The Browns fell to the Saints, 23-22, on the road in overtime to move to 5-4. The loss marks the first time this season the Browns have dropped two consecutive games.
QB Shedeur Sanders, who earned the start after QB Deshaun Watson was ruled inactive after going through concussion protocol, finished the game 19 for 31 with 297 yards and two touchdowns. Both teams struggled to find the end zone across the first three quarters, but a back-and-forth fourth quarter with multiple touchdowns created a tight game late in the fourth quarter.
After the Saints led a touchdown drive with less than a minute remaining, K Andre Szmyt converted on a 51-yard field goal towards the end of regulation to send the game to overtime. In overtime, the Saints led an 11-play, 74-yard drive resulting in a 15-yard touchdown reception from TE Juwan Johnson. On the Browns' drive, TE Harold Fannin Jr. scored on a 39-yard touchdown reception, but Cleveland failed to convert on the 2-point conversion to end the game.
Key Moments
Saints prevail in overtime
New Orleans received the ball first in overtime after the Browns deferred the coin toss. They capitalized, marching 74 net yards on 11 plays, as QB Tyler Shough found Johnson in the corner of the end zone from 15 yards out.
On Cleveland's overtime drive, Sanders connected with Fannin, who bulldozed his way to the end zone from 39 yards out. The Browns opted to go for the two-point conversion but were unable to convert after WR Denzel Boston could not come up with the catch in the end zone and T Tytus Howard was called for a holding penalty.
K Andre Szmyt ties game with late field goal
The Browns took the field with under a minute remaining in the fourth quarter, needing a field goal to tie the game. Once again, with their backs against the wall, they delivered with a late fourth quarter scoring drive.
Sanders found a familiar late-game target in WR Jerry Jeudy for a 30-yard gain to the Saints' 40-yard line. The Sanders and Jeudy connection came through again on the following play for a 7-yard gain to put the Browns into field goal range. Two plays later, Szmyt connected on a 51-yard field goal to send the game to overtime.
New Orleans strikes back with late fourth-quarter touchdown drive
Shough orchestrated a 6-play, 55-yard touchdown drive to give the Saints the lead with under a minute remaining.
Shough connected with WR Chris Olave for a 33-yard pickup to the Browns' 10-yard line. Two plays later, RB Audric Estime, who signed with the Saints after being waived from this Browns, found the end zone from two yards out to give New Orleans the lead late. After there were no touchdowns over the first three-and-a-half quarters, both teams found the end zone over midway into the fourth quarter.
KC Concepcion Jr. finds the end zone on deep pass to give Browns the lead
WR KC Concepcion Jr. picked up the first touchdown of his career, finding the end zone from 64 yards out over midway through the fourth quarter. Sanders connected with Concepcion deep down the left sideline, who rerouted across the field for the Browns' first touchdown of the game. Concepcion finished the game with four catches for 85 yards and the touchdown.
Browns' defense stands tall in first half to keep Saints out of end zone
The Browns kept the Saints out of the end zone in the first half on the back of two key red zone stops and timely defensive plays. The performance marked the third time this season that the Browns haven't allowed a touchdown in either of the first two quarters, joining Week 2 against the Buccaneers and Week 3 against the Panthers.
After the Saints marched the ball to the Browns' 9-yard line in the first quarter, LB Carson Schwesinger swarmed Shough for a sack on third-and-8 to force New Orleans to settle for a field goal. Embodying the Browns' ball is oxygen motto, Schwesinger made another key play around midway through the second quarter, forcing a fumble when Saints' WR Jordyn Tyson stretched the ball just yards from the goal line. CB Tyson Campbell jumped on the loose ball to keep the Saints out of the end zone on their second red zone trip of the first half.
Offense struggles to move the ball in first half
The Browns recorded just 80 total net yards in the first half and punted on three of their five possessions. They were held to just one field goal entering halftime as Sanders was 5 for 8 with 38 passing yards while the Browns ran the ball 20 times for 55 yards.
Their best chance came courtesy of a forced fumble on special teams, where DT Adin Huntington forced the ball loose from Saints' WR/RS Barion Brown, which was scooped up by S Donovan McMillon. On fourth-and-goal from the Saints' 1-yard line during the ensuing drive, Sanders bumped into G Austin Barber which threw off the timing on the handoff to RB Quinshon Judkins, who was stuffed short of the end zone to keep the game tied.
Video Highlights
LB Carson Schwesinger sacks QB Tyler Shough on third down to force a Saints field goal attempt.
DT Mike Hall Jr. records the Browns' second sack of the game.
K Andre Szmyt puts the Browns on the board with 41-yard field goal.
LB Carson Schwesinger forces fumble in the red zone to keep Saints out of the end zone.
DT Adin Huntington forces the Browns' second fumble of the game after Saints' WR/RS Barion Brown attempted to dance around on the punt return.
WR Denzel Boston makes leaping catch for 60-yard gain.
QB Shedeur Sanders scrambles for 11 yards to pick up the first down.
K Andre Szmyt connects on his second field goal of the game to give the Browns the lead.
Scoring Plays
CLE 0, NO 3 | K Charlie Smyth converts 30-yard field goal | 7:20 Q1
CLE 3, NO 3 | K Andre Szmyt makes 41-yard field goal | 10:30 Q2
CLE 6, NO 3 | K Andre Szmyt converts 30-yard field goal | 9:01 Q3
CLE 6, NO 6 | K Charlie Smyth makes 27-yard field goal | 2:26 Q3
CLE 6, NO 9 | K Charlie Smyth converts 48-yard field goal | 5:38 Q4
CLE 13, NO 9 | WR KC Concepcion Jr. 64-yard touchdown reception | 5:21 Q4
CLE 13, NO 16 | RB Audric Estime 2-yard touchdown run | 0:58 Q4
CLE 16, NO 16 | K Andre Szmyt converts 51-yard field goal | 0:08 Q4
CLE 16, NO 23 | TE Juwan Johnson 15-yard touchdown reception | 4:17 OT
CLE 22, NO 23 | TE Harold Fannin Jr. 39-yard touchdown reception. No good on 2-point conversion | 1:00 OT
What's Next
The Browns will host the Texans at Huntington Bank Field on Nov. 15 at 1 p.m.
