The Cleveland Browns are probably in search of quarterback when it comes to the upcoming NFL Draft, and it appears they have strong interest in Robert Griffin III. But what if the Browns pass up Griffin and take someone else?

Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald writes how Andrew Luck and Griffin III are not the only quarterbacks in the draft projected to have successful NFL careers.

What about Ryan Tannehill from Texas A&M?

Tannehill, 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, is bigger and stronger than Colt McCoy, but he has red flags sticking like post-it notes to his scouting report. He broke his foot in January, and he started only 19 career games at quarterback for the Aggies. McCoy had more than twice as many victories in college (45) than Tannehill had starts.

If Tannehill is Plan B for the Browns, they might have to take him higher than is he ranked by most draft analysts, but they wouldn’t have to use the fourth pick on him, writes Schudel.

So what would the Browns be getting if they have to settle for Tannehill? NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock says Tannehill is better than Jake Locker, who went eighth to the Titans last year, and Christian Ponder, who went to the Vikings with the 12th pick. Neither distinguished himself as a rookie last year.

More Cleveland Browns

The Browns are unwilling to trade their No. 22 pick to the Rams, writes Nate Ulrich on Ohio.com and Mary Kay Cabot on Cleveland.com.

Braylon Edwards is No. 1 when it comes to this list compiled by Steve Doerschuk of CantonRep.com.

Josh Cribbs says the CIA possibility for Peyton Hillis was created by Hillis’ agent, writes Jeff Schudel on MourningJournal.com.

Here’s some blog information on the Cleveland Browns in the Daily Dawg Chow.

Cleveland Browns’ fans, we have all been here before. We start the season off wholly optimistic and as the season goes on we slap a smile on our faces and continue to cheer on our team, but have that sinking feeling in our stomachs as that “losses” column grows. The Browns ended the 2011 season 4-12. Nothing really good can be said about this. We are Browns’ fans and the most passionate and loyal in the league, but it is truly impossible to find something great to say about this season.

So, what can the Browns do to make 2012 a great season? Which playing position needs the most improvement? The three positions that really need work are quarterback, wide receiver and right offensive tackle.

For the time being, we can put the right offensive tackle to the side and talk about quarterbacks and wide receivers. The Browns’ two main quarterbacks are Colt McCoy who is still battling the symptoms of a concussion, and Seneca Wallace.

Colt McCoy was the starting quarterback throughout most of the season and Seneca Wallace finished out the last three games after McCoy was injured. Neither had a stellar season. Wallace has far more experience, but went 0-3. McCoy went 4-9. Honestly, it doesn’t seem like we need another quarterback, but to simplify things for the quarterbacks that we have. Personally, I would like to see Wallace start and give him a receiver that can handle the ball.

This brings us to wide receiver. We have our main receivers as Josh Cribbs, Greg Little, Jordan Norwood and Mohamed Massaquoi. All of these guys are talented in their own right, but all have also missed some monumental passes this year that they simply should not have missed. You can have the best quarterback in the game, but if the wide receiver is missing his passes, he is going to be ineffective. So, it seems like the Browns need to work on the wide receiver position. It would be nice if they would get their hands on Justin Blackmon from Oklahoma State. That would be a Browns’ fans’ dream. Even if they cannot, they need to work with their current players and get them into better shape for next season. These guys are in the NFL, so they obviously have talent, they just need to start showing it and bringing it to every game.

R. Elizabeth C. Kitchen is a lifelong Browns fan who grew up in a household of Browns’ fans. She was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and still lives there. Regardless of the trials and tribulations the Browns have been through, she remains loyal, albeit honest about her home team. Follow Rose on Twitter @Rose_Kitchen

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

Read More: Troy Polamalu (SS – PIT), Seneca Wallace (QB – CLE), Phil Dawson (K – CLE), Isaac Redman (RB – PIT), Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns

The Pittsburgh Steelers scored 13-straght points and maintain a 13-9 lead over the Cleveland Browns heading into the fourth quarter.

Pittsburgh opened the half taking the ball down to the the Cleveland 11-yard line before having to settle for a Sean Suisham field goal and then finally cracked the end zone for the first time when Isaac Redman ran the ball seven yards for six. The play capped a seven-play drive as the Steelers took advantage of good field position after Troy Polamalu intercepted a Seneca Wallace pass.

Seneca Wallace bounced back and moved the Browns into the red zone on their next drive by throwing to Josh Cribbs and then running the ball himself for 20 yards. But after taking a sack on third and long, the Browns settled for a 49-yard field goal by Phil Dawson.

