Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Michael Pierce secured his first interception in his NFL career during a decisive victory against the Cleveland Browns. The interception came as the Browns were in the red zone, with the Ravens leading 35-10. Pierce intercepted a pass from Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, allowing the Ravens to run out the clock and secure the division title. This victory marked the Ravens’ second consecutive NFC North title, finishing the season with a record of 12-5.
The Ravens will now proceed to the playoffs with a home game against either the Los Angeles Chargers or the Pittsburgh Steelers. Baltimore made an impressive comeback in their final four games to overtake the Steelers and clinch the division title. On the other hand, the Cleveland Browns finished a disappointing season with six straight losses, ending with a record of 3-14. In their final game, quarterbacks Bailey Zappe and Thompson-Robinson both struggled to move the ball effectively, with Zappe even having a pass intercepted and returned for a touchdown by rookie Nate Wiggins.
The Ravens’ star quarterback, Lamar Jackson, had a standout performance in the game, throwing touchdown passes to Mark Andrews and Rashod Bateman. Jackson finished the season with impressive statistics, including 4,172 passing yards, 41 touchdown passes, and only four interceptions. Additionally, he became the first quarterback in NFL history to reach 4,000 passing yards with 40 TD passes and four or fewer interceptions. Jackson also made history by rushing for 915 yards, becoming the first quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards and rush for at least 800 in a single season.
Zappe, the Browns’ quarterback, struggled against the Ravens’ defense, throwing for 170 yards with two interceptions. Although Zappe managed to connect with Jordan Akins for a 16-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, the Browns were unable to mount a significant comeback. Meanwhile, Derrick Henry, celebrating his 31st birthday, added two rushing touchdowns for the Ravens, finishing the season with 1,921 rushing yards and a franchise-record 16 rushing touchdowns. Despite their efforts, the Cleveland Browns defense continued their streak of not allowing a 300-yard passer, with Jackson only completing 16 of 32 passes for 217 yards in the game.
The biggest concern for the Ravens coming out of the game was the injury to Pro Bowl receiver Zay Flowers, who left in the second quarter with a right knee injury. However, the Ravens were able to secure the victory and division title, setting themselves up for a strong position in the upcoming playoffs. With the momentum from their four-game winning streak to end the season, the Ravens are poised to make a deep playoff run. The Browns, on the other hand, will look to regroup in the off-season after a disappointing finish to their campaign.
