Rice’s TD run, Landry’s interception return give Baltimore 16-0 lead after three quarters

Rice, Landry give Ravens 16-0 lead after 3 periods

CLEVELAND — Baltimore running back Ray Rice and safety Dawan Landry scored touchdowns 17 seconds apart and the Ravens broke a scoreless game at the half by opening a 16-0 lead on the Cleveland Browns after three quarters on Monday night.

Rice scored on a 13-yard touchdown run 2:32 into the third quarter. Cleveland’s ensuing play from scrimmage landed in the arms of Landry, who caught a tipped pass off the hands of tight end Robert Royal. Landry returned the interception 48 yards for Baltimore’s second score.

Cleveland quarterback Brady Quinn had a rough six-minute stretch to start the second half. Making his first start since Sept. 27 — also against the Ravens — Quinn threw a pair of interceptions and was flagged for a low block on Baltimore’s Terrell Suggs following his second pick. Suggs limped off the field, then limped into the locker room with a sprained knee. His return is doubtful.

After cornerback Chris Carr intercepted Quinn for the second time in the quarter, Steve Hauschka kicked a 44-yard field goal. Hauschka previously had an extra point blocked and missed wide left from 36 yards.

Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco was 11 of 15 for 146 yards, including a big 41-yard strike to Derrick Mason that set up the game’s first score on Rice’s run. Rice carried 13 times for 55 yards.

Baltimore was better in the third quarter after a sloppy first half. Monday’s game is the NFL’s first of the season to be scoreless at halftime, according to STATS, LLC.

The Ravens were out of first-half timeouts less than seven minutes into the game. They lost one on a replay challenge and burned the other two amid confusion on their second possession. Baltimore was also flagged for 12 men on the field twice, although one was declined.

Trying to spark an offense limited to five touchdowns over the past 14 games, Cleveland tried using a hurry-up offense and the wildcat formation with little success.

Quinn was 9 of 19 for 69 yards and the two interceptions. Josh Cribbs took a handful of snaps at quarterback, running five times for 29 yards.

Ravens safety Haruki Nakamura broke his right ankle while blocking on the opening kickoff.

Nakamura, a Cleveland native, was grabbing the ground in pain as trainers wrapped an air cast around his foot and carted him off the field.

Hours before kickoff, a person with The NFL Players Association told The Associated Press of a meeting the union is trying to set up with Browns players this week to talk about coach Eric Mangini’s practices, a person at the union said.

The person, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity to protect the Browns players’ confidentiality, said the union is looking into what has been going on in Cleveland this season because of concerns about health and safety.

Last week, veteran running back Jamal Lewis said he thought Mangini was tiring out his players by overworking the Browns, although Lewis then reversed field a day later and blamed the media for exaggerating his complaints.

Lewis carried 10 times for 36 yards.

A planned fan protest seemed to fail as Cleveland Browns Stadium was three-quarters filled before the opening kickoff.

Two die-hard fans, disgusted with the direction of the 1-7 team, had urged fans to stay away from their seats for the start, hoping it would send a strong message to team owner Randy Lerner.

Under first-year coach Mangini, the Browns have lost three straight.

The Ravens (4-4) have lost four of their last five after beginning the season 3-0.