CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns’ defense kept the plans simple in preparing for the Baltimore Ravens and their game-breaking quarterback Lamar Jackson, and to that end, they limited his impact running the ball out of the pocket.
The Browns (2-2) limited Jackson to 66 rushing yards, with a long run of 29, and forced three turnovers, including two that led to scores in a 40-25 victory over the Ravens (2-2) at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore Sunday.
“We tried to create mistakes, come out and play a little harder, play with a little more effort and poise to get that job done,” safety Jermaine Whitehead said following the win. “We took the good with the bad early. We kept competing. We have a great offense that has our back. When we did give up one, they’d go back out and get a touchdown. It was a great feeling.”
Defensive end Olivier Vernon added, “We know, as a defense, that we’ve got to force turnovers and force three-and-outs. If we’re not doing that, we’re not doing our job.”
The Browns extended their lead over the Ravens to 24-10 with 53 seconds remaining in the third quarter when running back Nick Chubb capped off an eight-play, 84-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run behind left tackle Greg Robinson.
On the previous play, wide receiver Jarvis Landry caught a shovel pass from quarterback Baker Mayfield, ran around left end and gained 29 yards before being forced out of bounds at Baltimore’s two-yard line.
But while the offense pushed the ball across the goal line, the Browns’ fourth scoring drive of the game was set up by a forced turnover.
With the Ravens driving deep in Cleveland territory, Jackson handed off to running back Mark Ingram II, and the veteran ball carrier was jarred loose by Whitehead and recovered by defensive lineman Chad Thomas at the Browns’ 26-yard line.
“He ran through the hole,” Whitehead said. “Joe [Schobert] got him on the lower half of the body. I came in and tried to finish him off. I wanted to hit him right in the chest as hard as I could and the ball came out. I knew it was a good hit, but I didn’t know it came out until I saw my guys celebrating. It was definitely a great play.
“It was energizing for the whole team, hearing their fans booing and leaving the stadium. Anytime our offense scores a touchdown, it is a jolt of energy that goes through us because we know we have to go out and get a stop to get them the ball right back because they’re hot.”
Overall, Whitehead finished the day with a hand in two of the Browns’ three forced turnovers, as he caught an interception on a deep pass from Jackson to tight end Mark Andrews to go along with the forced fumble.
But to those who see Whitehead on a daily basis, no one was surprised by the production.
“He makes those plays on the ball in practice,” Vernon said. “He’s been working all offseason and during the OTAs and training camp, so for everything to come to fruition was great. I know he’s going to keep doing what he does.”