CLEVELAND: Browns nose tackle Phil Taylor just about knocked the spit out of Ray Rice on Sunday.
It was early in the second quarter and the Ravens running back had barely accepted a handoff from Joe Flacco when Taylor charged through the line and leveled Rice for a 3-yard loss to the delight of 71,513 fans in FirstEnergy Stadium.
The play typified the Browns’ dominance against the run in a 24-18 victory and gave Taylor a measure of revenge against an opponent who allegedly spit on him in their Week 2 matchup at Baltimore.
“I was just trying to get him to the ground,” Taylor said smiling.
The Browns limited the Ravens to 55 yards rushing on 21 attempts. Rice was virtually a non-factor managing just 17 yards on 11 carries for a 1.5 yard average – the lowest in his career with a minimum of 10 attempts, according to STATS, LLC. He also caught three passes for 21 yards.
How bad was Ravens’ running game? Quarterback Joe Flacco, sacked five times and under siege most of the afternoon, was the team’s leading rusher with 25 yards on three scrambles.
While much is made of the Browns’ difficulties in the ground attack, the Ravens are actually worse. They arrived in Cleveland averaging 74 yards per game. Rice, who's been battling a hip injury he suffered against the Browns in September, doesn't seem to have a burst.
His Pro Bowl fullback Vonta Leach was used sparingly, a strategy that puzzled Taylor.
“They changed their offense up,” the Browns nose tackle said. “Leach probably had two (or) three offensive snaps. They’re not going to win like that. We knew we could take advantage of that.”
The Browns yielded a season-low 4.1 yards per play and just 278 yards overall. They are one of just two teams -- the Houston Texans are the other – yet to allow a 100-yard rusher or 300-yard passer.
Flacco finished 24-of-41 for 250 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
“I’m excited for this defensive unit,” said safety Tashaun Gipson, who tipped a pass intercepted by Joe Haden. “We don’t get the publicity of a lot other teams, but I feel this defense is second to nobody’s defense.”
The Ravens produced just two plays of 20 yards or more although one was 46-yard pass to Torrey Smith that led to a second-quarter touchdown.
Other than Flacco, Baltimore didn’t have a run longer than seven yards.
“They’re just not, like Joe (Haden) said, and I said too, they’re not the same team as they were last year,” Taylor said of a division rival that fell to 3-5 and lost its third straight game. “I don’t know what’s going on, but they’re not the same team.”
After the game, the Browns nose guard and Rice met briefly on the field. No bodily fluids were exchanged.
“He came up to me, shook my hand,” Taylor said. “We’re good.”
The play typified the Browns’ dominance against the run in a 24-18 victory and gave Taylor a measure of revenge against an opponent who allegedly spit on him in their Week 2 matchup at Baltimore.
“I was just trying to get him to the ground,” Taylor said smiling.
The Browns limited the Ravens to 55 yards rushing on 21 attempts. Rice was virtually a non-factor managing just 17 yards on 11 carries for a 1.5 yard average – the lowest in his career with a minimum of 10 attempts, according to STATS, LLC. He also caught three passes for 21 yards.
How bad was Ravens’ running game? Quarterback Joe Flacco, sacked five times and under siege most of the afternoon, was the team’s leading rusher with 25 yards on three scrambles.
While much is made of the Browns’ difficulties in the ground attack, the Ravens are actually worse. They arrived in Cleveland averaging 74 yards per game. Rice, who's been battling a hip injury he suffered against the Browns in September, doesn't seem to have a burst.
His Pro Bowl fullback Vonta Leach was used sparingly, a strategy that puzzled Taylor.
“They changed their offense up,” the Browns nose tackle said. “Leach probably had two (or) three offensive snaps. They’re not going to win like that. We knew we could take advantage of that.”
The Browns yielded a season-low 4.1 yards per play and just 278 yards overall. They are one of just two teams -- the Houston Texans are the other – yet to allow a 100-yard rusher or 300-yard passer.
Flacco finished 24-of-41 for 250 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
“I’m excited for this defensive unit,” said safety Tashaun Gipson, who tipped a pass intercepted by Joe Haden. “We don’t get the publicity of a lot other teams, but I feel this defense is second to nobody’s defense.”
The Ravens produced just two plays of 20 yards or more although one was 46-yard pass to Torrey Smith that led to a second-quarter touchdown.
Other than Flacco, Baltimore didn’t have a run longer than seven yards.
“They’re just not, like Joe (Haden) said, and I said too, they’re not the same team as they were last year,” Taylor said of a division rival that fell to 3-5 and lost its third straight game. “I don’t know what’s going on, but they’re not the same team.”
After the game, the Browns nose guard and Rice met briefly on the field. No bodily fluids were exchanged.
“He came up to me, shook my hand,” Taylor said. “We’re good.”
