CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns did something Sunday they had not since December 22, 2002, and that was earn a regulation victory over the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
Behind a stout rushing performance from running back Nick Chubb, a breakout showing from tight end Ricky Seals-Jones and a career day from Jarvis Landry before he suffered a concussion, the Browns (2-2) earned the 40-25 victory over the Ravens (2-2).
To celebrate the occasion, the Cleveland Fire Department created a water arch for the Browns’ plane after it returned home from Baltimore Sunday night, and that promised to be a moment the players will not soon forget.
“That was really cool,” center JC Tretter said in a conference call with the Cleveland media Monday. “We got the announcement over the loud speaker on the plane, and everybody had their phones out videoing it. Something I have never experienced. That was an awesome thing to see. It was really cool.”
It was the Browns’ first win of any kind in Baltimore since October 11, 2015, which came in overtime, and it was a critical one, as the victory put Cleveland into first place in the AFC North Division after the first quarter of the 2019 regular season.
The Browns’ offense took a fair amount of criticism for their inconsistencies over the first three weeks of the 2019 regular season, and they seemed to take out that frustration on the Ravens in front of their fans on a day where former coach Brian Billick was recognized with induction into the Ring of Honor at M&T Bank Stadium.
The Browns mounted seven scoring drives, including five touchdowns in the victory.
“It was cool,” linebacker Joe Schobert said Monday. “We were on the runway taxiing back to where we get dropped off and get to pick our cars up. The fire truck was out there spraying water all over the plane.
“It was a pretty unique experience. I have not experienced that since I have been here. It was just cool to see the City of Cleveland and the guys who work in the fire department behind us, supporting us and how excited everybody is to get a win like that.”
Although Browns coach Freddie Kitchens also thought it was a cool moment when the fire department welcomed home the team, he recognized that the work never stops if the players want to have more celebrations like Sunday night.
“To be recognized like that was fun, but everybody needs to understand that it was one game,” Kitchens said. “We have not won anything yet. We just have to keep moving on down the road, stay focused and stay focused on the moment. Honestly, I have already turned my attention to San Francisco. I fully expect our guys have, too, when we get them back in the building.
“We have some of the most passionate fans in football. The gesture of course is appreciated. Also, in the same line, it was a good win for us. It was a good win for the organization . That is what we have to do. We have to continue to stack wins. That is what you want to do, and you do that by the next game. That is all you are trying to do is just get better and see where the chips fall at the end, but continue to get better, week in and week out. That is what our goal is always going to be.”