Redman has handled the running back duties admirably for the Steelers, putting up 70 yards on 17 carries. Wallace leads the Browns with 44 yards rushing but has completed just 7 of 20 passes for 102 yards.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs by Nature. You can also head over to SB Nation’s main NFL hub at SBNation.com/NFL.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Notes, observations and some facts on the second quarter …

• Steelers convert fourth-and-1 and get to Browns’ 14. But Jabaal Sheard’s 13-yard sack and Shaun Suisham’s 45-yard field goal miss keeps game scoreless.

• Seneca Wallace hits Jordan Cameron for 15 yards. First Browns first down. Peyton Hillis gets another on runs of 9 and 2 yards.

• From the 31, Wallace accelerates on a keeper and is tripped up at the Steelers’ 4. His fumble disallowed when ruled down by contact. Browns go backwards, but Phil Dawson’s 26-yard field goal makes it 3-0.

• Jayme Mitchell buries Ben Roethlisberger just after a 1-yard throw. Browns finally on to his dunkathon.

• At the 2-minute warning, Wallace’s 23-yard pass to Josh Cribbs takes Browns to Steelers’ 41.

• Cribbs again for 14 yards to the 27. A jump ball in end zone for Evan Moore against Ryan Clark falls incomplete.

• Dawson’s 45-yard field goal makes it 6-0.

• Roethliserger throws over Joe Haden and Antonio Brown makes over-shoulder catch for 40 yards down to Browns’ 14.

• After Brown makes another catch at Browns’ 1, Steelers use their last timeout at :11.

• Roethlisberger throws too far on lobs for Brown and Hines Ward. After Pat Shurmur ices Suisham, chip shot field goal of 19 yards is good, killing shutout bid, 6-3.

Joe Thomas – a left tackle for the Cleveland Browns – will be heading to his fifth straight Pro Bowl. He will also be starting for the game. Josh Cribbs and D’Qwell Jackson have been named as alternates.

“It’s a tremendous honor any time you get named to the Pro Bowl,” said Thomas. “For me to represent the Cleveland Browns for a fifth time is kind of hard to believe. It never gets old.”

Many are surprised that Thomas, let alone any of the Browns, made it into the Pro Bowl. With their record this year. This may give the Browns some confidence though and this could help them heading into the Pittsburgh Steelers’ game.

Thomas will get a chance to play with the best in the league again in Honolulu. He will join tackles, Jake Long of the Miami Dolphins and D’Brickashaw Ferguson of the New York Jets.

Joe Thomas has been a dedicated member of the Browns’ team over the last five years. He has been a starter and while the Browns’ offense has faltered on many occasions, he continues to go back out there and give it his all. He will need to maintain this level of play for the AFC team in the Pro Bowl. Of course, he will have more help with this set of teammates, but he is also competing against the best of the best. The Pro Bowl truly is a whole other level of play.

On quarterback for the AFC, they will have Tom Brady of the New England Patriots, Philip Rivers of the San Diego Chargers and Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The AFC wide receivers will be Wes Welker of the New England Patriots, A.J. Green of the Cincinnati Bengals, Mike Wallace of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Brandon Marshall of the Miami Dolphins.

The AFC is looking pretty solid. Looking at the NFC, the matchups are pretty even and Thomas and his teammates have a definite chance to bring a win.

R. Elizabeth C. Kitchen is a lifelong Browns fan who grew up in a household of Browns’ fans. She was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and still lives there. Regardless of the trials and tribulations the Browns have been through, she remains loyal, albeit honest about her home team. Follow Rose on Twitter @Rose_Kitchen

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

CLEVELAND — Joe Thomas never has missed a snap — or a Pro Bowl — with the Browns.

Cleveland’s steady left offensive tackle was selected to the AFC Pro Bowl team for the fifth consecutive year Tuesday, joining Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown as the only players in team history to be selected in each of their first five seasons. Brown made it nine years in a row.

“It’s a tremendous honor,” Thomas said. “It’s a big-time dream and it’s kind of hard to believe. It’s a true honor and it will never get old.”

Cincinnati’s top draft pick this season, receiver A.J. Green, also made the team.

The Browns selected Thomas with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2007 draft. They put him in the starting lineup in the opener as a rookie that season, and Thomas has not missed a play since, quite an accomplishment considering the number of injuries the Browns have sustained in that period.

“I try not to think about it too much,” Thomas said of his durability. “Crazy things can happen. I pride myself as a guy who is out there for every play.”

This selection was a little different for Thomas. It was his first season without dependable left guard Eric Steinbach at his right side. Steinbach was lost for the year when he underwent back surgery in training camp, forcing the Browns to start rookie Jason Pinkston in his spot.

“It was a fun challenge for us,” said Thomas, who praised Pinkston. “It’s been a great year being in there with him.”

Only Brown, Lou Groza (nine), Leroy Kelly (six), Gene Hickerson (six) and Dick Shafrath (six) have made more Pro Bowls than Thomas in team history. Thomas and former Miami lineman Richmond Webb are the only NFL offensive linemen to make the Pro Bowl in each of their first five seasons since 1970.

