Browns vs. Raiders Final Score: Wild game full of mistakes and big plays sees Cleveland fall 45-42

I feel empty. After a 28-14 lead mid-way through the third quarter, the Browns collapsed, allowing 20 unanswered to the Raiders. Cleveland then scored 14 unanswered themselves, but Oakland got a touchdown and a 2-point conversion to end regulation at 42-42, sending the game to overtime. With under two minutes to go, Oakland kicked the game-winning field goal, dropping the Browns to 1-2-1 with a 45-42 loss.

The Browns’ defense stopped the Raiders for three-and-outs to begin the game, but Cleveland’s offense didn’t fare so well. Baker Mayfield’s first two passes were dropped by Jarvis Landry and Rashard Higgins, respectively. On the next series, Antonio Callaway slipped out of his break, then had a pass go off his hands and into the arms of cornerback Gareon Conley, who returned it 36 yards for a touchdown, putting Oakland up 7-0.

Cleveland drove down to the 1 yard line on their next drive. Despite having a 1st-and-goal, though, the Browns could not punch it in and had to settle for a 25-yard field goal to cut it to 7-3 in the first quarter.

The Raiders missed a 47-yard field goal in the second quarter, and then on Cleveland’s first play of their next drive, RB Nick Chubb got the carry and went all the way for an electric 63-yard touchdown! Head coach Hue Jackson decided to go for two, despite the score being 9-7. Mayfield hit Callaway square in the numbers, but he dropped it.

Cleveland forced a punt on Oakland’s next drive, and then Mayfield drilled backup TE Darren Fells for a 49-yard catch-and-run touchdown! The Browns went for two again, and this time they got it, with RB Duke Johnson taking the handoff to the corner to make it a 17-7 game.

Oakland put together their best drive of the first half, completing a series of passes and getting some tough runs by RB Marshawn Lynch. The drive was capped off by an 8-yard touchdown pass from QB Derek Carr to WR Amari Cooper, cutting the Browns’ lead to 17-14.

The Browns had to punt at the two-minute warning, and now Oakland had another shot to strike back. The Raiders were about to get into field goal range, but then LB Joe Schobert had good coverage on a seam pass to TE Jared Cook, allowing the pass to fall back into the arms of CB E.J. Gaines for an interception. Cleveland went into the half still up 17-14.

The Browns extended their lead to begin the third quarter. It was an efficient drive by Mayfield, but Oakland’s defense held Cleveland to a 28-yard field goal attempt for a 20-14 lead. Carr was picked off on his next drive by FS Damarious Randall, who returned the interception 50 yards to the Raiders’ 30 yard line.

Mayfield took a shot at WR Jarvis Landry to the end zone, but a pass interference call gave Cleveland a 1st-and-goal situation. Two plays later, Mayfield found Landry on the fade for a 2-yard touchdown and a 26-14 lead.

The Browns went for two with another handoff to Johnson. He was initially ruled down before he dove for the end zone, but Cleveland challenged and won, giving them a 28-14 lead.

Cleveland’s defense forced another punt, and just when it looked like they were in control, the pocket collapsed on Mayfield and he fumbled with the Raiders recovering at the 7 yard line.

The Browns forced back-to-back incompletions, setting up 3rd-and-goal from the 7. On third down, though, Carr gunned a pass right up the middle to TE Jared Cook for a touchdown, closing to within 28-21.

Cleveland went three-and-out, and a short punt kept the momentum with Oakland. But the Raiders played a little sloppy themselves, resulting in a three-and-out. The punt was a touchback, bringing the ball out to the 20 yard line with under three minutes to go in the third quarter. Another three-and-out saw Cleveland punting the ball right back to Oakland. Just before the quarter ended, the Raiders got a big 52-yard run from RB Marshawn Lynch, inside the red zone.

