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Browns vs. Buccaneers Final Score: Cleveland’s offense non-existent in 13-12 loss

Baker Mayfield struggles, but the defense pitched a first-half shutout and Austin Seibert had a solid kicking day.

By Chris Pokorny
Cleveland Browns v Tampa Bay Buccaneers Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

In a game of field goals and defense, the Cleveland Browns fell in third preseason game, as they lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by a score of 13-12. All of the Browns’ points came on the leg of rookie kicker Austin Seibert, who connected on all four of his field goal attempts.

The Browns were without several key starters on offense, like WR Odell Beckham, WR Jarvis Landry, RB Nick Chubb, and TE David Njoku. However, QB Baker Mayfield did play with the starting offensive line for the entire first half. Although Mayfield showed off some nice movement in the pocket and made some throws that his receivers nearly came down with, he was far from being at his sharpest, completing 10-of-26 passes for 72 yards. He threw an interception to end the first half, trying to get into field goal range.

The only highlight the Browns’ Twitter account could post all night was a 54-yard field goal by Seibert in the first quarter, which gave Cleveland a 3-0 lead. He was also good from 36, 30, and 35 yards out to be a perfect 4-of-4.

The other story of the game was the Browns’ defensive line, which played their starting unit and kept sacking Buccaneers quarterbacks (along with the reserves). DE Olivier Vernon had two of the Browns’ six sacks, and the defense pitched a shutout in the first half (although they did have the benefit of the Buccaneers missing their first short field goal off the upright).

Leading 9-0 at the half, the Buccaneers scored 10 unanswered in the third quarter to lead 10-9 heading to the final quarter of play.

Seibert’s final field goal made it 12-10, but then the Buccaneers drove into field goal range heading into the two-minute warning. They kicked the go-ahead field goal from 21 yards out to take a 13-12 lead with 0:15 left in the game. Cleveland falls to 2-1 in the preseason.

Quick Hitters

  • QB Baker Mayfield: 10-of-26 for 72 yards, 1 INT.
  • RB Kareem Hunt: 5 carries, 11 yards. 1 catch, 3 yards (1 target).
  • DE Olivier Vernon: 2 tackles, 2 assists (4 combined). 2 sacks.
  • K Austin Seibert: 4-of-4 on field goals, long of 54 yards.

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