CLEVELAND — It was a valiant effort, but it was just a little bit short.
The COVID-ravaged Browns lost a heartbreaking game to the Las Vegas Raiders 16-14 Monday evening. Third-string quarterback Nick Mullens found Harrison Bryan for a go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter, but Daniel Carlson made a 48-yard field goal as time expired.
Cleveland was without 18 players on its active roster due to positive coronavirus cases, forcing the NFL to push the game back from its original Saturday kickoff date. Though the team was able to get some guys back during the time off, several key pieces — Baker Mayfield, Jarvis Landry, Jedrick Wills Jr., and Jadeveon Clowney among them — were still missing, and their absence was apparent at key points throughout the night.
The Browns could barely move the ball offensively in the first half, while Raiders QB Derek Carr seemed at ease, finding Bryan Edwards for an early score. When Cleveland finally got things going just before halftime, its drive ended with a missed field goal by the struggling Chase McLaughlin, and Vegas maintained a 10-0 lead.
But after the break, things seemed to change, especially after Myles Garrett and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramuah forced a Carr fumble. The Browns parlayed that takeaway into seven points when Nick Chubb — who finished with 91 yards on the ground — scampered in for a 4-yard touchdown.
The Raiders extended their lead to six early in the fourth, only for Mullins to lead Cleveland on a methodical drive that culminated in his 6-yard TD toss to Bryant following a scramble on fourth-and-5. The 27-year-old finished with 147 yards and a solid passer rating of 89.2, and after Carr was intercepted by Greedy Williams on Vegas' next series, it looked like the Browns would escape with an improbable victory.
But they couldn't pick up the one first down they needed, with Chubb only gaining seven yards on three straight carries. With no timeouts and against a Cleveland secondary that was without two starters, Carr overcame an untimely holding penalty on his offensive line to complete two big passes to Zay Jones and get the Raiders into field goal range. After being iced by a timeout on his first attempt, the reliable Carlson was straight-on with his second, and Vegas celebrated a thrilling finish.
The Raiders out-gained the Browns 328-236, with Carr passing for 236 of that despite having to leave the game at one point with a leg injury. Cleveland had the advantage in penalties and turnover margin, but could not overcome the sluggish start by its offense.
With a win, the Browns would've taken over first place in the AFC North on tiebreakers. Instead, they fall to 7-7, with their playoff hopes now on life support after many analysts had them pegged as a Super Bowl contender before the season began.
Things are about to get even harder, as following an unintended short week the Browns will head to Wisconsin to play Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers on Christmas Day. Cleveland has lost six of its last seven at Lambeau Field since 1964, and is expected to be a decisive underdog.
What follows is a comprehensive, drive-by-drive recap of tonight's action, with the most recent plays and updates closest to the top. Stay tuned for analysis all evening long on both 3News and WKYC.com.
4TH QUARTER
0:00 - Raiders 16, Browns 14: Derek Carr makes some clutch throws to Zay Jones and Daniel Carlson nails a 48-yard field goal to give the Raiders a thrilling last-second win.
1:50: Nick Chubb runs it three times, but the Browns fail to get a first down. Dustin Colquitt punts it 43 yards to the Raiders 29, and Derek Carr will have one last chance to get his team in field goal range with no timeouts.
2:47: Could it be a dagger?
Derek Carr goes deep for Zay Jones, but his pass is intercepted by Greedy Williams. The Browns suddenly have the ball back at their own 23 and will try to burn some time off the clock.
3:45 - Browns 14, Raiders 13: What. A. Drive.
Nick Mullins helps lead the Browns downfield and Nick Chubb appears to score an 11-yard touchdown, but it's called back by a holding penalty. But four plays later, on fourth-and-5, Mullins desperately scrambles in the pocket before finally finding a wide-open Harrison Bryant for a 6-yard score. For the first time, the Browns have the lead.
12:07: Myles Garrett looks hobbled but returns to the field, and he and the defensive line help the Browns force a big three-and-out by the Raiders. A.J. Cole's punt sails 45 yards before Donovan Peoples-Jones makes the fair catch at his own 20.
13:55: The Browns suffer exactly what they didn't need: another three-and-out. Dustin Colquitt's punt is again muffed by Hunter Renfrow, who smothers it at the Raiders 31.
14:46 - Raiders 13, Browns 7: A 10-play drive ends with Derek Carr throwing the ball away on third down. Daniel Carlson converts a 40-yard field goal to extend Vegas' lead, but Cleveland is still a touchdown away from potentially pulling ahead.
Some bad news for the Browns, however, as Takkarist McKinley had to be carted off after hurting his ankle and will not return. Myles Garrett also limped to the sidelines after Carr's incompletion and went to the injury tent.
3RD QUARTER
4:33 - Raiders 10, Browns 7: Cleveland finally unleashes its thoroughbred, as Nick Chubb busts loose for 24 yards to set up a first-and-goal.
