Browns have brain fart, get caught with 12 men on the pitch in back-to-back games against the Ravens
“Sunday Night Football” is no stranger to some of the biggest moments of the week. In the first quarter of an AFC North clash between the Browns and the Ravens, he delivered one of the most bizarre.
The Ravens thought they got their first down on a false punt, but the official decided they broke the ball before it was ready. They then attempted to run a play to convert on the fourth down, but the Browns had too many players on the field and called for a time out. After the time out, the Ravens went on to play again, and this time got the first down because the Browns sent 12 players onto the field again, and this time around they weren’t aware.
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Baltimore started training from its own 25 with 4:02 left in the first, but couldn’t go far enough, appearing to finish training on its own 33-yard line instead. However, instead of punting, they got a straight shot at Anthony Levine, who rushed ahead and appeared to have the first down.
But officials ruled the game started before the ball was placed.
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Determined to give it a shot on the fourth down, the Ravens returned the attack and started playing, but a whistle and a flag came out. The Browns were reshuffling as they tried to remove the defense and special teams unit and, officials said, requested a time out before the game kicked off.
But then, even after all of that, the Browns sent 12 men to the field again. As soon as the Ravens started playing their game, the flag went out, the Browns got a penalty and the Ravens got the first down. They ended their practice with a field goal with 28 seconds left in the first quarter to take a 3-0 lead.
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To make matters worse, the Browns had a subsequent kickoff penalty when they had just 10 players on the field for the return, and the 11th did not enter the correct zone. The Ravens refused the penalty.
