It wasn't pretty, but the Super Bowl champion Ravens took care of business Sunday, winning 14-6Â in a game that revealed why Baltimore still is miles ahead of the Cleveland Browns.
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco erased a 6-0 halftime deficit with a 12-play, 80-yard touchdown march that built a lead the Browns never overcame. From there, the defense took over, sacking Browns QB Brandon Weeden five times and shredding a Cleveland offensive line that has allowed a whopping 11 takedowns in two games.
An improved Browns defense made it tougher than usual on Flacco, but the Super Bowl MVP -- just hours after finding out his wife had given birth to their second son -- completed 22 of 33 passes for 211 yards and one touchdown, lifting the Ravens' record to 1-1 on the season.
The most encouraging development for Baltimore might be the emergence of receiver Marlon Brown. Instead of relying on old-as-the-river Dallas Clark, Flacco found Brown four times for 45 yards. Not mind-blowing numbers, but the rookie's fourth-quarter touchdown marked his second in two games.
It's clear the Ravens still are in search of themselves on offense. The Browns are out of the way, but nothing will come easy next week against the Houston Texans. How Flacco and friends move the ball against J.J. Watt and Co. should tell us plenty about where they'll end up in 2013.
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