Thomas was the only Browns player selected to the team that will face the NFC’s stars Jan. 29 in Honolulu.

Green, selected by Bengals with the fourth pick in this year’s draft, is the first Cincinnati player to be voted in for the game since 2007. He also is the first rookie receiver voted to the game since Arizona’s Anquan Boldin in 2003 and the first Bengals rookie at any position since receiver Cris Collinsworth in 1981.

Green, a 6-foot-4, 211-pounder from Georgia, broke Collinsworth’s rookie record for yards in a season with 1,031 and needs just three catches to break the receptions mark. Collinsworth had 65 catches for 1,009 yards in his rookie season.

Green had 63 catches this season with seven touchdowns. He had four 100-yard games this season and leads all rookies in receptions and receiving yards, and is tied in touchdowns with Baltimore’s Torrey Smith.

Cleveland linebacker D’Qwell Jackson was selected a first alternate, and Josh Cribbs was selected as a second alternative as a kick returner and third alternate as a special teamer.

First alternates for the Bengals are quarterback Andy Dalton, defensive tackle Geno Atkins and kicker Mike Nugent. Offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth is a second alternate and tight end Jermaine Gresham is a third alternate.

Thomas felt Jackson, Cribbs, defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin and Alex Mack all warranted consideration.

“I definitely think we have a number of guys who deserve to be out there with me,” said Thomas, who signed a seven-year contract extension worth $84 million in August.

Jackson could be up for NFL Comeback Player of the Year. After missing most of the past two seasons with torn chest muscles, Jackson has been an inside force for the Browns this season. He’s second in the league with 145 tackles, has recorded a career-high 3 1/2 sacks and has forced three fumbles.

Jackson can become a free agent after the season, but general manager Tom Heckert recently said the Browns don’t intend to let the 28-year-old get away and would like to sign him to a long-term contract.

Cribbs had an 84-yard punt return for a touchdown last week against Baltimore. It was his 11th career score on a punt or kickoff return, and his first since 2009. Although the rules changes on kickoffs have limited Cribbs’ chances, he still has managed to be one of the league’s top returners. He also has excelled on coverage teams.

The Browns went 10-6 in Thomas’ first season and just missed the playoffs, But they’ve been annual losers since, going 4-12, 5-11 and 5-11. They’ll take a 4-11 mark into Sunday’s season finale against Pittsburgh. Despite another dreadful season, Thomas thinks the Browns are on the cusp of a turnaround.

“I definitely think we have it headed in the right direction,” he said. “It’s not going to be long before we start winning.”

