Browns notebook: Offense was on the attack

<p class="MsoNormal">One way to quantify the difference between Mo Carthon's offense last year and Rob Chudzinski's this season:

<p class="MsoNormal">- After four games in 2006, the Browns had been outscored, 50-27, in first halves.

<p class="MsoNormal">- In Games 2, 3 and 4 in 2007, Cleveland has outscored opponents, 61-40.

<p class="MsoNormal">Lewis vs. Lewis

<p class="MsoNormal">Linebacker Ray Lewis sent word to Browns running back Jamal Lewis that rushing lanes would be full of Ravens.

<p class="MsoNormal">Jamal Lewis rushed just 64 yards on 23 carries, but he did enough to set up play-calling that kept his former team off-balance.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Ray talked all day," Jamal Lewis said. "He kept on saying, 'This is me. You know I'm coming.' It sounded like practice back when I was in Baltimore."

<p class="MsoNormal">Lewis' replacement in Baltimore, Willis McGahee, had 136 rushing-receiving yards.

<p class="MsoNormal">Tables turned

<p class="MsoNormal">The Ravens' swagger was back in Cleveland Browns Stadium. Then it was on its butt.

<p class="MsoNormal">Early in the game, near the end of a play, former Ohio State Buckeye Simon Fraser gave Ravens rookie Marshal Yanda, from Iowa, an ornery push near a pile. Yanda fell backward over the stack and got off his kiester asking for a penalty. No dice.

<p class="MsoNormal">Later, one of the Ravens' intimidators was returning an interception. Ed Reed wasn't looking when Browns center Hank Fraley arrived with a head of steam and planted Reed in front of the Dawg Pound.

<p class="MsoNormal">Dawson vs. Stover

<p class="MsoNormal">One of Phil Dawson's most important kicks of the season opened the second half. Leading 24-6, the Browns needed anything but a long run by league kick-return leader Yamon Figurs. Dawson boomed the ball midway into the end zone for a touchback. Dawson kicked a field goal to extend the lead to 27-6, then boomed another touchback.

<p class="MsoNormal">Matt Stover, who attended the same Dallas high school as Dawson, missed two field goals a year after beating the Browns on a last-second 52-yarder.

<p class="MsoNormal">Dawson made two field goals and is 16-of-17 in his career against Baltimore.

<p class="MsoNormal">Steinbach returns

<p class="MsoNormal">Left guard Eric Steinbach winced as he walked off the field with 5:08 left in the second quarter, just before the Browns scored to take a 24-3 lead.

<p class="MsoNormal">Lennie Friedman filled in until Steinbach returned and played the entire second half.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Just a little (neck) stinger," Steinbach said. "I got it checked out and loosened back up. I came back out and a couple times banged some heads. It was good."

<p class="MsoNormal">Extra points

<p class="MsoNormal">- The defense allowed occasional haunting reminders of the first three games' woes. A week after allowing a third-and-1 touchdown pass covering 41 yards, the Browns allowed a third-and-1 gain of 30 yards on a simple swing pass.

<p class="MsoNormal">- In building a 24-6 halftime lead, the Browns led, 213-168, in yards. Baltimore tight end Todd Heap was depressed: "This is a low point for us."