CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns have struggled with inconsistency and lulls in productivity throughout the 2019 season, and that dropped them to a 6-9 record heading into next week’s season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati.
Because of the lack of consistency and moments with little offensive production, the Browns fell to the Baltimore Ravens (13-2) at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland Sunday, a setback that officially eliminated them from playoff contention for an NFL-worst 17th consecutive year.
“It comes back on us not doing our job,” Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield said after the loss to Baltimore. “You do not ever want to have to rely on somebody else to get into the playoffs. We just have to do our job first and foremost, and we did not do that.
“We just didn’t make the plays. They are a great team. Obviously, their record indicates that. They are rolling right now and have a lot of momentum. We have to do our job. We have a very high standard for ourselves, and we didn’t meet that.”
After playing a scoreless first quarter against the Ravens, the Browns got things rolling offensively.
Following the forcing and recovering of a fumble from Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson, Mayfield and the offense took over at the Baltimore 45-yard line. Following two defensive penalties that extended the drive, the Browns converted the possession into points.
On first-and-goal from the Baltimore one-yard line, Mayfield rolled to his right and lofted a throw to tight end Demetrius Harris along the back line of the end zone. Despite tight coverage from a Ravens defender, Harris caught the pass and maintained possession through the end of the play for the touchdown, his third of the season.
Rookie kicker Austin Seibert’s extra point was off the mark, but the Browns still held a 6-0 lead over the Ravens with 11:53 to play in the first half.
However, the Browns would not visit the end zone again until the 8:01 mark of the fourth quarter when wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. caught a touchdown in the back right corner of the end zone. While the Browns went more than two quarters without a touchdown, the Ravens took a lead and never looked back.
Until the Mayfield-to-Beckham Jr. connection, the Browns had four consecutive possessions that ended without points, as they punted three straight times and ran out the clock in the first half.
During the Browns’ touchdown drought, the Ravens pushed the ball across the goal line three times and added a field goal of their own.
“We just didn’t make the plays on offense we needed to,” Mayfield said. “Six points in the first half isn’t good enough. We have to make more plays, take advantage of our one-on-ones and execute. A team like that is going to find ways to win. They have done that all year. We know that we have to do our job consistently.”