Eight games, eight wins. The Baltimore Ravens achieved perfection at home for the first time, and now they’re looking to add to that ledger in the playoffs.
Joe Flacco threw two touchdown passes, and the Ravens beat the bumbling Cleveland Browns 20-14 on Saturday to move one step closer to winning the AFC North.
Ray Rice ran for 87 yards and caught a TD pass for the Ravens (11-4), who led 17-0 at halftime and held on.
“I have never been perfect at home in 16 years of football. That’s amazing,” Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis said. “As good of teams we’ve had here, we’ve always found (a way) to lose one or two here or there. I think this year we really made a focus on taking care at home. This is the result, us being able to go 8-0 and being able to be sitting where you want to sit at the end of the day.”
The Ravens would win the AFC North by defeating Cincinnati on the road next week. That would also give Baltimore a first-round bye and a home playoff game — two if New England loses next Sunday at home against Buffalo.
“It’s big, man,” linebacker Terrell Suggs said. “We are at our best when we are at (home) and our fans are rocking. So we definitely need a home playoff game, by any means necessary.”
Flacco went 11 for 24 with touchdown passes to Rice and tight end Ed Dickson. He also had a 33-yard run.
Josh Cribbs had a career-high 84-yard punt return for a TD for Cleveland (4-11). But the Browns generated very little offense and were guilty of questionable play calling, bad clock management and untimely penalties in their fifth straight loss.
Cleveland saved the worst for last. Having already burned their three timeouts, the Browns lined up on defense after the two-minute warning with the Ravens facing a fourth-and-2 at the Cleveland 37.
It appeared obvious that Flacco and the Ravens were merely hoping to draw the Browns offside.
As the play clock moved close to zero, Cleveland tackle Phil Taylor jumped across the line of scrimmage to give Baltimore a first down.
“It was the first hard count and we stayed onside,” Taylor said. “The second time, I just jumped. Of course you feel bad, but you just got to move on.”
Said Flacco: “I don’t know if I’ve ever been in position for that to happen. It’s never worked.”
The Ravens then ran out the clock on their eighth straight win over the Browns, including two this month.
“We knew this would be quite a challenge for us,” Cleveland quarterback Seneca Wallace said. “We’re playing the Ravens at home, and they’re playing for everything. I should have played better, and I should have made better decisions.”
Wallace went 19 for 33 for 147 yards in place of Colt McCoy, who was out with a concussion. Peyton Hillis ran for 112 yards, but Cleveland’s offense mounted only one decent drive.
The Browns took the opening kickoff and moved from their own 26 to the Baltimore 30 behind the power of Hillis, who gained 30 yards on six carries. But on a third-and-1, Cleveland inexplicably went to the air, and Lardarius Webb intercepted Wallace’s pass for Mohamed Massaquoi.
Flacco immediately threw deep for Torrey Smith, who drew a 60-yard penalty for pass interference on Mike Adams to set up a 5-yard touchdown pass to Dickson.
Later, a 29-yard throw from Flacco to Smith led to a 48-yard field goal by newcomer Shayne Graham, signed in the middle of the week to take over for the injured Billy Cundiff.
After another Cleveland punt, Flacco directed an 82-yard drive that gave Baltimore a 17-0 lead. Rice slipped behind linebacker D’Qwell Jackson on the right sideline, caught a soft pass in stride and sprinted into the end zone to complete a 42-yard scoring play.
That made Flacco 5 for 5 for 94 yards and two touchdowns on third down.
Cleveland moved deep into Baltimore territory late in the first half, thanks in part to a 30-yard pass interference call against Chris Carr. But with the clock inside 10 seconds and the Browns without a timeout left, Wallace handed off to Hillis instead of spiking the ball, and Hillis went nowhere.
Wallace took the blame, and so did Browns coach Pat Shurmur.
“I need to communicate it better, OK?” Shurmur said.
Time expired before Cleveland could get off another play, and the Browns headed to the locker room after being held scoreless in the first half for the second time this season. The other time it happened was also against Baltimore.
Graham kicked a 43-yard field goal in the third quarter to make it 20-0.
The Browns finally scored when Cribbs took a punt on the right sideline, escaped an arm tackle and broke toward the center of the field before outrunning three defenders into the left corner of the end zone late in the third quarter.
“I was wondering where all the defenders were,” Cribbs said. “I saw all the great blocking around me. From there, it was easy. It was just a walk in.”
Cribbs also contributed to Cleveland’s next touchdown, catching a 23-yard pass from Wallace as part of an 80-yard drive that ended with a 9-yard TD throw to Evan Moore midway through the fourth quarter.
The Browns forced a punt, but on a fourth-and-4 from the Cleveland 45 with 4:03 left, a pass to Hillis did not produce the necessary yardage.
Taylor’s jump across the line of scrimmage soon followed.
NOTES: Ravens KR David Reed hurt his left knee and declared himself out for the season. Also, Baltimore OT Marshal Yanda (chest) and CB Cary Williams (concussion) did not play in the second half. … Shurmur said the Browns sustained no serious injuries. Cleveland closes the season next Sunday against Pittsburgh.

The Cleveland Browns suffered another disappointing heartbreak against the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Eve (12/24/11). The end of the first half certainly has fans scratching their heads. Why the Browns did not attempt a field goal is beyond comprehension. Browns’s coach Pat Shurmur looked like he was going to explode when the team did not go for a field goal.

Shurmur is saying that he is responsible for the communication breakdowns that happened throughout the game. However, speaking of the particular play at the end of the first half, Shurmur said, “I never would have called a run in that situation with that much time.”

Seneca Wallace took the field as quarterback for the game because Colt McCoy is still out with his concussion. Wallace really looked a lot better last week. He had a few good passes in today’s game, like the excellent touchdown pass to Evan Moore, but he seemed far less confident in this game than he did in the Arizona game.

Wallace has been in the NFL for nine seasons, but he really seemed to be carrying a rookie confidence around with him today. This is the thing that the Browns do not need, especially when playing a team with the talent of the Ravens.

Going into the second half with no points on the board looked really terrible. Then, finally Josh Cribbs saved the day by running an 84-yard touchdown off of a punt. It was a truly remarkable play. This play was not a game-saver, but it definitely re-energized the Browns and gave the fans a little hope and confidence.

Should we even discuss the fourth quarter? Specifically that play where Wallace passed to Hillis when they should have just kicked the ball. This was another head-scratching play that is becoming all too characteristic of the Browns.

Then, with two minutes to go in the game, Phil Taylor just had to go offsides. The Browns had one more chance to actually do something, but him going offsides completely eliminated their chances of a last ditch effort. Had he not gone offsides, the Browns would have had two minutes (I know not much, but at least it would have been something) to at least attempt to score a touchdown.

The Browns will take on the Pittsburgh Steelers for their last game. If they expect to add another win to their record, they are going to have to stop with the careless mistakes and put forth more focus.

