Dawson, Browns bounce Ravens

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Just when the Baltimore Ravens thought the ball finally had bounced their way, they were served a cruel twist of fate.

One minute, the Ravens thought they had escaped with a victory over the Cleveland Browns thanks to an apparent missed field goal by Cleveland kicker Phil Dawson with no time left in regulation.

The next minute, they were told that Dawson’s kick hit the center support behind the crossbar before deflecting onto the field. The result was a successful 51-yard kick by Dawson and an overtime session the emotionally deflated Ravens were not ready to endure.

Fewer than six minutes later, Dawson kicked a 33-yard field goal connected and some dirt on the Ravens’ dying season to lift the Browns to a 33-30 victory in front of a stunned crowd of 71,055 at M&T Bank Stadium on a cool, autumn afternoon.

“It hurts a lot,” Ravens coach Brian Billick said.

The loss was particularly stinging since the Ravens (4-6) erased a 27-14 deficit in the fourth quarter — even taking 30-27 lead with 26 seconds remaining in the game on Matt Stover’s 47-yard field goal.

But the Browns (6-4) quickly moved down field, with passes from quarterback Derek Anderson (24 of 38 for 274 yards) to Joe Jurevicius and Braylon Edwards, before Dawson kicked the tying field goal.

Ravens players had left the field and headed toward their locker room as officials discussed the field goal, which they had originally signaled as no good. But as the officials huddled to determine if the field goal was good, several Ravens were aleady undressing in the locker room, including linebacker Ray Lewis, who according to a team official said: It’s over. We won.”

However, after officials reversed the call, the Browns were able to parlay their momentum into scoring on the first possession of overtime.

The Ravens will head to San Diego (5-5) for Sunday’s game against the Chargers having lost a franchise record-tying four straight games.

“It’s tough,” quarterback Kyle Boller, who was 22 of 41 for 279 yards, said. “I never really experienced that before.”

The Ravens saw their slim postseason aspirations become even smaller with the loss. The team’s next three games are against the San Diego Chargers, the New England Patriots and the defending Super Bowl champion Indianapolis.

Unlike recent weeks, the Ravens showed signs of life against the Browns. After weeks of being routed by AFC North foes Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, the Ravens appeared destined for another thumping.

The Ravens had just 38 yards in the first half with two first downs. The third quarter saw Boller throw his second interception of the day, which was returned 100 yards by Brodney Pool for a touchdown and the 27-14 lead.

But the Ravens scored 16 points in the fourth quarter, thanks to unlikely heroes like Boller, little-used receiver Devard Darling, second-year tight end Quinn Sypniewski (six catches for 53 yards) and Stover (three field goals).

Darling (four catches, 107 yards) caught two passes for 69 yards in the fourth quarter, including a 27-yard, game-tying touchdown with 3:31 remaining.

“I know a loss is a loss in the NFL and you all don’t care much hearing me talk about the character the team showed coming back in the second half, but it means something to me,” Billick said. “I hope it means something to them because they were incredible.”

mpalmer@baltimoreexaminer.com

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