In the fourth quarter, an awesome third down stop by Randall forced Oakland to settle for a 29-yard field goal, cutting the Browns’ lead to 28-24. The Browns’ disastrous stretch on offense continued. On 2nd-and-2, C J.C. Tretter snapped the ball early, leading to a fumble and a Raiders recovery deep in Cleveland territory.

Two plays later, Carr found WR Jordy Nelson for a 19-yard touchdown pass, bringing Oakland all the way back to take a 30-27 lead with under 13 minutes to go in the fourth quarter.

When Cleveland got the ball back, more dropped passes added up, including one from TE David Njoku right up the seam. On the three-and-out, P Britton Colquitt had his 53-yard punt returned 49 yards into Cleveland territory. The defense forced a quick three-and-out, setting up a 44-yard field goal attempt on the dirt, which was drilled to push Oakland’s lead to 34-28.

With under 9 minutes to go, Mayfield found WR Antonio Callaway streaking across the field for a 59-yard catch-and-run down to the 1 yard line! The first down handoff to Hyde gained half a yard. On second down, Hyde punched it in to tie the game at 34-34. For the first time all game, the Browns went for the extra point, and K Greg Joseph nailed it, putting Cleveland back on top 35-34.

The Browns sacked Carr on the next series, leading to a punt. A few plays later, Chubb got his third carry of the game, and ripped off another big run: this one for 41 yards and a touchdown! A delay of game penalty pushed the extra point try back five yards, but Joseph still connecting on it, giving the team a 42-34 lead with 4:20 to go.

The Raiders drove into the red zone pretty quickly. But after the two-minute warning, back-to-back incompletions resulted in a turnover on downs. The Browns took over with 1:51 to go and Oakland having all three timeouts. Cleveland appeared to get a first down to seal the victory, but replay review changed the call, making it 4th-and-1.

The Raiders burned all their timeouts, but Cleveland punted with 1:28 to go, getting the ball at midfield. Carr drove Oakland down for the touchdown with 0:30 to go, a 7-yard pass to the corner for Cook. They had to go for two, and WR Jordy Nelson out-muscled CB T.J. Carrie for the conversion, despite tight coverage, tying it up at 42-42.

With 0:30 to go, the Browns had three timeouts. An 11 yard pass to Njoku on first down — 0:23 left. Then a 15-yard completion to Johnson to the 49 yard line — 0:15 left. Mayfield tried taking a covered shot to Callaway, but it was intercepted by S Reggie Nelson, sending the game to overtime.

Oakland won the coin toss and opted to receive, needing a touchdown on their first series to end the game outright. Carrie bit on a third down fake, allowing a big catch to WR Amari Cooper to get Oakland into field goal range. On 3rd-and-3, a blitz and a sack by LB Jamie Collins pushed Oakland back to the 32 yard line. They were opting to pass on a 50-yard field goal, but then took a timeout. Jon Gruden sent his rookie kicker out there in his first game, and on the dirt, he just barely missed wide left.

That created a sudden death situation, with Cleveland having good starting field position at their own 40 yard line. After a first down throwaway, Mayfield completed a pass to Njoku for 5 yards, setting up 3rd-and-5 from their own 45 yard line. Mayfield’s improvised third down heave to Johnson was batted down, and the ensuing punt gave Oakland the ball at the 19 yard line, now needing any score to win.

An acrobatic 24-yard catch on third down by Cook put the ball at midfield. Oakland continued driving into field goal range as time winded down. The rookie kicker drilled the 29-yarder for the win.

Quick Hitters

• QB Baker Mayfield: 21-of-41 for 295 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception, 2 fumbles lost.
• RB Carlos Hyde: 22 carries, 82 yards, 1 touchdown.
• RB Nick Chubb: 3 carries, 105 yards, 2 touchdowns.
• WR Jarvis Landry: 4 catches, 34 yards, 1 touchdown (10 targets).
• TE Darren Fells: 1 catch, 49 yards, 1 touchdown (2 targets).
• 2 interceptions, 3 sacks.
• The Raiders out-gained the Browns 562 yards to 487 yards.