R. Elizabeth C. Kitchen is a lifelong Browns fan who grew up in a household of Browns’ fans. She was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and still lives there. Regardless of the trials and tribulations the Browns have been through, she remains loyal, albeit honest about her home team. Follow Rose on Twitter @Rose_Kitchen

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

D’Qwell Jackson must feel as though he’s stuck in a never-ending
film loop, one in which the Cleveland Browns make the same mistakes
over and over until the final whistle signals the end of yet
another defeat.

Such was the case Saturday, when the Browns bungled their way to
a 20-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

“We’ve been in some close ones, and today told the story of the
season,” Jackson said. “We fought for three quarters, the offense
was able to move the ball, we put the ball in the end zone, and we
still had a chance at the end.”

That’s when Cleveland (4-11) made its most glaring error.

Down 20-14 with no timeouts left, the Browns lined up on defense
after the two-minute warning with the Ravens facing a fourth-and-2
at the Cleveland 37.

It appeared obvious that Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco was
merely hoping to draw the Browns offside. And right on cue,
Cleveland rookie tackle Phil Taylor jumped across the line of
scrimmage to give Baltimore a first down.

The Ravens (11-4) then ran out the clock on their eighth
straight win over the Browns, including two this month.

“We jumped offside and we didn’t give ourselves a chance,”
Jackson said. “It’s hard to do.”

As soon as the flag dropped to the ground, Jackson grabbed the
rookie to offer him some advice.

“He said, `Hold your head up.’ It’s tough,” Taylor said softly
in a sullen locker room. “It was the first hard count and we stayed
onside. The second time, I just jumped. Of course you feel bad, but
you just got to move on.”

Taylor wasn’t the only one with a mistake to lament. Jackson got
torched on a touchdown pass from Flacco to Ray Rice. The Browns had
to use their first-half timeouts early because of personnel issues.
And quarterback Seneca Wallace, after driving Cleveland to the
Baltimore 3-yard line, curiously called a running play instead of
spiking the ball as time expired in the second quarter.

“It seems that it’s the 15th time I’ve said this, (but) the guys
played extremely hard,” Cleveland coach Pat Shurmur said. “I told
the guys for us to win these close games here in the AFC North,
we’ve got to play a little smarter in some of the critical
situations and that will help make the difference. That’s where
we’re at.”

Flacco threw two touchdown passes and Rice ran for 87 yards to
help the Ravens finish 8-0 at home.

Josh Cribbs had a career-high 84-yard punt return for a TD for
Cleveland. Wallace went 19 for 33 for 147 yards in place of Colt
McCoy, who was out with a concussion. Peyton Hillis ran for 112
yards, but Cleveland’s offense mounted only one decent drive.

The Browns took the opening kickoff and moved from their own 26
to the Baltimore 30 behind the power of Hillis, who gained 30 yards
on six carries. But on a third-and-1, Cleveland inexplicably went
to the air, and Lardarius Webb intercepted Wallace’s pass for
Mohamed Massaquoi.

Flacco immediately threw deep for Torrey Smith, who drew a
60-yard penalty for pass interference on Mike Adams to set up a
5-yard touchdown pass to Ed Dickson.

Later, a 29-yard throw from Flacco to Smith led to a 48-yard
field goal by Shayne Graham.

After another Cleveland punt, Flacco directed an 82-yard drive
that gave Baltimore a 17-0 lead. Rice slipped behind Jackson on the
right sideline, caught a soft pass in stride and sprinted into the
end zone to complete a 42-yard scoring play.

That made Flacco 5 for 5 for 94 yards and two touchdowns on
third down.

Cleveland moved deep into Baltimore territory late in the first
half, thanks in part to a 30-yard pass interference call against
Chris Carr. But with the clock inside 10 seconds and the Browns
without a timeout, Wallace handed off to Hillis instead of spiking
the ball, and Hillis went nowhere.

Wallace took the blame, and so did Shurmur.

“I need to communicate it better, OK?” Shurmur said.

Time expired before Cleveland could get off another play, and
the Browns headed to the locker room after being held scoreless in
the first half for the second time this season. The other time it
happened was also against Baltimore.

Graham kicked a 43-yard field goal in the third quarter to make
it 20-0.

The Browns finally scored when Cribbs took a punt on the right
sideline, escaped an arm tackle and broke toward the center of the
field before outrunning three defenders into the left corner of the
end zone late in the third quarter.

“I was wondering where all the defenders were,” Cribbs said. “I
saw all the great blocking around me. From there, it was easy. It
was just a walk in.”

Cribbs also contributed to Cleveland’s next touchdown, catching
a 23-yard pass from Wallace as part of an 80-yard drive that ended
with a 9-yard TD throw to Evan Moore midway through the fourth
quarter.

The Browns forced a punt, but on a fourth-and-4 from the
Cleveland 45 with 4:03 left, a pass to Hillis did not produce the
necessary yardage.

