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The Browns debuted a bold, new strategy Thursday night: Instead of activating Full Browns Mode late in the fourth quarter -- as is the norm in Cleveland -- they tried to use up all of their mistakes in the first five minutes. It didn't work.

The Browns did not win. They lost, 28-7, which is their 10th straight defeat. The Ravens did what they had to do -- beat the worst team in the NFL -- but they didn't do it in a manner that convinced anyone that they should be considered a threat come January. The Ravens only won because the Browns were awful right from the get-go.

After kicking off to the Ravens to begin the game, Cleveland burned a timeout before the first snap from scrimmage because they sent 12 men onto the field. According to ESPN Stats & Info, the Browns became the first team since the Jets in Week 14 of 2011 to use a timeout in the first 10 seconds of game.

The Browns forced a punt and on the return, two Browns player tried to field the ball. They narrowly dodged disaster when Duke Johnson Jr. cleanly came away with the football.

By the 10:25 mark of the first quarter, the Browns used up their second timeout to prepare for a third down. According to ESPN, a team hadn't used two timeouts in the first five minutes of a game since the 2013 season. Out of the timeout, rookie quarterback Cody Kessler was sacked by two unblocked pass-rushers.

The mistakes didn't end there. Late in the second quarter, the Browns aided the Ravens' two-minute drill with a 15-yard penalty. That penalty is what allowed the Ravens to get into field-goal range to trim the Browns' lead.

Yes, the Browns actually held a 7-6 lead at halftime. It's not the first time it has happened.

Like they always do, the Browns unraveled in the second half. Cleveland opened with a three-and-out and promptly let the Ravens march 64 yards down the field on nine plays. Joe Flacco capped that drive with a 4-yard touchdown pass, which gave the Ravens a lead they wouldn't lose.

The Browns certainly tried to catch up -- they responded to that touchdown by benching Kessler for Josh McCown -- but they couldn't do much against a solid Ravens defense. They didn't score for the remainder of the game, but they watched the Ravens tack on two more touchdowns.

That's what kind of game transpired in Baltimore on Thursday night. But hey, at least this happened!

That's where the good ended for the Browns. Meanwhile, as the Browns continually fudged up on the field, a protest formed outside the stadium.

OK, let's get to the takeaways.

1. The Ravens' defense is at least good

Yes, they played the Browns, but if you're looking for one area that was actually good Thursday night, it was the Ravens defense, which entered the night ranked fifth in DVOA, second in yards allowed per game, and ninth in points given up per game.

The Ravens held the Browns to 144 total yards and 3 yards per play. They totaled four sacks. They took away the ball three times.

Terrell Suggs found a way to make an impact in the third quarter by hitting McCown's arm as he released the football, which popped into the air and was intercepted by Jerraud Powers.

He did it again in the fourth quarter, this time forcing McCown to fumble. Suggs was a star Thursday night.


On the other hand, over on the other side of the ball ...

2. Joe Flacco is not elite

The Ravens' issues on offense are not entirely on their quarterback. But he's not helping matters.

In the first quarter, Flacco missed Kamar Aiken who was streaking down the field and had a step on Joe Haden. But due to a severely underthrown pass, Haden recovered to break up the play.

At the end of the first quarter, just when the Ravens finally mounted something resembling a drive, he threw one of those interceptions that looked like the quarterback was targeting the defensive back.

Maybe that interception wasn't entirely on Flacco. But this is telling:

Flacco heated up to begin the second half. He finally guided his team into the end zone at the beginning of the third quarter with this timely pump fake and pass to Darren Waller.

And then he reverted back to his poor form, throwing any ugly pick in the end zone to Joe Haden.

He made up for it with a dart to Steve Smith and a successful two-point conversion, which handed the Ravens a 14-point lead in the third quarter. He added another touchdown midway through the fourth quarter, which put away the game for good.

His statistics will look good, but every quarterback tears up the Browns. If anything, Flacco's stats probably should've been better.

I'd be concerned about the way Flacco played throughout most of the night before his final two touchdowns. Flacco finished 30 of 41 for 296 yards, three touchdowns, two picks, and an 97.2 passer rating.

Maybe it's his ACL, which he tore last year, maybe it's the play calling (firing Marc Trestman hasn't seemed to help), or maybe it's just Flacco. Regardless, despite the win, the Ravens don't look like a team to take seriously come January -- and that's entirely due to their shaky offense.

3. What to make of the Browns' QB situation

Kessler pieced together a seven-play, 75-yard scoring drive to take a 7-3 lead in the second quarter. On that drive, Kessler completed 13-yard pass to Terrelle Pryor that demonstrated the duo's chemistry. He finished it off with 25-yard touchdown to a tight end named Seth DeValve.

He was wide open, but that's a dime from Kessler.

At this point, it's clear Kessler -- a third-round rookie -- isn't bad. But it remains unclear if he can ever develop into a good quarterback. He's not bad, though. He went 11 of 18 for 91 yards, a touchdown, and a 92.6 passer rating. That's progress for the Browns.

Then again, Hue Jackson might not view it that way. Because in the third quarter, he brought in McCown for Kessler. McCown is 37 years old. Why did an 0-9 team bring in a 37-year-old instead of trying to develop a rookie?

As is always the case, McCown didn't provide a solution. He went 6 of 13 for 59 yards, zero touchdowns, two picks, and a 19.9 passer rating. He also lost a fumble.

He even launched an epic arm punt ... on second down.

Reminder: The last Browns quarterback to win a game is Johnny Manziel. Moving on to something positive ...

4. Jamie Collins is a positive for the Browns

Considering Jamie Collins will be a free agent after the season, it's really tough to project which team won the Browns and Patriots' recent trade. But for one night, Collins benefited the Browns on the field. He finished with nine tackles, a sack, and two tackles for a loss.

Of course, it's not hard to bring down Flacco when nobody is blocking.

The Browns might not have him for long, but they're at least making use of his talents.

5. Steve Smith is ageless

Like McCown, Steve Smith is 37 years old. Unlike McCown, Smith is a very good football player.

Even though he tore his Achilles last season, he's still out there scoring touchdowns over the middle of the field.

Smith caught five passes for 60 yards.

6. What's next?

It won't get any easier for the Browns. After dropping the first 10 games of the season, the Browns get the Steelers next Sunday. Feel free to already mark that game down as the 11th straight Browns loss.

Meanwhile, the Ravens actually matter. At 5-4, they now sit on top of the AFC North, though the Steelers can earn a share of the top spot with a win against the Cowboys on Sunday.

Next up for the Ravens are the Cowboys in Dallas. That will not be similar to Thursday's game in that it will require playing an actual good football team.