This was a common sight on Sunday. Myles Garrett had four sacks of Lamar Jackson in the first three quarters. (Cleveland Browns)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns and NFL analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Instant takeaways from Browns 23-16 loss to Baltimore Ravens …
1. Now what?: The home fans finally got their first look at Shedeur Sanders. The rookie made his long-anticipated NFL debut to start the second half with Dillon Gabriel knocked out with a concussion. But the excitement that rippled through cold Huntington Bank Field at the sight of Sanders entering the game was short-lived. Sanders had a rough time of it, understandably, since he has never taken a practice rep with the first-team offense. At the end though, with a chance to tie the game, Sanders had two close calls on passes in the end zone. He overthrew an open Isaiah Bond on the first one and had a pass in Gage Larvadain’s hands knocked away by Chidobe Awuzie. In six possessions, Sanders was 4 of 16 for 47 yards with one interception and two sacks. Baltimore prevailed, 23-16, when Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken shocked the Browns with a tush push formation on fourth-and-1. Tight end Mark Andrews took the direct snap and swept around the right edge for a 35-yard touchdown run with 2:31 to go. It was Baltimore’s first lead of the game. The Browns dropped to 2-8 despite a four-sack game by Myles Garrett.
2. We are tied: Baltimore tied it, 16-16, on a 44-yard field goal by Tyler Loop with 4:59 to go. Lamar Jackson made two plays to put the Ravens in range, avoiding a Grant Delpit sack for a 15-yard completion to Zay Flowers and outracing Myles Garrett to release an 18-yard pass to Flowers. But on third-and-6 from the 26, Jackson overthrew Tylan Wallace in the end zone with Denzel Ward in coverage.
3. Bend but don’t break: Through three quarters, the Browns held a precarious 16-13 lead, thanks to the defense. Derrick Henry gashed it for a 59-yard run to the Browns’ 9, as Ward saved the TD. Then it stopped Henry on successive carries and Jackson missed Andrews in the end zone with Maliek Collins chasing Jackson. Loop made the gimme field goal.
4. Goodbye Dillon, hello Shedeur: It was a surprise when Sanders trotted onto the field for the Browns’ first possession of the second half. Gabriel suffered a concussion on his next-to-last play of the first half when he was tackled after an ill-fated RPO run, but it wasn’t announced until later. Gabriel completed the series with an incomplete pass. Sanders received a rousing ovation when he took his first turn.
5. Myles and miles: Garrett dominated Baltimore’s offense in the first half with three sacks of Jackson and tackle-for-loss of Derrick Henry. Then he added a fourth on the first defensive possession of the second half. Garrett’s previous high for sacks of Jackson in a game was 1.5 in Game 2 in September. The hat trick + 1 gave Garrett a league-high 15 on the season and 11 in the last four games.
6. Turnover frenzy: With the offense in full constipation mode, the Browns built a 16-10 lead because of a turnover on special teams (Delpit recovery of a wind-blown fumbled punt by LaJohntay Wester) and a turnover on defense (Devin Bush Pick 6). Bush made a bullish return of 23 yards to the end zone after picking off Jackson’s pass deflected off the hands of back Keaton Mitchell. Bush ran hard and bounced off tacklers knowing, no doubt, if he didn’t get it to the end zone, the offense sure wouldn’t.
7. Boo birds: Despite the first half lead, fans in attendance were getting increasingly agitated with Gabriel. Boos were heard on three occasions in the first half. They started on the Browns’ second possession when Gabriel missed Dylan Sampson on a simple rollout pass to the left sideline. Later in the second quarter, Gabriel was booed when he forced a pass to Jerry Jeudy at the goal line on third-and-goal from the 6. The third time came in the last minute of the first half when Gabriel’s pass for Harold Fannin came up way short on third-and-5 from the Ravens’ 28. Each time the Browns had to settle for field goals. The last field goal was driven into 21 mph winds from 46 yards out by Andre Szmyt. For the half, Gabriel was 7 of 10 for 68 yards, with completions of 21 and 26 yards to Cedric Tillman.
8. Tackle troubles again: Left tackle Cam Robinson left the game with 11:12 left in the second quarter when somebody rolled up the back side of his right leg. KT Leveston replaced him. Robinson incurred the wrath of fans early on the Browns’ first possession when he was called for an illegal formation with the Browns intending to go for it on fourth-and-1 from their 39-yard line.
9. Pre-game notes: Receiver Jamari Thrash was a healthy scratch, an indication that Malachi Corley is climbing the depth chart. Other Browns inactives besides Thrash: running back Rockey Sanders, linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, guard Zak Zinter, offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas, defensive end Alex Wright and defensive tackle Sam Kamara.