Cleveland’s defense could not stop LeSean McCoy and the Bills’ running game, as the Browns lost by a score of 33-13. They are now 0-14 on the season, with games against San Diego and Pittsburgh remaining.
Both teams traded field goals in the first quarter, despite having goal-to-go situations. The Bills closed out the first quarter with a 3-yard touchdown run by RB Mike Gillislee to go up 10-3. There was then a hilariously bad clip of Hue Jackson not being able to find his challenge flag after a play where Robert Griffin III was ruled to have stepped out of bounds. The play was not even eligible to be challenged.
Hue Jackson struggling to find the challenge flag pretty much sums up this slugfest... #Bills pic.twitter.com/NEXBTA5Loi
— Bradley Gelber (@BradleyGelber) December 18, 2016
To close out the first half, Buffalo got a 19-yard touchdown pass from QB Tyrod Taylor to TE Charles Clay, making it a 17-3 game.
The tide turned a bit to start the second half. Taylor threw a bad pass to an open Sammy Watkins on third down, forcing a punt. Cleveland then put together their first touchdown-scoring drive of the game. On 3rd-and-6 from the 18 yard line, Griffin scrambled up the middle for the score to make it a 17-10 game.
There we go! RGIII Runs it in for 6! pic.twitter.com/yhmaH5RJER
— uSTADIUM (@uSTADIUM) December 18, 2016
The Bills quickly responded with a touchdown drive of their own, as McCoy scored from three yards out to make it a 24-10 game. The Browns were threatening again due to Griffin’s mobility, including a scramble 28-yard pass play that included a brutal roughing the passer penalty. Another scramble would have put Cleveland at the goal line, but a holding penalty brought it back. The Browns settled for a 40-yard field goal to cut the Bills’ lead to 24-13.
Cleveland’s run defense continued to be sliced through, as McCoy got an 8-yard rushing touchdown to start the fourth quarter. After a missed extra point, Buffalo led 30-13. Cleveland’s offense sputtered after a decent third quarter. Buffalo tacked on a field goal to make it 33-13. Cleveland’s goal line stuff with two minutes to go prevented it from being a worse score.
Quick Hitters
- QB Robert Griffin III: 17-of-28 for 196 yards. 8 rushes, 48 yards, 1 TD.
- It was another down game for WR Terrelle Pryor. He caught 4 passes for 19 yards, but had a couple of drops.
- Demario Davis led the Browns with 10 tackles.
- OLB Emmanuel Ogbah registered a sack.
- The Bills ran for 280 yards.