The Baltimore Ravens' season has been an emotional rollercoaster — from a rough 1-5 start to now riding a four-game win streak. But nothing felt more telling than Sunday’s 23-16 road victory over the Cleveland Browns.
In a game fraught with offensive hiccups, special teams miscues, and relentless pressure, the Ravens leaned on their heart, their defense. This win isn’t just another notch in the win column: it’s a sign that the Ravens are beginning to rediscover what makes them dangerous.
Here are three key takeaways from Sunday's win.
3 key takeaways
1. Defense carries Baltimore when everything else wobbles
If there was a saving grace for the Ravens on Sunday, it was their defense. Cleveland managed just 187 total yards, failed to punch in a single offensive touchdown, and converted 2-14 on third down.
Baltimore’s defensive unit stiffened after the Browns took a 10-3 lead. Defensive coordinator Zach Orr dialed up pressure, the secondary tightened up, and when the moment got big late, they delivered the kind of clutch stops that have defined the Ravens' identity for years.
This isn’t just about one win. This defense is signaling: when the offense stumbles, the Ravens still have a backbone that refuses to quit.
2. Mark Andrews comes in the clutch
Late in the fourth quarter, with the game tied at 16, Baltimore leaned into its power package — but then threw the Browns a curveball. On 4th and 1 from Cleveland’s 35, instead of the good ole tush push, tight end Mark Andrews took the snap under center, pivoted right, and exploded for a 35-yard touchdown run.
Not only was it his first career rushing touchdown, but it came in the biggest moment, and it came via creativity and guts.
3. Offense still fragile, but momentum is brewing
If the offense had any hope Sunday, it wasn’t because of precision — it was because of persistence. Lamar Jackson completed just 14 of 25 passes for 193 yards, with two interceptions. On top of that, the Ravens went 1-for-4 in the red zone.
Still, the ground game was a bright spot. Derrick Henry ran 18 times for 103 yards and found the end zone. That kind of physicality kept drives alive and helped wear down the Browns' defense.
This win doesn’t erase all the offense issues, but it underscores something important: momentum can’t be underestimated. After a historically brutal start, the Ravens are now 5-5, they’ve swept the Browns for the first time since 2020, and they’re slowly building the kind of confidence that could power a playoff push.
For Ravens fans, this game represents more than just a divisional win. It’s a statement.
Resilience is real: Even when it’s messy, this team still finds a way.
Defense first, always: The heart of this team is still its defense, and when it plays like this, dreams of a deep run aren’t out of reach.
In a season where expectations have swung, Sunday’s win gives the Ravens fanbase a moment to breathe — and to believe again.