CLEVELAND — Andre Szmyt kicked a 37-yard field goal as time expired Sunday, and the Cleveland Browns rallied from a 10-0 halftime deficit to beat the Baltimore Ravens 13-10 at Huntington Bank Field, taking a share of first place in the AFC North this late in a season for the first time since 2014.
Cleveland’s offense produced almost nothing early — just 46 total yards in the first half — while Baltimore built its lead behind backup quarterback Tyler Huntley, starting a second straight week for the injured Lamar Jackson. Huntley threw a touchdown pass to Josh Cuevas on the game’s opening drive, and a Tyler Loop field goal made it 10-0 in the first quarter. The Browns’ defense kept it there, and that hold became the foundation of the comeback.
The Browns finally scored on the first drive of the second half, holding the ball for the first 7 minutes, 12 seconds of the third quarter before Szmyt connected from 48 yards. The defense then took over the fourth quarter. Linebacker Carson Schwesinger, who finished with 13 tackles, forced a Derrick Henry fumble early in the fourth, and Tyson Campbell recovered at the Baltimore 35-yard line with 12:36 to play.
Seven plays later, Cleveland cashed in. Audric Estime — signed off the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad just five days earlier, with starter Quinshon Judkins sidelined by a knee injury — scored on a 2-yard run to tie the game at 10 with 8:33 remaining. The Browns held Henry to 58 yards on 17 carries for the afternoon.
The finish was anything but clean. Szmyt missed wide left from 48 yards with 3:40 left, ending a streak of 25 consecutive made field goals dating back to last season, and it looked like the chance had slipped away. The defense forced another stop, and Deshaun Watson got one final drive. On third-and-5, Watson found Jerry Jeudy for 33 yards to the Baltimore 29 with 22 seconds remaining — Jeudy led Cleveland with four catches for 69 yards, while Watson finished 16-of-26 for 164 yards.
Szmyt’s first attempt at the winner, from 42 yards, was blocked — but Baltimore’s Keyon Martin was flagged for offside on the play. Given a second chance from 37 yards, Szmyt drilled it through as the clock hit zero, setting off a celebration for a fan base that has not seen its team hold a share of first place this deep into a season in more than a decade.
The win lifts Cleveland to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in the division, tied with Baltimore and Pittsburgh atop the AFC North, with the head-to-head edge over the Ravens. It was also a satisfying result for first-year Browns head coach Todd Monken, a former Ravens offensive coordinator, against his old team. Cleveland heads on the road to face the Tennessee Titans next week, while Baltimore, also 4-2, hosts Cincinnati.