Browns' Greg Newsome goes from game-time decision to game-changing pick six in Browns win

BALTIMORE — Greg Newsome II was a game-time decision for the Browns. Or at least he was a player they didn't know for certain would play when they arrived in Baltimore.

Turns out, the Browns wouldn't have been able to escape with a 33-31 victory over the Baltimore Ravens without Newsome's services. Nor without the first interception of his career.

Newsome came up with a deflected pass for an interception, which he returned 34 yards for a Browns touchdown with 8:16 remaining in the game. Dustin Hopkins, who later made a game-winning 40-yarder as time expired, missed the ensuing PAT to keep it a 31-30 Baltimore lead.

For Newsome, it's not just the moment or the accomplishment. It's the fact he legitimately thought he might be be able to play after being listed as questionable with a groin injury.

"It's huge," Newsome said. "First, I just got to thank God. I didn't even honestly know that I was going to be able to play this week. Beginning of the week I wasn't feeling the greatest, so I didn't know if I was going to be able to play, but just in this game is just huge. Just trying to make a play for my team. It was a huge first pick for me."

The Browns had just pulled within 31-24 on Deshaun Watson's touchdown pass to Elijah Moore with 8:57 remaining. The Ravens got the football at their own 25 after they fair caught the subsequent kickoff.

On a second-down play from the Baltimore 27, Lamar Jackson dropped back to pass and looked to his right. Browns defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo pushed right tackle Patrick Mekari back and got his arms up as Jackson threw.

The ball appeared to bounce off Okoronkwo's facemask, up in the air and into the hands of Newsome, who was at the Ravens 34. Newsome took off down the left sideline and into the end zone for an easy pick six.

"Rush and coverage," Newsome said. "(Defensive) line did a great job rushing, linebackers did a great job covering. I was a deep player on that play, so my linebackers had everybody covered. Ogbo and the guys had a great rush. Ogbo got a tip for me, and I was just be able to see the ball through."

Still, there was a split second or two while the ball flipped through the air. It might as well have been an eternity for Newsome to wait.

"I've never seen the ball go that slow," Newsome said. "When I seen the ball in the air, I was, like, I have to go get it."

The fact Newsome was able to play proved to be huge as the game went along. The Browns secondary found itself battling attrition at both cornerback and safety by the second half.

Cornerback Denzel Ward did not return to the game after suffering a neck injury when Ravens tackle Ronnie Stanley came over and hit him while he was trying to tackle receiver Zay Flowers in the first quarter. He was originally checked for a concussion, but was found to not have one.

Safety Juan Thornhill left the game in the third quarter while tackling Flowers. He sustained a calf injury on the play.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said there would be MRIs performed on both Monday. He had no other updates.

For a player who wasn't necessarily expecting to play, Newsome found himself central to some key moments in the game. Not just positive ones like his pick six.

Baltimore appeared to be primed to take control of the game, leading 24-17, after recovering a muffed punt by the Browns' James Proche II at the Cleveland 12 on the first play of the fourth quarter. However, the Browns defense had forced them into a third-and-9 situation from the 11.

The Browns thought they may have forced a field goal try when Jackson threw incomplete on third down. However, Newsome was flagged for defensive holding, giving Baltimore a first down.

It was one of two defensive holding calls on the series for the Browns. They had another one on third down that negated a Rodney McLeod interception, two plays before Gus Edwards gave the Ravens a 31-17 lead with a 1-yard TD run with 11:34 remaining.

"I had to have a conversation with the ref," Browns safety Grant Delpit said of the calls. "I said, is it one call, defensive holding every time? So he said it was blatant, and you got to respect that decision, but we got to be cleaner."

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on Twitter at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Greg Newsome II goes from game-time decision to game-changing pick six