CLEVELAND — Myles Garrett questioned the focus of Browns players and coaches a couple of days before what the All-Pro defensive end described as a "win or go home" game against the AFC North-leading Baltimore Ravens.
It wasn't easy, but the Browns responded and sent a clear message on Sunday - don't count them out just yet.
With their playoff hopes at stake, the Browns triumphed 24-22 over the Ravens in a pressure-packed game at FirstEnergy Stadium.
The Browns fell 16-10 to the Ravens on Nov. 28 in Baltimore, then licked their wounds during a long-awaited bye week.
While the Browns (7-6) rested, the Ravens (9-4) suffered a 20-19 heartbreaking loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers last week at Heinz Field.
In other words, the Browns had advantages entering their rematch with the Ravens. Not only were the Browns playing at home, but they had time to regroup, self-evaluate and become healthier during the bye. They were also the more desperate team.
The Browns capitalized and are in the thick of the playoff race with four regular-season games left. They will need to win again Saturday when they host the Las Vegas Raiders, 6-7 after losing 48-9 to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
The Browns snapped a four-game losing steak to the Ravens, and coach Kevin Stefanski improved to 1-3 versus Baltimore. Ravens coach John Harbaugh fell to 23-5 against the Browns.
Filling in for injured starting quarterback Lamar Jackson in the final three quarters, Tyler Huntley nearly pulled off an incredible comeback with the Ravens.
Huntley's 30-yard completion to rookie wide receiver Rashod Bateman over cornerback Greedy Williams on fourth-and-6 from the Cleveland 38-yard came a play before the backup quarterback threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to tight end Mark Andrews with 1:17 left to play.
Trailing by two points, the Ravens then recovered the ensuing onside kick after it deflected off fullback Andy Janovich.
But the Browns defense came through in the clutch.
On fourth-and-6 from the Baltimore 45, Browns cornerback Denzel Ward tackled Bateman immediately after he caught a 2-yard pass, forcing a turnover on downs with 1:17 remaining and sealing Cleveland's win.
The Browns prevailed in large part because of two defensive plays in the first half.
With the Ravens trailing 10-0, 2019 NFL Most Valuable Player Jackson was knocked out of the game with a right ankle injury and never returned. As Jackson passed to tight end Mark Andrews, rookie linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah hit him with 14:52 remaining in the second quarter. Jackson came up limping, was examined in the medical tent on the sideline and had to be carted from the sideline to the locker room with 14:20 left in the second quarter.
Later in the second quarter, Garrett delivered the best play of his stellar career.
On second-and-10 from the Baltimore 20, Garrett rushed past left tackle Alejandro Villanueva and hit the ball with his right hand as Huntley tried to pass. The result was a strip-sack. Garrett picked up the ball and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown with 49 seconds left before halftime.
With his 15th sack in 2021, Garrett set the official single-season franchise record for sacks and scored his first NFL touchdown on the same play.
The Browns went ahead 24-3 courtesy of Garrett, and held on for the dramatic victory despite the Ravens relentlessly charging until the end.
Baltimore Ravens rally against Cleveland Browns with backup quarterback Tyler Huntley
With Jackson officially ruled out for the rest of the game at halftime, Huntley led the Ravens into the red zone on the first series of the third quarter.
The Browns defense, however, registered another clutch takeaway.
On second-and-6 from the Cleveland 12, Huntley scrambled, and defensive end Takk McKinley strip-sacked him from behind. Defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo recovered the fumble for the Browns with 12:03 left in the third quarter.
The Browns failed to score off the turnover, and quarterback Baker Mayfield left the game after defensive tackle Broderick Washington sacked him for a 6-yard loss with 8:14 left in the third quarter. The NFL's spotter called for Mayfield to be evaluated for a concussion, so backup quarterback Case Keenum took two snaps and the offense fizzled while Mayfield was in the medical tent on the sideline. Mayfield was cleared to return and came back into the game on the Browns' next possession.
In the meantime, Justin Tucker's successful 55-yard field goal cut the Ravens' deficit to 24-9 with 2:05 left in the third quarter at the end of a nine-play, 46-yard drive.
Browns kicker Chase McLaughlin had a chance to cancel out Tucker's long field goal with a 41-yard field goal of his own on the next series. However, McLaughlin's kick hit the right upright and missed with 11:30 left in the fourth quarter.
