost yardage and put the Browns back inside their own 15-yard line.
The crowd is getting nervous and you could feel the here we go again feelings start to permeate throughout the stadium.
Browns QB Baker Mayfield – (Image: David Richard/AP)
Second down, Baker Mayfield is pressured and escapes from the pocket out to his left and, using his feet, gains positive yards to set up up a third down and 6 yards to go for the first down.
At this moment, I’m just glad I took my blood pressure medication, because Mayfield dropped back to pass, and the pocket started to collapse around him. Future Hall of Famer Terrell Suggs was closing in on Mayfield as he escapes again, this time to the right. He spots Derrick Willies and fires a pass to him. Willies caught it and turned up field, streaking down to right side of the field for a 39-yard gain. The undraftable quarterback to the undrafted free agent, and they have the Browns in Ravens territory and the Browns fans in a frenzy!
Not The Same Ol’ Browns, Good News For Fans
After three great runs by Duke Johnson Jr., the Browns are in position to kick the winning field goal…yet again. You can feel FirstEnergy Stadium is just ready to explode but remain bottled up based on the memories of field goals past.
With 6 seconds remaining in overtime, either the Browns are going to be winners, or they will have their second tie of the season, and both would be against division opponents. Not today Brownie fans, because our new kicker Greg Joseph came in and kicked a knuckle ball just above the cross bar and the Browns WIN!!!
FirstEnergy Stadium was rocking as this win ended a couple of streaks for the Browns that truly needed to end. It was their first division win since 2015 and first win on Sunday since 2015. The Browns offense has given the fans, something to cheer about and the defense has the Dawg Pound barking again. This fan base is ready to get behind this team and push them as far as they can go. Dare I say playoffs? Well let’s get a couple more wins under our belt and then we will see where we are! Go Browns!!!!
