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Browns look to rebound from tough loss, face Ravens

Nov 18, 2007 - 11:25 AM Cleveland (5-4) at Baltimore (4-5) Sunday 1:00 pmBALTIMORE (Ticker) -- If the Cleveland Browns want to beconsidered serious playoff contenders, they need to reboundfrom a crushing loss.The Browns will look to get back on track Sunday, when theyvisit the Baltimore Ravens in another key AFC North contest.Last week, the Browns squandered a 15-point lead and suffered a31-28 loss to the division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers.Cleveland had a chance to force overtime, but Phil Dawson's53-yard field goal fell short as time expired.The Browns could have pulled into a tie with the Steelers.Instead, they fell two games behind Pittsburgh (7-2), which alsohas a tiebreaker edge based on a season sweep.While the loss likely ended Cleveland's division title hopes,the Browns are still in the wild-card picture, trailingJacksonville (6-3) and Tennessee (6-3) by one game."We have to get ready for next week because we still haveourselves in a position that we can get something done with therest of this season if we play," Browns coach Romeo Crennelsaid."If we don't play, if we go down the tubes or in the tank, thenit will be back to the same old thing. We're not going to letthat happen."Derek Anderson threw three touchdown passes against theSteelers, increasing his total to 20, which ranks fourth in theleague behind New England's Tom Brady, Dallas' Tony Romo andPittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger.The issue for Cleveland, however, continues to be a spottydefense, which ranks last in the league, allowing 410 yards pergame. The Browns gave up 401 yards against the Steelers.Cleveland will look for a better defense effort against theoffensively-challenged Ravens, who were shut down in last week's21-7 loss to the Cinncinati Bengals.Facing a team that yields 28.3 points per game, thesecond-highest total in the league, the Ravens were blankeduntil Willis Mcgahee scored in the final two minutes.Baltimore quarterback Steve McNair struggled for the secondstraight week and was benched after throwing for only 128 yardsand committing three turnovers.McNair was replaced in the fourth quarter by Kyle Boller, wholed the Ravens to their only score.Cleveland is fourth in scoring (28.3 ppg) while Baltimore is28th (15.3 ppg).In the first meeting between the teams in Week Four, McNairpassed for 304 yards and Mcgahee rushed for 104 yards. But itwas not enough for the Ravens as the Browns posted a 27-13victory.