Fans cheer NFL refs return, and Ravens beat Browns 23-16

BALTIMORE— The Baltimore Ravens never trailed in a 23-16 victory over the winless Cleveland Browns on Thursday as the NFL’s regular referees returned to action following a labor dispute.

Sure enough, the game came down to a ‘Hail Mary’ pass, just like the one in the Green Bay-Seattle game on Monday which led to an outrageous botched call, and prompted the NFL and referees to start urgent talks to end the lockout.

Down 23-16, Cleveland began its final drive with 1:05 to go on its own 10-yard line. Browns rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden moved the Browns to the Baltimore 33 before a fourth-down pass into the end zone fell incomplete. But a personal foul penalty on Paul Kruger gave Cleveland one more chance.

That pass sailed out of the end zone.

Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco went 28 for 46 for 356 yards, threw one touchdown and ran for another. Yet, it wasn’t until Cary Williams returned an interception 63 yards for a score at the end of the third quarter that Baltimore (3-1) put some distance between itself and the young Browns (0-4).

The referees got a rare taste of fan appreciation before the game. As they walked onto the field, they received a round of applause and shouts of encouragement.

And then, before the pregame coin flip, referee Gene Steratore greeted the players at midfield by saying, “Good evening, men, it’s good to be back.”

The fans waited until the third quarter to boo the officials. On a 13-yard completion from Weeden to Benjamin Watson, Ravens safety Bernard Pollard was called for a helmet-to-helmet hit. The crowd jeered the call, but replays appeared to confirm the penalty.

The 15-yard markoff set up a 51-yard field goal by Phil Dawson that got the Browns within 16-10.

Late in the quarter, Williams took the interception down the right sideline for a touchdown and 13-point lead that gave the hosts a game-winning buffer.

It was the 13th consecutive home win for the Ravens, the longest current run in the NFL, and their streak of 10 straight wins in the division is also the most of any team.

Weeden went 25 for 52 for 320 yards, and rookie running back Trent Richardson gained only 47 yards rushing on 14 carries. Dawson kicked field goals of 51, 50 and 52 yards, the last one with 4:33 left made it 23-16.