CLEVELAND — The Browns did not look like world beaters on this Thursday night. They didn't need to.
All they needed to do was take care of business and make it out of FirstEnergy Stadium in one piece. They did that with ease (mostly), beating the Denver Broncos 17-14 on "Thursday Night Football."
The unquestioned star of the evening was D'Ernest Johnson, who filled in for both Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt at running back to tally 146 yards and a touchdown. Backup quarterback Case Keenum also did a nice job in place of Baker Mayfield, completing 21 of 33 passes for 199 yards and a score.
Cleveland came into the game with a laundry list of injuries and on short rest after getting beaten up in a loss to the Arizona Cardinals, but managed to keep things simple and steady on offense to control the pace of the game. Jarvis Landry provided a big boost with five catches for 37 yards before appearing to aggravate his injured right knee on the last drive (he later returned for the final few plays).
The Browns' often inconsistent defense bent at times — including allowing a fourth-quarter touchdown to cut the deficit to three — but never broke, surrendering just 223 total yards. Myles Garrett had 1 1/2 more sacks to tie Michael Dean Perry for second on the franchise's official list (since 1982; tied for sixth unofficially), and safety John Johnson III hauled in his first career interception.
Broncos QB Teddy Bridgewater played on an injured leg, but still threw for 187 yards and two touchdowns. However, Denver's running game was virtually nonexistent in its fourth straight loss (3-4), with Javonte Williams, Melvin Gordon III, and Bridgewater combining for only 41 yards on 14 carries (2.9 yards per attempt).
At 4-3, the Browns are back over .500 and have snapped their first two-game losing streak under head coach Kevin Stefanski. They'll have an extended period of rest (and boy, do they deserve it) before welcoming the hated Pittsburgh Steelers to FirstEnergy Stadium on Halloween. It will be the first meeting between the two bitter rivals since last season's AFC wild card round, when Cleveland prevailed 48-37 at Heinz Field.
What follows is a comprehensive, drive-by-drive live blog of tonight's action, with the most recent plays and updates closest to the top. Stay tuned for more analysis throughout the evening on both 3News and WKYC.com.
4TH QUARTER
0:00: The Browns get the ball back and simply run out the clock, with D'Ernest Johnson putting the finishing touches on a stellar performance with a game-clinching third down run late.
5:17 - Browns 17, Broncos 14: Denver caps a 17-play drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Teddy Bridgewater to Javonte Williams on third-and-goal.
11:25: Case Keenum appears to hit Jarvis Landry for a first down, but upon further review the pass is ruled incomplete. Jamie Gillan is forced to punt, and after an illegal formation penalty the Broncos will start at their own 18.
14:27: Cleveland gets an important stop as Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney team up to sack Teddy Bridgewater on third down (even though Garrett was being held on the play). Sam Martin's punt rolls 50 yards to the Browns 22.
3RD QUARTER
0:27 - Browns 17, Broncos 7: Odell Beckham Jr. returns to catch two passes as Case Keenum leads the Browns on a long drive of their own. The veteran QB manages to run for a first down on a fourth-and-3 from the Denver 6 before hitting a wide-open Johnny Stanton for a 1-yard touchdown.
Also a big update: Von Miller appears to be done for the night with an ankle injury.
7:48 - Browns 10, Broncos 7: The Broncos start the second half the way the Browns started the game: with a long touchdown drive. This one was more methodical and ate up almost half the third quarter, but ends with an 8-yard touchdown pass from Teddy Bridgewater to Melvin Gordon III.
2ND QUARTER
0:00: Any chances of a Denver drive are stymied by an offensive pass interference flag against Courtland Sutton, and we head into halftime with the Browns leading 10-0.
0:23: The Browns only gain two yards and are forced to punt, but Jamie Gillan boots it 64 yards to flip the field. Diontae Spencer returns it to the Broncos 30.
On the injury front, Von Miller limped off the field with a leg injury, while Odell Beckham Jr. is in the medical tent after landing on his already hurt right shoulder while diving for the ball.
1:02: The blocked kick does no damage as the Browns again force a Denver three-and-out, aided by Grant Delpits pressure of Teddy Bridgewater on third down. Demetric Felton fair-catches Sam Martin's punt at the Cleveland 20 to give his team a shot to add to the lead.
1:50: The Browns burn almost seven minutes off the clock but stall at the Denver 23 after Odell Beckham Jr. falls down on a route. Even worse, Chase McLaughlin misses his first field goal of the year after his kick is blocked by Shelby Harris, and the Broncos take over at their own 31 hoping to cut into the deficit before halftime.
8:37: Cleveland's D comes up big again with another three-and-out. Sam Martin bangs his punt 59 yards and Demetric Felton returns it to the Browns 31.
10:52: Odell Beckham Jr.'s third drop in as many games followed by a deep Case Keenum incompletion leads to a Jamie Gillan punt. Diontae Spencer attempts to return it, but is stuffed at his own 13-yard line by a slew of Browns players.
14:53: The Browns' defense comes through in the clutch as John Johnson III picks off Teddy Bridgewater's pass in the end zone for his first interception of the year. The Broncos fail to capitalize after driving into field goal range.
1ST QUARTER
3:09 - Browns 10, Broncos 0: Chase McLaughlin remains perfect on the season as his 52-yard field goal sails through the wind and the uprights to extend Cleveland's lead. The kick was partially set up by an impressive juggling catch by Jarvis Landry.
10:13: After weeks of criticism, the much-maligned Browns defense gets off to a solid start with a three-and-out, complete with Anthony Walker Jr. stopping Noah Fant with clean tackle. Demetric Felton returns Sam Martin's ensuing punt to the Cleveland 23.
12:20 - Browns 7, Broncos 0: Cleveland's opening drive could not have gone better.
A 34-yard catch-and-run by Austin Hooper sets up D'Ernest Johnson, who picks up 34 yards himself on three plays before finding the end zone. It took just five plays for the Browns to go the length of the field.
PREGAME
8:16 p.m.: An immaculate entrance for the Browns as the fans go wild.
7 p.m.: Besides Keenum being in at QB, D'Ernest Johnson will start at running back while Blake Hance will fill in a right tackle for the injured All-Pro Jack Conklin. This will also be the Browns' first game without linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who was placed on injured reserve with an ankle issue.
The following Cleveland players will also be inactive tonight:
- CB A.J. Green
- DT Tommy Togiai
- DE Ifeadi Odenigbo
- OG Hjalte Froholdt
We've also learned that wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones, who had two touchdowns last week, is questionable after injuring his groin in warmups.
6 p.m.: The Muni Lot opened at noon, and despite the rain, tailgaters were ready to party. 3News' Will Ujek reported live from the traditional hub of fandom.