With week seventeen of the NFL season basically in the books, these two teams put on abysmal performances. The Cleveland Browns capped off the wrong kind of historic season in their loss to the rival Steelers. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens also suffered defeat at the hands of fellow AFC North rival Bengals, costing themselves a shot at the playoffs.
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns went on the road to face the Steelers, who were resting several key starters, as they tried to avoid going winless. Early in the second quarter, they were down 14-0, and it seemed like they would end their historically awful season with a whimper.
However, the Browns started to fight back and cut the deficit to 21-14 by halftime.
The Browns had minus-16 yards of offense in the first quarter.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 31, 2017
That's the fewest by any team in a first quarter since the 2008 Rams.
Stevan Ridley scored his first TD in 1,183 days for the Steelers.
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) December 31, 2017
Ridley last scored in Week 5, 2014 for the Patriots
DeShone Kizer throws a 56-yard TD pass to Rashard Higgins.
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) December 31, 2017
Kizer's previous longest TD pass this season was half that length (28 yards to David Njoku in Week 13 vs Chargers)
Kizer had 0 passes of 50+ yards entering Week 17.
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) December 31, 2017
He has 2 in the first half against the Steelers. https://t.co/YNcxYKBy46
The @steelers scored 21 points in the first half without many of their starters on offense.
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) December 31, 2017
It's the most points they have scored in a first half this season.
Cleveland then opened the second half by going down to score, tying the game.
Unfortunately for the Browns, Steelers rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster then managed a 99-yard kick return touchdown to snatch the lead back. The Browns then managed a field goal to cut it to 28-24 going into the fourth quarter. Cleveland's defense did its part, forcing Pittsburgh to punt within six players over their next three possessions.
.@TeamJuJu is the first Steeler to return a kickoff for a TD since @AB84 did so in 2010.
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) December 31, 2017
Brown was also a rookie when he did it in 2010.
The @steelers have sacked DeShone Kizer 6 times today, giving Pittsburgh 56 this season.
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) December 31, 2017
That sets a new franchise single-season record. Previous record was 55 in both 1994 and 2001.
DeShone Kizer has thrown for 310 yards today, the first 300-yard game of his career
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) December 31, 2017
Josh Gordon has 115 receiving yards, giving him his first 100-yard game since Week 12, 2014.
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) December 31, 2017
It's the first 100-yard receiving game by a Browns player this season.
However, running back Duke Johnson fumbled deep in Steelers' territory after a 30-yard catch, and then DeShone Kizer was picked off at midfield.
The Browns then got the ball back and ended up facing a 4th-and-two at Pittsburgh's 27-yard line with 1:46 remaining. Kizer managed to escape a sack somehow and threw it to an open Corey Coleman, who dropped the pass and effectively ended the game. Pittsburgh ran out the clock, and the Browns fell to 0-16.
The Browns are trying to avoid becoming the 2nd 0-16 team in NFL history, joining the 2008 Lions. Cleveland is already the first franchise to have multiple 15-loss seasons.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 31, 2017
The Browns are the first team in NFL history to lose 31 games in a two-season span. pic.twitter.com/JCKwni7kgr
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 31, 2017
The Browns are the first team in NFL history to lose 31 games in a two-season span. pic.twitter.com/JCKwni7kgr
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 31, 2017
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens went into week 17 with a win-and-your-in home game against the rival Bengals. They got into a 17-3 hole, having punted seven times in the first half.
However, Chris Moore managed an 87-yard kick return in the waning moments of the second quarter. He then caught Joe Flacco's mass the next play to make it 17-10 at halftime.
Baltimore opened the third quarter with an impressive drive that ended in an 89-yard interception return touchdown for the Bengals. The Ravens then reeled off the next 17 consecutive points, taking a 27-24 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Both teams then traded punts and the Bengals got one last chance to win the game.
That was the 200th touchdown pass of @JoeFlacco's career. pic.twitter.com/GwBqnP2AqS
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 1, 2018
The Bengals faced a 4th-and-12 at the Ravens 49-yard line with 44 seconds remaining, as it seemed that Baltimore would win.
Andy Dalton then hit Tyler Boyd for a first down and more, as he scored on the play to give the Bengals a 31-27 lead. Baltimore then turned it over on downs, only gaining nine yards and blowing their chance to make the playoffs.
Suitable for framing, Bills fans: pic.twitter.com/v6SrV4Bsgg
— Brian Burke (@bburkeESPN) January 1, 2018