Taylor’s jump across the line of scrimmage soon followed.

NOTES: Ravens KR David Reed hurt his left knee and declared
himself out for the season. Also, Baltimore OT Marshal Yanda
(chest) and CB Cary Williams (concussion) did not play in the
second half. … Shurmur said the Browns sustained no serious
injuries. Cleveland closes the season next Sunday against
Pittsburgh.

CBSSports.com wire reports
Dec. 24, 2011

BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Ravens achieved perfection at home for the first time, and now they’re looking to add to that ledger in the playoffs.

Joe Flacco threw two touchdown passes, and the Ravens beat the bumbling Cleveland Browns 20-14 on Saturday to move one step closer to winning the AFC North.

Ray Rice ran for 87 yards and caught a TD pass for the Ravens (11-4), who led 17-0 at halftime and held on.

“I have never been perfect at home in 16 years of football. That’s amazing,” Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis said. “As good of teams we’ve had here, we’ve always found [a way] to lose one or two here or there. I think this year we really made a focus on taking care at home. This is the result, us being able to go 8-0 and being able to be sitting where you want to sit at the end of the day.”

The Ravens would win the AFC North by defeating Cincinnati on the road next week. That would also give Baltimore a first-round bye and a home playoff game – two if New England loses next Sunday at home against Buffalo.

“It’s big, man,” linebacker Terrell Suggs said. “We are at our best when we are at (home) and our fans are rocking. So we definitely need a home playoff game, by any means necessary.”

Flacco went 11 for 24 with touchdown passes to Rice and tight end Ed Dickson. He also had a 33-yard run.

Josh Cribbs had a career-high 84-yard punt return for a TD for Cleveland (4-11). But the Browns generated very little offense and were guilty of questionable play calling, bad clock management and untimely penalties in their fifth straight loss.

Cleveland saved the worst for last. Having already burned their three timeouts, the Browns lined up on defense after the two-minute warning with the Ravens facing a fourth-and-2 at the Cleveland 37.

It appeared obvious that Flacco and the Ravens were merely hoping to draw the Browns offside.

As the play clock moved close to zero, Cleveland tackle Phil Taylor jumped across the line of scrimmage to give Baltimore a first down.

“It was the first hard count and we stayed onside,” Taylor said. “The second time, I just jumped. Of course you feel bad, but you just got to move on.”

Said Flacco: “I don’t know if I’ve ever been in position for that to happen. It’s never worked.”

The Ravens then ran out the clock on their eighth straight win over the Browns, including two this month.

“We knew this would be quite a challenge for us,” Cleveland quarterback Seneca Wallace said. “We’re playing the Ravens at home, and they’re playing for everything. I should have played better, and I should have made better decisions.”

Wallace went 19 for 33 for 147 yards in place of Colt McCoy, who was out with a concussion. Peyton Hillis ran for 112 yards, but Cleveland’s offense mounted only one decent drive.

The Browns took the opening kickoff and moved from their own 26 to the Baltimore 30 behind the power of Hillis, who gained 30 yards on six carries. But on a third-and-1, Cleveland inexplicably went to the air, and Lardarius Webb intercepted Wallace’s pass for Mohamed Massaquoi.

Flacco immediately threw deep for Torrey Smith, who drew a 60-yard penalty for pass interference on Mike Adams to set up a 5-yard touchdown pass to Dickson.

Later, a 29-yard throw from Flacco to Smith led to a 48-yard field goal by newcomer Shayne Graham, signed in the middle of the week to take over for the injured Billy Cundiff.

After another Cleveland punt, Flacco directed an 82-yard drive that gave Baltimore a 17-0 lead. Rice slipped behind linebacker D’Qwell Jackson on the right sideline, caught a soft pass in stride and sprinted into the end zone to complete a 42-yard scoring play.

That made Flacco 5 for 5 for 94 yards and two touchdowns on third down.

Cleveland moved deep into Baltimore territory late in the first half, thanks in part to a 30-yard pass interference call against Chris Carr. But with the clock inside 10 seconds and the Browns without a timeout left, Wallace handed off to Hillis instead of spiking the ball, and Hillis went nowhere.

Wallace took the blame, and so did Browns coach Pat Shurmur.

“I need to communicate it better, OK?” Shurmur said.

Time expired before Cleveland could get off another play, and the Browns headed to the locker room after being held scoreless in the first half for the second time this season. The other time it happened was also against Baltimore.

Graham kicked a 43-yard field goal in the third quarter to make it 20-0.

The Browns finally scored when Cribbs took a punt on the right sideline, escaped an arm tackle and broke toward the center of the field before outrunning three defenders into the left corner of the end zone late in the third quarter.

“I was wondering where all the defenders were,” Cribbs said. “I saw all the great blocking around me. From there, it was easy. It was just a walk in.”

