NFL regular officials return as Ravens beat Browns 23-16

Ravens long snapper Morgan Cox tackles Browns wide receiver Josh Cribbs as Cribbs' helmet is dislodged from a hit by another player during the first half Thursday in Baltimore.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ravens long snapper Morgan Cox tackles Browns wide receiver Josh Cribbs as his helmet is dislodged from a hit by another player during the first half tonight in Baltimore.

BALTIMORE — The regular NFL officials returned to work Thursday night, and the fans gave them a warm welcome back before bestowing their loudest cheers upon the Baltimore Ravens, who never trailed in a 23-16 victory over the winless Cleveland Browns.

Joe Flacco went 28 for 46 for 356 yards, threw one touchdown and ran for another. Cary Williams returned an interception 63 yards for a score near the end of the third quarter to give the Ravens (3-1) a 13-point lead.

And still, the game wasn't decided until a pass by Cleveland rookie Brandon Weeden sailed out of the end zone as time expired. The kept the Browns (0-4) the only winless team in the AFC.

Unlike the controversial ending of the Green Bay-Seattle game on Monday night, which heightened negotiations to get the regular refs back, this game ended without an argument.