Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - The regular referees returned to game action
on Thursday and nearly played an integral role in the outcome of the Baltimore
Ravens' 23-16 victory over the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium. After the
controversial ruling that decided Monday's game between the Green Bay Packers
and Seattle Seahawks, the league and the referees' union agreed to terms on a
new collective bargaining agreement late Wednesday night, bringing regular
referees back to the field to officiate all Week 4 games. With Cleveland
trailing by seven and just over a minute left, the Browns got the ball at
their own 10-yard line and Brandon Weeden completed a pair of passes to move
his squad to midfield. Weeden then hit Benjamin Watson for 17 yards down to
the Baltimore 33 before spiking the ball to stop the clock with 23 seconds
remaining. After back-to-back incompletions, Weeden threw a Hail Mary pass
into the corner of the end zone that was knocked away, but the referees called
an unnecessary roughness penalty on Paul Kruger, who appeared to shove Browns
offensive lineman Joe Thomas after the play. Cleveland was unable to take
advantage of the call however, as Weeden's desperation heave sailed out of
back of the end zone, sending the Browns to their ninth straight defeat
against the Ravens. Weeden finished 25-of-52 passing for 320 yards and an
interception and Trent Richardson carried the ball 14 times for 47 yards and a
score for the Browns (0-4), who remain the lone winless team in the AFC.
Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco was an efficient 28-of-46 for 356 yards, a
touchdown pass and an interception, while Ray Rice rushed 18 times for 49
yards and added eight catches for 47 yards, as the Ravens (3-1) won their 13th
consecutive home game, which is the longest current home winning streak in the
NFL. Torrey Smith added six catches for 97 yards and a score and Anquan Boldin
led the receiving corps with nine receptions for 131 yards.
The Sports Network