CLEVELAND - Among many areas that Browns coach Eric Mangini had to be concerned with entering the game against the Baltimore Ravens was linebacker.

D'Qwell Jackson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Eric Barton injured his neck against the Chicago Bears and was placed on injured-reserve last week.

Mangini moved David Bowens from the outside to the inside. Rookie Kaluka Maiava started at the other inside spot. Jason Trusnik, who was acquired in the trade with the New York Jets that sent Braylon Edwards east, started in Bowens' spot on the outside.

The moves played out well in the early going. Bowens recorded a sack of Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco in the first quarter. Maiava stopped Ray Rice on a screen pass on third down to set up an unsuccessful field-goal attempt by Steve Hauschka.

Notably absent was rookie David Veikune, the third of three second-round draft choices. Veikune has struggled to get playing time.

• NOT PRETTY: The quarterback change from Derek Anderson to Brady Quinn didn't work well in the first half. Quinn was 6-of-12 for 63 yards entering intermission.

The offensive game plan was conservative. Quinn attempted few vertical passes. Joshua Cribbs lined up at quarterback in the wildcat formation several times to ease the pressure on Quinn.

• BIG LOSS: The Ravens played without the services of defensive lineman Haloti Ngata, who has an injury. Ngata was available for the Browns in the 2006 draft, but then general manager Phil Savage decided to go for linebacker Kamerion Wimbley.

The Browns had the 11th pick in the first round of that draft and the Ravens had the 12th pick. Savage said that he asked then coach Romeo Crennel which player he wanted Ngata or Wimbley. Crennel, according to Savage, wanted Wimbley because of his pass-rushing skills.

The teams traded picks, allowing the Browns to gain another choice in the draft.

• GETTING A CHANCE: Chris Jennings was used in the first half for the Browns. He had three carries for 9 yards at halftime.

Jamal Lewis had just six carries for 27 yards in the half. Lewis caused a stir in the locker room last week when he questioned Mangini's practice regimen.

• OFF NIGHT: Browns punter Dave Zastudil was a scratch. Zastudil has been nursing a sore right knee since early in the season. Reggie Hodges was signed last week and handled the punting chores. Hodge spent four games with the Tennessee Titans earlier this season.

• FINALLY: Kick Phil Dawson returned after missing five games with a calf injury. Dawson was replaced by Billy Cundiff, who was waived two weeks ago.

• ALL ON HAND: The threatened boycott of fans of the opening kick didn't materialize. Two disgruntled fans wanted their fellow fans to remain out of their seats for the opening kick off. Browns owner Randy Lerner met with the organizers during the bye week and was successful in making sure the boycott didn't play out.

• NOTHING AT ALL: The first half ended in a 0-0 tie. It was the second time in the NFL this season that a game was scoreless in the first half. The Cowboys and Packers were scoreless after one half last Sunday.

• INJURY REPORT: Ravens safety Haruki Nakamura couldn't have had a worse start to his return to Cleveland. Nakamura, who played at St. Edward High School and the University of Cincinnati, suffered a broken ankle while blocking on the opening kick off. Nakamura was taken off the field on a cart.

• INACTIVES: Out for the Browns were third quarterback Brett Ratliff, Zastudil, cornerback Coye Francies, linebacker Alex Hall, offensive lineman Billy Yates, tight end Greg Estandia, tight end Michael Gaines and receiver Chansi Stuckey.

Sidelined for the Ravens were third quarterback John Beck, running back Matt Lawrence, running back Jalen Parmele, linebacker Antwan Barnes, offensive tackle Oniel Cousins, guard Tony Moll, Ngata and nose tackle Kelly Talavou.

mmclain@tribtoday.com