CLEVELAND — 11:25 p.m.-Browns fall to Rams, 20-13
The Cleveland Browns put up a valiant fight, but in the end, an inability to cover slot receiver Cooper Kupp and four straight incompletions inside the five-yard line in the waning seconds proved to be their undoing against the Los Angeles Rams in the Sunday Night Football matchup at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.
Kupp, in his third year out of Eastern Washington, caught 11 passes from quarterback Jared Goff, gained 102 yards on those receptions and scored two touchdowns in leading the Rams (3-0) to a 20-13 victory over the Browns (1-2).
Although the Browns defense forced two Goff interceptions, the offense sputtered for much of the game, totaling 270 yards compared to 346 from the Rams.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield completed 18 of his 35 attempts for 195 yards and one touchdown with one interception, and running back Nick Chubb accounted for 131 yards (96 rushing, 35 receiving) in the loss to the Rams.
The Browns will look to get back in the win column when they travel to Baltimore to play the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium next Sunday afternoon. The Rams will look to stay unbeaten when they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum next week.
11:00 p.m.-Zuerlein extends Rams’ lead
The Los Angeles Rams took advantage of an unnecessary roughness penalty from the Cleveland Browns midway through the fourth quarter of their Sunday Night Football game at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.
Kicker Greg Zuerlein capped off a nine-play, 28-yard drive with a 37-yard field goal, which gave the Rams a 20-13 lead over the Browns with 6:37 to play in regulation.
10:41 p.m.-Rams go back in front of Browns
The Los Angeles Rams answered the Cleveland Browns’ touchdown with one of their own, which gave the visiting team a four-point advantage in their Sunday Night Football matchup at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.
On third-and-goal from the Cleveland 11-yard line after a false start penalty, quarterback Jared Goff took the snap from center, surveyed the field and found wide receiver Cooper Kupp open on a drag route along the goal line for the touchdown.
It was Goff’s second touchdown pass of the game to Kupp.
Greg Zuerlein’s ensuing extra point after Kupp’s touchdown gave the Rams a 17-13 lead over the Browns with 12:48 to play in regulation.
10:19 p.m.-Demetrius Harris catches go-ahead TD pass
The Cleveland Browns saw the Los Angeles Rams’ touchdown and raised them one of their own to retake the lead late in the third quarter of their Sunday Night Football game at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.
After an illegal shift penalty on wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. took a Nick Chubb touchdown run off the scoreboard earlier in the drive, quarterback Baker Mayfield found veteran tight end Demetrius Harris open along the back line of the end zone for Cleveland’s first trip across the goal line in the game.
Following the touchdown, rookie kicker Austin Seibert finished off the 11-play, 75-yard drive that took more than six minutes off the clock by converting the extra point to give the Browns a 13-10 lead over the Rams with 4:37 to play in the third quarter.
10:04 p.m.-Rams take lead on Jared Goff TD pass
After a first half where neither team found the end zone, the Los Angeles Rams broke through on the first drive of the third quarter, which gave the visiting team a 10-6 lead over the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium.
On third-and-goal from the Cleveland 11-yard line, Rams quarterback Jared Goff threw a touchdown pass to wide receiver Cooper Kupp. Kicker Greg Zuerlein added the extra point to make it a four-point lead for the Rams with 10:40 to play in the third quarter.
Goff’s touchdown pass to Kupp capped off a 10-play, 75-yard drive that took more than four minutes off the second half clock.
9:50 p.m.-Browns induct former LB Clay Matthews into Ring of Honor
Former Cleveland Browns linebacker Clay Matthews has taken his rightful place among the greatest players in franchise history.
Already a member of the Browns Legends, Matthews was honored with induction into the “Ring of Honor” at FirstEnergy Stadium during the Sunday Night Football game against the Los Angeles Rams, for whom his son, Clay Matthews III, plays.
A first-round pick of the Browns in the 1978 NFL Draft, Matthews spent 16 years in Cleveland, where in 232 games, 216 of which were starts, he registered 76.5 quarterback sacks, 1,430 total tackles, 14 interceptions, 24 forced fumbles and 13 recoveries.
A four-time Pro Bowler in Cleveland, Matthews ranks first in Browns history with 76.5 sacks, games played and most consecutive seasons, as well as second in total years of service to the organization.
Despite playing a physical position where making violent collisions were commonplace, Matthews set a standard for the rest of the defense and proved remarkably durable over his 19-year career.
Overall, Matthews played in 278 games, making the start in 248 contests, and was on the field for 12 or more games in all but one season in his nearly 20-year NFL career.
