Aug 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Cody Kessler (5) throws a pass against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Falcons won 24-13. Photo Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Browns lost starting quarterback Robert Griffin III with a shoulder injury in the opener and might be down to third quarterback Cody Kessler when they play the Dolphins in Miami next Sunday.
Josh McCown started against the Baltimore Ravens in Griffin’s place and suffered a left shoulder injury in the first quarter. He did not miss an offensive snap but was clearly in pain throughout the final three quarters. He had trouble dressing in the locker room, though he tried to put on a brave front.
“It’s not wanting to be not out there with the guys,” McCown said. “I have a dad and older brother who get up and go to work. Sometimes they don’t always feel great and they go and they grind. I have two little boys playing football now. They get hit and get back up. We’re trying to teach them what toughness means.
“Just knowing the window for me right now (is closing). I don’t want to miss snaps. Unless it’s going to fall off, let’s try to make it work. That’s my mentality.”
Last season, McCown missed one game with a concussion and two others with a rib injury before missing the last five with a broken collar bone.
–Resilient Ravens
The Ravens never flinched after falling behind 20-0 in the first quarter. The Browns had 197 yards of offense after 15 minutes but in the end the statistical battle was almost dead even — 387 yards for the Browns compared to 382 for the Ravens.
“It says a lot about the resilience,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “A lot of that has been forged the last nine years here with (quarterback) Joe Flacco, (right guard Marshal (Yanda) and (punter) Sam Koch.
“A lot of guys made plays, but nobody cracked, nobody panicked or pointed the finger.”
–Spreading the wealth
Flacco completed passes to nine different receivers. Tight end Dennis Pitta led the way with nine catches for 102 yards.
“He knows what they’re trying to do to him and they played their man coverage on him a couple times,’ Flacco said. “Those last third and shorts, I hit him crossing to the left and I hit him crossing to the right. If he doesn’t win those, who knows what happens.”
Mike Wallace caught four passes for 41 yards and two touchdowns.
It was no surprise Wallace had success. The former Steelers receiver entered the game with 17 catches for 348 yards and two touchdowns against the Browns.
–Browns get critical penalties
A personal foul on rookie wide receiver Corey Coleman and a taunting call on wide receiver Terrelle Pryor were costly to the Browns.
The call on Pryor wiped out a pass to the Baltimore 10 with 20 seconds to play.
Pryor flipped the ball toward the official, but it hit the shoulder of Ravens Lardarius Webb. Pryor said he did not intend to hit Webb with the ball.
“I have to learn from my mistakes,” said Coleman, who caught five passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns. “If someone does something I have to turn back and go to the huddle.”
–Leading the Ravens
Inside linebacker Zachary Orr led the Ravens with nine tackles. Eric Weddle had six tackles and an interception that set up a field goal by Justin Tucker.
