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Ravens’ Blitz-Heavy Defense Stifles Browns, Spoils Shedeur Sanders’ Debut

Season-high secondary blitzes produced Baltimore’s top pressure rate in a 23-16 road win.

Overview

  • Shedeur Sanders entered after halftime when rookie starter Dillon Gabriel was placed in the concussion protocol, drawing a standing ovation in Cleveland.
  • Sanders finished 4-of-16 for 47 yards with one interception and 16 rushing yards as Cleveland failed to score on his drives.
  • Baltimore limited the Browns to 187 total yards, 3.5 yards per play, and 2-of-14 on third down, then closed it out with red-zone breakups by Chidobe Awuzie and Roquan Smith.
  • Kyle Hamilton opened Sanders’ first series with a sack and forced fumble and mimicked the quarterback’s watch celebration, while Nate Wiggins intercepted the rookie on the next drive as the Ravens logged three sacks and 10 hits.
  • Per TruMedia, the Ravens deployed defensive-back blitzes on a season-high 30.3% of drop-backs and generated a season-best 39.4% pressure rate, and Sanders conceded afterward that he did not play well and credited Baltimore.