The Ravens made things interesting. Huntley connected with Bateman for 36 yards against Williams' coverage. Williams started in place of rookie cornerback Greg Newsome, who suffered a concussion on the final play of Friday's practice at Browns headquarters in Berea.
On the next play, running back Latavius Murray rushed for a 1-yard touchdown with 8:56 left to play. The Ravens went for two points, but safety Grant Delpit intercepted Huntley's pass in the end zone, so Baltimore trailed 24-15 on the heels of its seven-play, 69-yard scoring drive.
The Ravens are one of the most beat up teams in the NFL, but the Browns have encountered their fair share of adversity, too.
Rookie fourth-round draft pick James Hudson III started Sunday in place of All-Pro right tackle Jack Conklin, who suffered a season-ending ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee two weeks ago in Baltimore.
Tight end David Njoku, linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. and punter Jamie Gillan sat out Sunday with COVID-19, and cornerback Greg Newsome (concussion) and safety Ronnie Harrison Jr. (ankle) were among the team's inactive players.
Scrambling to replace Gillan after he landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday, the Browns signed veteran punter Dustin Colquitt on Friday.
Mayfield has been quarterbacking through an injured left, non-throwing shoulder since Week 2. He has dealt with heel, knee and groin injuries in recent weeks. But Mayfield told Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner on NFL Network his health has improved and called it "night and day" compared with where it was before last week's bye.
Mayfield went 22-of-32 passing for 190 yards and two touchdowns with an interception for a rating of 91.9 against the Ravens.
Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett delivers defensive touchdown at key moment
The Ravens turned cornerback Anthony Averett's interception of a Mayfield pass into their first points of the game.
On first-and-10 from the Cleveland 44, Mayfield's pass intended for wide receiver Jarvis Landry was picked off by Averett, and he returned it 21 yards to the Cleveland 39 with 5:24 left in the second quarter.
After the drive fizzled, Tucker made a 50-yard field goal, and the Ravens cut their deficit to 17-3 with 3:30 left in the second quarter.
The next time the Ravens got the ball, Garrett's heroics helped the Browns extend their lead to 24-3 with 49 seconds left in the second quarter.
But the Ravens made the halftime score 24-6 because Tucker made a 42-yard field goal with 2 seconds remaining in the first half.
Cleveland Browns jump out to 17-0 lead vs. Baltimore Ravens
After each team stalled on its first possession, the Browns seized a 3-0 lead when McLaughlin made a 43-yard field goal with 7:30 left in the first quarter.
The Ravens assisted the Browns with two defensive penalties on the seven-play, 60-yard drive. Averett committed an 18-yard pass interference penalty against receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones, and cornerback Chris Westry had a 30-yard pass interference penalty on a deep ball intended for Landry.
Ravens six-time Pro Bowl defensive end Calais Campbell suffered a thigh injury during the drive, leaving the game with 7:54 remaining in the first quarter.
The Browns defense forced a three-and-out on the next series, and the offense capitalized on the momentum with an eight-play, 66-yard scoring drive.
On second-and-5, Mayfield threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Landry, allowing the Browns to go ahead 10-0 with 38 seconds left in the first quarter. Landry caught the ball near the 5 against the coverage of cornerback Tavon Young and reached the front right pylon for his first receiving TD of the season.
With 2:10 left in the first quarter, Browns standout running back Kareem Hunt suffered a left ankle injury while converting a key third-and-3 during the march. Hunt caught a 5-yard pass for a first down, but he began limping after safety Geno Stone tackled him. Hunt returned to the sideline in the second half but never re-entered the game.
Mayfield's 34-yard pass to Peoples-Jones on third-and-4 from the Cleveland 40 proved to be another crucial play during the drive.
Jackson's injury occurred on the ensuing series, and the Browns struck again when they got the ball back.
Mayfield and Peoples-Jones connected for 27 yards along the Browns' sideline on a 10-play, 77-yard drive. On first-and-goal, the Browns used two extra offensive linemen in the jumbo formation and faked a run to Chubb. Tight end Austin Hooper was wide open in the end zone when he caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Mayfield, and the Browns captured a 17-0 advantage with 8:15 left in the second quarter.
