The Browns had two possessions to either tie or take the lead in the fourth quarter Sunday but were unable to do so.
Cleveland fell 23-20 to the Bills at Huntington Bank Field, dropping its 12th game this season.
QB Shedeur Sanders threw for 147 yards and a touchdown but was intercepted twice in the game. He led the Browns in rushing yards with four attempts for 49 yards. RB Quinshon Judkins ran for 22 yards on eight carries before he was ruled out of the game with a leg injury in the second quarter. RB Raheim Sanders and RB Trayveon Williams split carries in Judkins' absence. Raheim Sanders ran for 42 yards and Williams finished with 17 yards and led Cleveland in receiving with four catches for 38 yards.
The Browns' defense held Buffalo to three points in the second half as their offense tried to climb back into the game after being down 20-10 at halftime. LB Carson Schwesinger finished with 12 total tackles, his sixth consecutive double-digit tackle game. Schwesinger also led the Browns in sacks with one while DE Myles Garrett recorded a half sack to bring his season total to 22. DE Alex Wright contributed on the sack, recording a half sack as well.
Key Moments
Browns' game-winning possession falls short
As QB Josh Allen's pass bounced off TE Dawson Knox's hands on fourth down in the end zone, it gave the Browns a chance to tie or win the game down 23-20 with 2:47 to score.
Sanders found WR Malachi Corley on first down for 11 yards, moving to the Cleveland 23-yard line. Sanders was sacked on the next play, losing eight yards. Facing second-and-18, Sanders scrambled around trying to make a play but threw the ball away while in the pocket and was called for intentional grounding. The play set up a third-and-32 from the Browns' 1-yard line with Cleveland needing to gain a first down. Sanders tried to find WR Jerry Jeudy but the pass was incomplete and the Browns punted the ball away.
The Bills needed a first down to kneel the game out and did so on third-and-1, allowing them to run down the clock and win the game.
The Browns score on two consecutive possessions to close the gap
The Browns used slow, winding possessions and their defense to creep up on the Bills. On their first possession of the second half, they took 14 plays to find the end zone.
Cleveland used the ground to move the ball, gaining 33 yards on five carries including Raheim Sanders picking up 21 yards on four carries. Three Browns passing plays and a Bills tripping penalty put the Browns at the Bills 29-yard line with a second-and-15. Shedeur Sanders scrambled for 14 yards to make the distance just one yard and Raheim Sanders picked up the first down on the next play. From the 12-yard line, Raheim Sanders gained 11 yards on three carries before TE Harold Fannin Jr. broke the goal line to bring the Bills' lead to 23-17 with 1:36 left in the third quarter.
The Browns' defense forced a turnover on downs, giving their offense a chance to take a lead if they scored a touchdown. Cleveland started at its own 34-yard line, using a mixture of Raheim Sanders and Williams to move down the field. Williams caught a screen pass and ran down the right sideline past midfield to the Buffalo 40-yard line. Raheim Sanders gained 6 yards across the next two plays before Williams picked up 14 yards on the next two to bring Cleveland inside the red zone, facing a second-and-7. Corley picked up 4 yards to set up a crucial third down. Shedeur Sanders threw a pass to Williams, but the play went backward for a loss of 7. K Andre Szmyt made the 41-yard field goal, putting Cleveland within three points with 8:46 left in the game.
The Bills extend their lead with the help of their second interception
The Browns had a chance to trim Buffalo's lead down to six after their defense held the Bills to a three-and-out on the opening possession of the second half. Cleveland picked up a first down using three plays and had a fresh set of downs at its own 32-yard line. On the next play, Sanders tried to roll out to his right and fit the ball through a gap to Corley. DE Joey Bosa tipped up the pass attempt and DT DaQuan Jones came down with the ball, resulting in Sanders' second interception.
Cleveland's defense held Buffalo to 2 yards on the next three plays, forcing a field goal. K Michael Badgley knocked through the 41-yard field goal to push the Bills' lead to 23-10 with 9:37 left in the third quarter.
