CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – It wasn’t pretty and it wasn’t perfect, but the Browns found a way to win their fourth in a row Sunday afternoon.
Baker Mayfield completed just two passes in the second half and threw a pair of interceptions but two more defensive interceptions, including a pick-6 by Ronnie Harrison, a massive 28-yard third down run by D’Ernest Johnson and a Cody Parkey field goal with 21 seconds left helped the Browns put the Colts out of their misery, 32-23, at FirstEnergy Stadium.
“I think that was a great team win,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said. “That was all about the team. It was not pretty at times. It was not perfect. Offensively, we did not put our defense in a great spot very often in that second half, but for us to come away with a pick-six and a safety was outstanding. A great team win.”
The Browns are 4-1 for the first time since 1994.
They’ve won four in a row, matching the longest win streak of the expansion era (2009) and are primed for a showdown with the 4-0 Steelers next week.
“It is very special,” receiver Jarvis Landry said.
Cleveland racked up 385 yards of total offense and scored over 30 points for the fourth straight week – against the No. 1 ranked defense in the league entering Week 5.
To Stefanski's point, it was a roller coaster all afternoon.
The opening drive of the afternoon stalled when Mayfield overthrew Odell Beckham Jr. in the corner of the end zone on third-and-goal from the 6 forcing Cordy Parkey to kick a 24-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead. Landry was shaken up on the far sideline after catching a 32-yard pass from Mayfield but he returned.
“He gave me a pretty good shot, but it is all good, we got the last one so that is fine,” Landry said.
The Colts countered with a touchdown drive on their first possession when Jonathan Taylor walked in on fourth-and-2 from the 4 for a score without a Browns defender in sight to take a 7-3 lead with 6:00 left in the opening quarter.
Opponents are now 8-of-9 on fourth down against Cleveland this season.
On the ensuing drive, Mayfield converted on fourth down with a 3-yard completion to Beckham and then bought time and found Hunt in the back of the end zone for a 10-7 lead on third-and-goal from the 2. The score capped a 14-play, 81-yard drive with 14:06 left in the opening half. The score was set up thanks to a 30-yard completion to Landry.
Rodrigo Blankenship tied the game at 10 with a 32-yard field goal after Browns defensive end Olivier Vernon hit Rivers and forced an incompletion on third down.
Rashard Higgins’ first touchdown catch of the season untied it at 17-10 after Mayfield found Hollywood in the end zone for a 15-yard score.
“Proud of him being able to deal with everything and come in and make plays when he can,” Mayfield said. “I think it was a little bit of miscommunication on their end in the secondary. It looked it was supposed to be Cover 2 and just kind of threw him open. That is just playing ball. That is knowing that guy. I have had a lot of reps with him and knowing where he is going to be.”
Odell Beckham Jr.’s 26-yard reception that forced the Colts to blow their second challenge and final timeout of the half will be on highlight reels for a while and kept the drive rolling. The grab gave Beckham the third-most catches and receiving yards in NFL history through the first 80 games of a career surpassing Torry Holt.
Parkey kicked a 36-yard field goal to extend Cleveland’s lead to 20-10 with 17 seconds left in the half.
Mayfield had a season-high 228 yards passing at the half and the Browns scored on all four possessions, racking up 284 yards of offense in the first 30 minutes to lead 20-10.
Safety Ronnie Harrison, who broke up a third down pass to force the Colts first punt of the game, jumped in front of a Phillip Rivers pass intended for TY Hilton and cruised 47 yards to the end zone for a 27-10 Browns lead with 12:15 left in the third. It was the 12th takeaway of the season for Cleveland’s defense.
Unfortunately, the special teams unit gave it right back.
Colts returner Isaiah Rodgers weaved his way 101 yards, returning Parkey’s kickoff for a touchdown to make it a 10-point game at 27-17.
Mayfield threw his third interception of the year on the ensuing possession with Colts linebacker Bobby Okereke coming away with the errant throw and a 7-yard return to the Cleveland 48.
The defense held Indianapolis to a Blankenship 37-yard field goal, cutting the Browns lead to 27-20.
After Landry dropped a second down pass and Beckham unsuccessfully plead for a pass interference flag on third down, Jamie Gillan punted for the first time, which was fair caught at the Colts own 4. Landry dropped another pass on third down ending the Browns' next possession.
Following Gillan’s punt, Rivers heaved a ball deep up the near sideline from the end zone with Myles Garrett, who already recorded his sixth sack of the season, bearing down but he was in the pocket and there was no receiver near the throw drawing a flag for grounding and giving the Browns a free 2 points from the safety and a 29-20 lead.
“We needed a play to be made, and I am greedy when it comes to that,” Garrett said. “I want to make that big play. I want to make the play to put us over the top. Fortunately, I was able to. I was not able to get him down and take the ball away in the end zone for six, but we will take two and the ball.”
Browns safety Sheldrick Redwine picked Rivers off and weaved his way 8 yards to the Colts 49 with 11:24 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Mayfield gave it right back finding Colts linebacker Anthony Walker for an 11-yard return to the 30 on a third-and-2. It led to another Blankenship field goal, this one from 25 yards, to cut the lead to 29-23.
“It is important for us to be able to find answers on how teams are going to defend us,” Mayfield said. “If they stop the run game, we have to be able to respond in the pass game. It is important for us to find ways to be efficient and move the ball and put us in position to win.”
After Johnson’s monster run moved them into Colts territory, Parkey eventually drilled a 46-yard field goal with 21 seconds remaining to put the game on ice.
