The desperate Ravens, reeling with four losses in five previous games, rallied in the third quarter, scoring a pair of touchdowns only 17 seconds apart to extend the Browns' misery in a 16-0 AFC North victory.

Baltimore had won only one game since smashing the Browns on Sept. 27 in Baltimore. In the first half, the Ravens bogged down when they converted only one third down in six attempts against the 32nd-ranked defense in the league.

BOX SCORE: Ravens 16, Browns 0

"It was an ugly win, but that's the way some wins are in the NFL," said Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, who was 13-for-18 for 155 yards and no TDs or no interceptions. "Any time we go out and get a win we feel good about it and excited about it."

The Ravens drove to the Browns 18 in the first quarter, but Steve Hauschka sailed a 36-yard field goal left of the uprights. Hauschka, battling to save his job, nailed a 44-yarder in the third quarter.

With the triumph, Baltimore (5-4) halted a five-game losing streak on Monday nights. The Ravens' schedule gets a lot tougher the next three weeks: Indianapolis, Pittsburgh and Green Bay.

The offensively challenged Browns (1-8) tinkered with the no-huddle and wide receiver Josh Cribbs operating the "Wildcat" offense, but still managed only 160 yards offense. They have scored five touchdowns on offense in their last 15 games.

"The points we stressed at halftime, we came out in the third quarter and did the opposite," said Browns coach Eric Mangini.

The Ravens broke a scoreless tie early in the third quarter when second-year running back Ray Rice broke off right tackle for a 13-yard touchdown run. The score was set up by a 41-yard completion from Joe Flacco to Derrick Mason after Browns cornerback Brandon McDonald missed an open-field tackle.

Moments later, an off-target pass by Brady Quinn deflected off tight end Robert Royal's hands. Ravens safety Dawan Landry snatched it and sprinted 48 yards into the end zone.

"We were in a man coverage, the tight end ran an out route and tipped the pass, I jumped, and it was clear sailing from there," Landry said.

"This game was special because it was on the road, Monday night, big game, it's been a while since we had one, we needed this right now as a defense. Tonight we executed real well, put a team effort together and it showed."

The Ravens have returned 35 interceptions for TDs since they entered the league in 1996, most in the NFL during that time.

Quinn was starting his first game since being yanked at halftime of a 34-3 loss at Baltimore. He was 13-for-31 for just 99 yards and two interceptions, and was sacked four times.

"We couldn't protect well enough, could sustain drives well enough," said Mangini.

"(If you) turn over the ball to the Ravens, and give them good field position, it makes it tough."

In the first half, the Browns generated only 97 yards of total offense. By the third quarter, thousands of orange seats were empty.

Cribbs was injured on the final play and laid motionless on the field. Players from both teams knelt in prayer around him.

Cribbs was hit under the helmet by nose tackle Brandon McKinney when he caught a pass from Quinn and lateraled to Robert Royal.

He was put on a stretcher and taken to the hospital. Mangini thought it was just a precautionary measure, and said Cribbs had feeling in all his extremities. Ravens defensive end Trevor Pryce was amazed by it all.

"There were five seconds left in the game, they were down 16 points, and they throw a hook-and-ladder," he said. "Really, what's the point of that? It's none of my business, but you see what the result was.

You do a hook-and-ladder play with a whole bunch of guys who are big and fast and running around like crazy, and someone's going to get hurt."

Prior to the game, a pair of Cleveland season-ticket holders organized a "Brown-out" protest. They asked supporters to remain out of their seats until after kickoff so a nationally televised audience could witness fan displeasure with owner Randy Lerner. There was minimal compliance.

One sign spotted in the stands read: "Hey Baltimore, take this team, too."

Lerner's late father, Al, purchased the franchise for its 1999 return to the NFL. The Browns have had two winning seasons since, advancing to the playoffs once ('02).

Upheaval in recent weeks included the firing of general manager George Kokinis on Nov. 2, one day after a 30-6 loss at Chicago.

Last week, Browns running back and co-captain Jamal Lewis criticized the duration and intensity of practices conducted by Mangini. Lewis later said the media had exaggerated his comments.

Enlarge By Matt Sullivan, Getty Images Ray Rice and the Ravens ran over the Browns on Monday night.