Created by former team executive Mike Holmgren, the “Ring of Honor” has recognized the franchise’s 16 Hall of Famers (15 players, one coach), as well as former All-Pro left tackle Joe Thomas for his 10,363 consecutive snaps played streak, and now, Matthews.
When Matthews joined the “Ring of Honor,” he was supported by family, friends and former teammates, as well as a loyal legion of fans.
9:43 p.m.-Seibert gives Browns slim lead
Rookie kicker Austin Seibert converted a field goal attempt as the first half clock expired and gave the Cleveland Browns a 6-3 lead over the Los Angeles Rams heading into the intermission of their Sunday Night Football game at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.
Seibert’s 35-yard field goal conversion capped off a brief four-play drive set up by a forced turnover.
Defensive end Myles Garrett registered a strip sack of Rams quarterback Jared Goff, and linebacker Joe Schobert scooped up the loose ball and returned it 21 yards to set up the final score of the first half.
9:05 p.m.-Browns draw even with Rams
Rookie kicker Austin Seibert drew the Cleveland Browns even with the Los Angeles Rams early in the second quarter of their Sunday Night Football matchup at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.
Seibert converted a 23-yard field goal attempt and evened the score between the Browns and Rams at 3-3 with 11:41 to play in the first half.
Seibert’s kick capped off a 13-play, 70-yard drive that took more than seven minutes off the clock.
8:49 p.m.-Rams take lead on long Zuerlein FG
He is not known as “Greg the Leg” for nothing.
Los Angeles Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein has a penchant for making long field goals, and he did just that on the second drive of the game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland on NBC’s Sunday Night Football.
Zuerlein converted a 53-yard attempt and gave the Rams a 3-0 lead over the Browns with 4:06 to play in the first quarter.
Zuerlein’s field goal capped off an 11-play, 51-yard drive that took nearly five minutes off the first quarter clock.
8:30 p.m.-Browns off to sluggish start offensively
The Cleveland Browns’ first two drives against the Los Angeles Rams resulted in Jamie Gillan punts on Sunday Night Football at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield completed two of his first four pass attempts for 10 yards on the first two possessions, while running back Nick Chubb accounted for nine yards on three carries.
As a team, the Browns had 19 yards of total offense on the first two looks against the Rams’ defense.
6:50 p.m.-Greedy Williams among Browns inactives
The Cleveland Browns’ already depleted secondary got a little bit smaller heading into tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Browns announced that rookie cornerback Greedy Williams is one of seven inactive players, joining safety Damarious Randall and cornerback Denzel Ward on the list of athletes who will not be available for the game.
Additionally, the Browns will be without safety Morgan Burnett, offensive linemen Kendall Lamm and Chris Hubbard and wide receiver Rashard “Hollywood” Higgins when they take on the reigning NFC Champion Rams.
With Burnett and Williams joining Ward and Randall on the inactive list, the Browns will be without their entire starting secondary against a prolific passing offense led by quarterback Jared Goff, running back Todd Gurley and wide receivers Brandin Cooks, Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods.
With Hubbard out, the Browns likely will start Justin McCray at right tackle against a formidable Rams front.
Fellow offensive linemen Austin Corbett and Wyatt Teller are active for the first time this season.
5:45 p.m.-Browns return to Sunday prime-time stage
There is no rest for the weary in the National Football League, not at least for the Cleveland Browns.
Fresh off of their first Monday Night Football appearance in nearly four years, a 23-3 win over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium, the Browns returned home and immediately began preparations for their return to Sunday Night Football after an 11-year absence and what awaits is a game against the reigning NFC Champion Los Angeles Rams.
The Browns have not played on the NBC featured game of the week since the 2008 season, and in that prime time spotlight, history has not been good to Cleveland. The Browns are just 1-9 in their 10 appearances on Sunday Night Football with the lone win, a 33-13 road victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, coming on October 5, 2003.
Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield wants to help his teammates make more plays on game day, and he has an idea of how to do that.
As the Browns readied themselves for their return to Sunday Night Football, Mayfield was focused on doing what is necessary to get the ball to his playmakers quicker.
“Mechanics,” Mayfield said of what he goes back to in order to improve accuracy. “It goes back to getting the basics down, not getting ahead of my feet and making sure I am in the right place at the right time. Get my feet going and my eyes will follow.”
Mayfield completed 19 of his 35 attempts for 325 yards and one touchdown, an 89-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., against one interception at the Jets. Mayfield found Beckham Jr. with six passes for 161 yards and the touchdown.
“It falls back on me just playing better, getting the ball out and getting completions like I keep harping on,” Mayfield said. “Just trusting the system…Just trust and do my job.”