Cribbs also contributed to Cleveland’s next touchdown, catching a 23-yard pass from Wallace as part of an 80-yard drive that ended with a 9-yard TD throw to Evan Moore midway through the fourth quarter.

The Browns forced a punt, but on a fourth-and-4 from the Cleveland 45 with 4:03 left, a pass to Hillis did not produce the necessary yardage.

Taylor’s jump across the line of scrimmage soon followed.

Notes

• Ravens KR David Reed hurt his left knee and declared himself out for the season. Also, Baltimore OT Marshal Yanda (chest) and CB Cary Williams (concussion) did not play in the second half.
• Shurmur said the Browns sustained no serious injuries. Cleveland closes the season next Sunday against Pittsburgh.

The Browns will not be disciplined by the NFL for their handling of the Colt McCoy concussion injury in Pittsburgh on Dec. 8, according to league spokesman Greg Aiello.

The Browns put McCoy back in the game without testing for a concussion.

The NFLPA has not decided whether to file a grievance against the club, said union spokesman Carl Francis in an email reply.

The incident spurred two changes in league protocol. Teams were notified on Wednesday that starting with this weekend’s games:

* A certified athletic trainer paid by the NFL will monitor the game from an upstairs booth and will notify both teams’ medical staffs if it feels an injured player needs special attention. The trainer will not have the authority to remove a player from a game, but will provide information to a medical staff that might not have seen the hit or injury absorbed by a player.

The Browns contended McCoy was not given the sideline concussion test because he displayed no symptoms and their overtaxed medical staff did not see the hit by Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison.

* Team medical staffs will be able to use cell phones during games to obtain information relating to the care of an injured player. This will not be limited to concussion injuries.

McCoy has not been cleared to practice 13 days after suffering the concussion on the hit.

Harrison returned to practice on Wednesday and delivered another shot on the Browns. He believes they should be disciplined for their handling of McCoy. 

“If he was hurt so bad I don’t know why they let him back in . . . two plays later,” Harrison told the Associated Press. “Something should be done to them I would think. I got a game, what should they get?

Another sit-down: Quarterback Seneca Wallace had a sit-down with running back Peyton Hillis last week.

“We had a long talk,” said Wallace. “I just told him don’t get discouraged and don’t ever lose the happiness you got from playing football. Don’t let the media, whatever else, take away from what you love to do. Just make sure you come out and have fun with it.”

Hillis went on to have the highest-yardage rushing game of his star-crossed season. Hillis ran 26 times for 99 yards and one touchdown in Arizona.

He said he felt healthier than at any point since Week 2, in which, coincidentally, he produced similar numbers — 27 rushes for 94 yards and two touchdowns — against the Colts.

Wallace and Hillis have bonded because if the Browns are going to make anything of the remaining games at Baltimore and home against Pittsburgh, they are going to have to be the main cogs on offense.

Wallace will make his second start on Christmas Eve in place of McCoy.

“I don’t want to overstep my boundaries,” he said. “I understand if somebody has to step up and speak their mind and say what they have to say, if it’s for the best of the team, you’ve got to do it.”

Hillis said the Wallace talk hit home. It was: “Just go out and enjoy football, enjoy the game, the guys you’re around, because any game can be your last. Every game’s precious.”

Hillis might have only two games left in a Browns uniform. His contract expires after the season. General Manager Tom Heckert recently said of re-signing Hillis, “That’s another one we’ll have to decide once the season’s over.”

Injury roundup: Besides McCoy, six other Browns did not practice on Wednesday — linebacker Ben Jacobs (concussion), receiver Jordan Norwood (concussion), safety T.J. Ward (foot), receiver Mohamed Massaquoi (foot), defensive lineman Scott Paxson (hand, foot) and cornerback Joe Haden (thigh). . . . Coach Pat Shurmur said the team has discussed shutting down Ward, who will miss his seventh consecutive game.

Now batting: Josh Cribbs’ recurrent groin injury will result in possibly more kickoff return opportunities for Buster Skrine, Shurmur said. Skrine had a 32-yard return in Arizona after Cribbs’ injury acted up.

Skrine was the lone returner when Arizona kicked off in overtime, but Jay Feely’s kickoff sailed into the end zone and went as a touchback.

Skrine is hoping to have some returns in Baltimore. The Ravens signed veteran Shayne Graham as a temp for Billy Cundiff, who has a calf injury and hasn’t practiced for the third week in a row. Cundiff is second in the AFC with 42 touchbacks.

Cribbs, who still may get some returns in Baltimore, has not had a return over 37 yards in six games. He hasn’t had a kickoff return for touchdown in 32 games.

“We’re doing what we can to get him blocked up so that we can get those,” Shurmur said.

