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January 7, 2025
Bengals Steelers Postgame Recap Week 18
January 7, 2025
The Browns finished the 2024 season with a 35-10 loss to the Ravens, bringing their season record to 3-14.
QB Bailey Zappe, who started his first game as a member of the Cleveland Browns, threw two interceptions in the loss, one of which was returned for a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, Zappe and TE Jordan Akins connected on a 16-yard score for the Browns’ only touchdown of the game.
The Ravens were powered in the second half by RB Derrick Henry, who finished with 138 rushing yards and a pair of rushing touchdowns. With the win, the Ravens clinched the AFC North title and the third seed in the AFC in the NFL Playoffs.
Key Moments
Zappe struggles in first half, warms up in the second
After struggling to make plays in the first half, Zappe showed improvement in the second half, leading the Browns to the end zone in the fourth quarter before throwing an interception on the Browns’ second-to-last drive of the game.
Zappe finished the first half with just 55 passing yards. In the first quarter, Zappe threw a short pass intended for WR Elijah Moore, but Ravens CB Nate Wiggins stepped in front of the pass and returned it 26 yards for the Ravens’ first touchdown of the day.
The third-year quarterback led the Browns’ first scoring drive of the day in the second quarter, but was unable to finish with a touchdown. After connecting with Moore for a 23-yard reception, Zappe and the Browns offense stalled in the red zone. K Dustin Hopkins made a 23-yard field goal, his only field goal attempt of the game.
After three consecutive punts, the Browns offense finally found the end zone in the fourth quarter. Zappe completed six of his 10 passing attempts for 55 yards, capping off the drive with a 16-yard pass to Akins.
The Browns put themselves in position to score another touchdown in the game’s waning moments after Zappe connected with WR Jerry Jeudy for a 30-yard gain, bringing them to the Ravens 22-yard line. However, on his final pass of the game, Zappe threw an interception to Ravens DT Michael Pierce on a pass intended for RB Jacob Kibodi.
Zappe finished with 170 passing yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, completing 16 of his 31 passing attempts.
Browns run defense falters in the second half
After holding Henry to just 8 yards on six carries in the first half, the veteran running back and the Ravens’ rushing offense came alive in the second half.
Henry opened the second half with a 25-yard rush, finding holes in the Browns defense to set up the Ravens for an eventual touchdown drive. The Ravens running back went on to rush for 130 yards and two rushing touchdowns in the second half.
Henry had four runs of 10 or more yards in the second half, including a 43-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. The touchdown was Henry’s second of the day, with his first coming earlier in the fourth quarter on a 2-yard run into the end zone.
In addition to struggling to stop Henry, the Browns had difficulty stopping QB Lamar Jackson. Jackson finished with two passing touchdowns and was not sacked in the Ravens’ win. In addition to his 217 passing yards, Jackson added nine carries for 63 yards.
Jackson’s feet allowed him to keep plays alive as he escaped pressure in the pocket throughout the game. On the Ravens’ first drive of the second quarter, Jackson ran out of the pocket, creating time to toss a deep ball to TE Mark Andrews for a 30-yard touchdown.
After the Browns scored in the fourth quarter to make it an 11-point game, Jackson connected with WR Rashod Bateman on two passes of over 20 yards and Henry finished the job with a touchdown run to effectively seal the win for the Ravens.
