The Browns had a chance to win, but the Las Vegas Raiders converted a field goal as time expired resulting in a 16-14 Cleveland loss.
In a week filled with adversity that resulted in game being postponed from Saturday to Monday, the Cleveland Browns still found themselves in position to win. Greedy Williams intercepted a pass from Derek Carr with less than three minutes to play. Cleveland proceeded to run the ball three times for just seven yards and ended up punting the ball back to Las Vegas. The Raiders moved the ball down field facing just one third down in the process and a Daniel Carlson field goal went through the uprights as time expired handing Cleveland a bitter two-point loss.
This game was a game of imperfect circumstances, forced to play Nick Mullens due to Baker Mayfield and Case Keenum still being in COVID-19 protocols. With just one practice under his belt Mullens completed 20 of 30 passes for 147 yards and one touchdown, a six-yard pass to Harrison Bryant. This was Cleveland’s first 4th quarter touchdown since Week 9.
It was tough going for Nick Chubb early, but persistence paid off. Chubb finished with 23 carries for 91 yards and one touchdown after it looked like he would be bottled up for his third straight game. In the previous two games Chubb had just 75 yards on 25 carries in back-to-back games against Baltimore.
While Donovan Peoples-Jones came through with a couple of clutch catches in the 4th quarter, it was not a outstanding performance from the former Michigan Wolverine. Peoples-Jones dropped passes early and as a result saw the Browns lining up in punt formation while being shut out in the first half.
This was a must-win game for the Browns and they were unable to do so. Obviously the COVID situation played a factor and even then they were still in position to win. Cleveland could have catapulted themselves into an undeserving spot atop the AFC North. Instead the Browns sit in fourth place with their playoff hopes on life support.