Precinct report: Fan voting for the Pro Bowl ended on Monday. Joe Thomas finished fifth among AFC tackles, D’Qwell Jackson placed third among inside linebackers, and Cribbs was third among kick returners. Voting among coaches and players — which comprises the other two-thirds of the vote total — is completed today. Pro Bowl teams will be announced on Tuesday.

BEREA, Ohio – Colt McCoy still hasn’t been cleared to practice since suffering a concussion on Dec. 8.

“He was here this morning,” coach Pat Shurmur said. “Did a little physical activity.”

Still, Shurmur would not official name Seneca Wallace the Browns starting quarterback in Baltimore on Saturday.

“Not yet, but it’s going to come soon, I’m sure,” he said.

Shurmur has been reluctant to say whether McCoy has seen a head trauma specialist, as tight end Benjamin Watson did after his third concussion of the season.

“You can’t say he hasn’t seen one,” the coach replied. “He’s been evaluated just like Ben, by all the proper people. They’re all doctors. No real difference.”

In other pre-practice news:

* Receiver Jordan Norwood (concussion), linebacker Ben Jacobs (concussion) and safety T.J. Ward (foot) won’t practice, Shurmur said. The following players will be limited: cornerback Joe Haden (thigh), receiver Mohamed Massaquoi (foot), and defensive tackle Scott Paxson (hand, foot).

* Rookie Buster Skrine will continue to get reps at kickoff return in Baltimore, Shurmur said. Skrine had a 32-yard return in Arizona after Josh Cribbs’ groin injury acted up. Browns kickoff returners got an early Christmas present this week when the Ravens signed Shayne Graham to possibly replace Billy Cundiff on Saturday. Cundiff, second in the AFC with 43 touchbacks, has a calf injury and has missed three of his last five field goal attempts.

* Shurmur said he expected newly signed tight end Dan Gronkowski to be force-fed as a run-blocker in Baltimore because of the loss of Watson and Alex Smith to season-ending injuries.

“We’re getting him ready to play,” Shurmur said. “We feel we’ll teach him the gameplan, not the system.”

Ohio.com columnist Marla Ridenour writes how the Cleveland Browns dropped the ball when it came to quarterback Colt McCoy.

When McCoy got smacked by Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison, many wondered if McCoy was immediately tested for a concussion.

Ridenour says she can only go by what she saw.

After Steelers linebacker James Harrison bashed the crown of his helmet into McCoy’s face mask with 5:49 remaining in the Browns’ 14-3 loss, I trained my binoculars on McCoy when he came to the sideline.

No members of the medical staff were looking at McCoy face-to-face, examining his eyes. Two men stood at his side. Perhaps they were asking him questions like ‘Where are you?’ and ‘What day is it?’ It was impossible to tell whether there was a conversation going on.

Shurmur said Friday that he learned when he was leaving the locker room that McCoy was displaying symptoms of a concussion, writes Ridenour.

That’s when the missteps began, missteps that have left the Browns scrambling to explain how they handled McCoy’s concussion to the league office and perhaps to McCoy’s father Brad.

More on Cleveland Browns

James Harrison is suspended for one game (ESPN).

Concussion issues won’t go away (The News-Herald).

Players try to hide concussions (CantonRep.com).

Kevin Kolb’s status for Sunday is uncertain (Arizona Republic).

It’s not Pat Shurmur’s fault (DawgPoundDaily.com).

Josh Cribbs’ future with the Browns (WFNY.com).

BEREA, Ohio — Quarterback Colt McCoy might have been the most notable Browns player injured against Pittsburgh on Thursday, but he wasn’t the only one.

Three other Browns players left the game against the Steelers with injuries, and all will be re-evaluated Monday in an effort to determine their status for the Browns’ game at Arizona on Dec. 18.

Josh Cribbs suffered a groin strain in the first quarter, but Browns head coach Pat Shurmur said Cribbs showed “good strength” when evaluated Friday. Owen Marecic and tight end Ben Watson left the game with concussions. McCoy displayed concussionlike symptoms after the game — it was later determined that he did, indeed, suffer a concussion — and all players with head injuries will be reassessed next week. Additionally, McCoy suffered a bruised left hand on the hit by Steelers linebacker James Harrison that resulted in the concussion.

Other injuries included an ankle sprain to right guard Shawn Lauvao and a sore left ankle for right tackle Tony Pashos, who has been hobbled by that injury all season.

Running back Peyton Hillis started despite a hip injury that listed him as questionable for the game, but backup Montario Hardesty had significant playing time as well. Hillis had 10 carries for 25 yards, while Hardesty had 11 carries for 24 yards. And Chris Ogbonnaya recorded the longest Browns gain on the ground — 28 yards — despite just two carries.

Shurmur said he doesn’t envision any of his running backs getting all the carries in the final three games of the season.

“I don’t think any of them, at this point, can go a whole game,” Shurmur said.

– Jodie Valade