Bills take two-possession lead into halftime
Buffalo pulled away from Cleveland during the second quarter, beginning with an interception on a deflected pass by S Jordan Poyer at the Bills' 29-yard line
Allen found RB Ray Davis for 14 yards on the second play of the ensuing possession, going over midfield to the Cleveland 46-yard line. Allen threw for an 18-yard gain to TE Jackson Hawes, allowing Buffalo to go to the ground to score. The Bills ran the ball on six consecutive plays, culminating with RB Ty Johnson scoring on a 2-yard run with 12:54 in the second quarter. Badgley's extra point bounced off the right upright, keeping the Browns within six.
Cleveland made its way down the field to respond, getting to the Bills' 4-yard line and gaining 66 yards across nine plays, including Sanders scrambling three times for 38 yards. Buffalo's defense stiffened up and stuffed the Browns on first and second down. Sanders was injured on second down, leading to QB Dillon Gabriel coming in for third down. As Gabriel looked for an open man and found no one, he tried to scramble but was sacked for a 2-yard loss, forcing fourth down. Szmyt made the ensuing 24-yard field goal to bring Buffalo's lead to 13-10 with 5:38 left in the second quarter.
Buffalo quickly moved down the field on its next possession, using Allen and RB James Cook to move down the field. Allen completed two of three passing attempts for 39 yards while Cook ran the ball four times for 29 yards. Cook scored his second rushing touchdown of the game with a 3-yard run, bringing Buffalo's lead to 20-10 with 2:23 left in the quarter.
The Browns had a chance to cut the lead to seven right before halftime with a 48-yard field goal. P Corey Bojorquez couldn't get a clean hold on the ball, however, and threw the ball out of bounds to end the half.
Browns and Bills trade opening-drive scores
Cleveland and Buffalo's offenses both started the game quickly, taking 13 plays combined to each score a touchdown.
Judkins was featured early, catching a pass for 6 yards on the first play from scrimmage and gaining 8 yards across his first two carries of the game. Sanders connected with Fannin, who kept his feet moving for a first down and an 11-yard gain. The reception was Fannin's 67th of the season and gave him sole possession of the Browns' rookie reception record. Four plays later, Sanders rolled out to the right and found Fannin for a 13-yard touchdown to give Cleveland the early 7-0 lead.
The Bills used the ground to gain yards, running on four of their five plays during their scoring drive. Allen showcased his scrambling ability on the first play, gaining 7 yards. Cook rushed for 23 yards on the next two plays and on the fifth play of the drive, broke through a hole for a 44-yard touchdown and tied the game at seven with 7:47 remaining in the opening quarter.
Game Highlights
The Browns generate a 21-yard gain with a trick play to WR Isaiah Bond.
QB Shedeur Sanders and fellow rookie TE Harold Fannin Jr. connect for a 13-yard touchdown to give the Browns a 7-0 lead.
RB Trayveon Williams gains 18 yards on a screen pass.
QB Shedeur Sanders escapes pressure and picks up the first down and a 16-yard gain.
QB Shedeur Sanders escapes the Bills' pass rush for a 13-yard gain.
Defensive ends Alex Wright and Myles Garrett pressure Josh Allen and force him to go down at his own 1-yard line.
TE Harold Fannin Jr. powers into the end zone for a 1-yard rushing touchdown.
RB Trayveon Williams picks up 26 yards on the screen pass from QB Shedeur Sanders.
Scoring Plays
BUF 0, CLE 7 | Harold Fannin Jr. 13-yard pass from Shedeur Sanders | 10:42 1Q
BUF 7, CLE 7 | James Cook 44-yard run | 7:47 1Q
BUF 13, CLE 7 | Ty Johnson 2-yard run (extra point missed) | 12:54 2Q
BUF 13, CLE 10 | Andre Szmyt makes 24-yard field goal | 5:38 2Q
BUF 20, CLE 10 | James Cook 3-yard run | 2:23 2Q
BUF 23, CLE 10 | Michael Badgley makes 41-yard field goal | 9:37 3Q
BUF 23, CLE 17 | Harold Fannin Jr. 1-yard run | 1:36 3Q
BUF 23, CLE 20 | Andre Szmyt makes 41-yard field goal | 8:46 4Q
What's Next
Following the loss to Buffalo, the Browns play their final home game of the season against the Steelers in Week 17.
