Offense: Rookie quarter-back Brandon Weeden’s inter-ception that was returned 63 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter proved to be too much to overcome. Weeden’s targets also had way too many dropped passes. THUMBS DOWN.
Defense: The secondary continued to struggle without starting cornerback Joe Haden, who served the third game of his four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco threw for 356 yards. THUMBS DOWN.
Special teams: Phil Dawson made field goals of 50, 51 and 52 yards — in the rain. The long field goals overshadowed some poor punting by Reggie Hodges and Josh Cribbs’ fumble during a punt return on which he nearly had his head taken off. THUMBS UP.
Coaching: Pat Shurmur’s unsports-manlike conduct penalty for seemingly yelling at the no-longer-locked-out regular officials with 5:27 left in the fourth quarter didn’t help the Browns’ cause. Neither did stalled drive after stalled drive. THUMBS DOWN.
— Nate Ulrich
