Dillon Gabriel was aided by a productive running game and defense in his first NFL start.
His experience also helped the Browns to convert on crucial third downs to get points in a 22-13 win against the Eagles on Saturday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
The Browns never trailed by more than four points and were down 13-12 going into halftime, but a shutout in the second half and a pick-six led to them winning the game.
Gabriel finished his debut with 143 passing yards, completing 72.2 percent of his passes. He was replaced by QB Tyler Huntley in the second half.
Key Moments
Dillon Gabriel's first NFL start
On Gabriel's first drive, he displayed composure in the pocket, converting on three third downs. He compiled 29 yards through the air on the drive that was capped off by two big runs. WR Gage Larvadain took an end-around for 16 yards and RB Ahmani Marshall punched the ball into the end zone for the first time in his career.
Gabriel continued his third-down conversion streak into his second drive. Facing second-and-15, he found WR Jamari Thrash for 11 yards and then found him again on third down for a 6-yard gain. A play later, WR Cedric Tillman caught a pass from Gabriel for 18 yards. Gabriel's next completion came two plays later, getting a first down with a 9-yard pass to WR Kaden Davis.
A play later, Eagles S Andrew Mukaba jumped a route and took Gabriel's pass for a touchdown.
On the next drive, Gabriel got back to it. He connected with Thrash for the third time in the game, this time for a 19-yard gain to get to midfield. A play after Marshall ran for 14 yards, he received the pass from Gabriel, gaining 5 yards. The drive ended in a 46-yard field goal from K Dustin Hopkins.
Gabriel's day ended with him getting to run the two-minute drill. Starting at the Cleveland 38-yard line, Gabriel completed two passes, one to Davis over the middle to get to the Eagles side of the field and then another to TE Brenden Bates for 13 yards that put the Browns in field goal range to end the half.
Ground and pound
The Browns had success running the ball against Philadelphia. In the game, the Browns had 29 carries for 132 yards, with RB Pierre Strong Jr. leading the charge with 89 yards. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Strong was able to break a run to the right side down the sideline for 54 yards, getting to the Eagles 18-yard line.
A week after Marshall led the team in rushing yards in the first preseason game, he scored his first touchdown of his NFL career on the Browns first drive, going up the middle for 4 yards. Larvadain had his second rush in two weeks on another end-around play. He took the handoff for 16 yards, bringing his rushing total in the preseason to 20 yards on two attempts.
Pressuring the offense
The defense didn't allow the Eagles to get comfortable across the entirety of the game. Out of the Eagles' 10 drives in the game, the Browns allowed only two to go for more than 14 yards.
Cleveland allowed 88 total yards in the game, 55 passing and 33 rushing, allowing an average gain of 2 yards per play.
During the Eagles first possession, the Browns defense brought pressure on QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, making him try and force a pass, which was tipped up and fell to the ground. They brought pressure on the very next play as well and forced an incompletion.
The pressure from the defensive line paid off on the Eagles first drive of the second half with Thompson-Robinson still in the game. Faced with men in his face, he again tried to force a pass that got tipped up, getting picked by DE K.J. Henry. Henry had room to run after catching the deflected ball, running 45 yards to score a touchdown, putting the Browns up 19-13.
QB Kyle McCord had the sole offensive touchdown for the Eagles, a 9-yard pass, but overall was 3-for-7 on the day, passing for 24 yards.
Game Highlights
Dillon Gabriel's first NFL pass helps the Browns convert on third down.
Gage Larvadain takes the end-around for a 16-yard gain.
Ahmani Marshall runs up the middle for a 4-yard touchdown, the first of his NFL career.
Dillon Gabriel passes to Cedric Tillman for 18 yards on the play-action pass.
Dillon Gabriel connects with Jamari Thrash for a 19-yard gain on third down.
Ahmani Marshall converts on third down with a 14-yard run.
Dustin Hopkins nails the 46-yard field goal to give the Browns a 9-7 lead.
Isaiah McGuire sacks Dorian Thompson-Robinson on third down, forcing Philadelphia to punt the ball.
Kaden Davis catches and runs for a 29-yard gain to put the Browns in Philadelphia territory.
Andre Szmyt nails a 49-yard field goal before halftime to put the Browns within one.
K.J. Henry returns the deflected Dorian Thompson-Robinson pass for a touchdown.
Pierre Strong Jr. runs for 54 yards to start the fourth quarter strong for the Browns.
Browns defense forces ShunDerrick Powell out of bounds on third down.
Tyler Huntley finds Gage Larvadain for a 25-yard gain on third down to keep the drive alive.
Andre Szmyt converts on his second field goal of the game to put the Browns up two possessions.
Scoring Plays
CLE 6, PHI 0 | Ahmani Marshall 4-yard touchdown run (Corey Bojorquez pass is incomplete) | 6:55 1Q
CLE 6, PHI 7 | Andrew Mukuba 75-yard interception return for touchdown | 14:44 2Q
CLE 9, PHI 7 | Dustin Hopkins 46-yard field goal is good | 9:13 2Q
CLE 9, PHI 13 | Kyle McCord 9-yard touchdown pass to Ainias Smith (Montrell Johnson Jr. run failed) | 1:57 2Q
CLE 12, PHI 13 | Andre Szmyt 49-yard field goal is good | 0:00 2Q
CLE 19, PHI 13 | KJ Henry 45-yard interception return for touchdown | 10:59 3Q
CLE 22, PHI 13 | Andre Szmyt 33-yard field goal is good | 6:59 4Q
What's Next
After winning on Saturday, the Browns return to Cleveland for their final preseason game, and first home game of the season, against the Rams at Huntington Bank Field on Saturday, Aug. 23 at 1 p.m.