After a great David Njoku catch is ruled out of bounds, Chubb decides to finish the job himself with a 4-yard touchdown, and the Browns are back in it.
7:13: The Raiders appear to grab momentum for good after picking up a first down on a fake punt, but three plays later, Derek Carr is sacked by Myles Garrett and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and the ball pops loose. Porter Gustin recovers it, and the Browns have life at the Vegas 47.
Carr was shaken up on the play, but walked off the field under his own power.
12:02: Yet another Browns three-and-out (with a pass completed to Donovan Peoples-Jones short of the line to gain) brings out Dustin Colquitt for his fifth punt of the evening. It goes just 37 yards and squirts out of bounds at the Raiders 25.
Another note for Cleveland: With the offensive line in shambles, Pro Bowl left guard Joel Bitonio has moved over to left tackle, with Michael Dunn to his right.
13:10: A dropped pass by a wide-open DeSean Jackson leads to the Raiders' first three-and-out of the game. A.J. Cole's punt bounces out of bounds at the Browns 31.
2ND QUARTER
0:00: The Browns finally get a few first downs and give themselves a chance to score, but Chase McLaughlin's 47-yard field goal attempt sails wide right. We head into halftime with the Raiders in control.
0:56 - Raiders 10, Browns 0: Vegas again eats up clock and moves down the field before Derek Carr is stuffed by Jovante Moffatt on a third-and-goal run. The series still ends with a 24-yard Daniel Carlson field goal to make it a two-possession game.
6:14: Another Donovan Peoples-Jones drop in coverage and another third-down throw behind the sticks leads to yet another Dustin Colquitt punt. Hunter Renfrow muffs the ball, but falls on it at his own 39.
7:49: A quick first down does no damage, and a split sack of Derek Carr by Tommy Togiai and Joe Jackson helps force another A.J. Cole punt. He's able to pin the Browns back at their own 8-yard line.
10:32: Nick Chubb can't find any running room and the Browns go three-and-out again. Dustin Colquitt's third straight punt is fair-caught by Hunter Renfrow at the Raiders 14.
12:37: After a controversial pass interference flag puts the Raiders in Browns territory, a Bryan Edwards fumble results in an 11-yard loss that winds up forcing an A.J. Cole punt. Donovan Peoples-Jones returns it 20 yards to his own 34.
1ST QUARTER
0:46: Donovan Peoples-Jones gets open, but drops a long Nick Mullens pass, and it eventually leads to another Dustin Colquitt punt. This time, it takes a favorable bounce and rolls out of bounds to pin the Raiders at their own 4.
3:41 - Raiders 7, Browns 0: Derek Carr goes a perfect 8 for 8 on an 11-play drive, capping things off with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Bryan Edwards on a fade route.
10:53: Following a quick first down, the Browns commit a delay of game penalty before the offensive line crumbles on back-to-back running plays that result in a combined loss of nine yards. Dustin Colquitt (in for the ill Jamie Gillan) comes out to punt, but Hunter Renfrow returns his kick 29 yards to the Raiders 42.
PREGAME
4:18 p.m.: In some good news, the Pro Bowl rosters were announced today, and Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller, Myles Garrett, Nick Chubb, and Denzel Ward have all made it for the Browns. It's the most Pro Bowlers the team has had since 2013.
4 p.m.: One last time, here is the full list of Browns players currently on the reserve/COVID-19 list:
- QB Baker Mayfield
- QB Case Keenum
- RB Kareem Hunt (would've been out anyway with injury)
- WR Jarvis Landry
- TE Austin Hooper
- OT James Hudson III
- OT Jedrick Wills Jr.
- DE Jadeveon Clowney
- DE Ifeadi Odenigbo
- DT Malik McDowell
- LB Mack Wilson Sr.
- LB Tony Fields II
- LB Jacob Phillips
- CB A.J. Green
- CB Troy Hill
- S Grant Delpit
- S Ronnie Harrison Jr.
- P Jamie Gillan
In addition, corner Greg Newsome II will miss his second straight game with a concussion, meaning Greedy Williams will start in his place. David Njoku, Wyatt Teller, Takkarist McKinley, Anthony Walker Jr., and John Johnson III were all activated from the COVID list this week, and wide receiver Anthony Schwartz and tight end Harrison Bryant are also back after missing last week's game with injuries.
This morning, Cleveland also activated the following players from the practice squad as allowed replacements under the NFL's health protocols:
- RB John Kelly
- OG Hjalte Froholdt
- DE Joe Jackson
- CB Brian Allen
- CB Herb Miller
- S Jovante Moffatt
- S Tedric Thompson
As for the Raiders, tight end Darren Waller, linebacker Denzel Perryman, and cornerback Trayvon Mullen Jr. are all inactive with various ailments. Just before kickoff, we also learned linebacker Will Compton will miss the game following the sudden death of his mother.