3:47 p.m.-BROWNS SWEEP BATTLE OF OHIO WITH WIN OVER BENGALS
For the first time since 2002, the Cleveland Browns have swept The Battle of Ohio against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Browns (7-7-1) completed the two-game sweep of the Bengals (6-9) with a 26-18 victory in the 2018 home finale at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland Sunday, and by doing so, gave themselves a chance at a winning season for the first time since 2007.
In addition to breaking a 16-year drought of two wins in the same season against the Bengals, the Browns finished the home portion of the schedule against AFC North Division opponents without a loss for the first time since returning to the NFL in 1999.
Rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield completed 27 of his 37 attempts for 284 yards and three touchdowns, while wide receiver Jarvis Landry set up one of those scoring passes with a 63-yard throw to Breshad Perriman.
In addition to the passing game, the Browns got a 112-yard showing on 19 carries from rookie rusher Nick Chubb.
PHOTOS | Cleveland Browns sweep Battle of Ohio with win over Cincinnati Bengals
3:04 p.m.-BENGALS GET FIELD GOAL, BROWNS STILL LEAD BY 20
The Cincinnati Bengals were not able to find openings to score points against the Cleveland Browns over the first 45 minutes of play, but they took advantage of one on the first play of the fourth quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.
Bengals kicker Randy Bullock capped off a 10-play, 36-yard drive with a 51-yard field goal, but the Browns still held a 23-3 lead over their in-state rivals with 14:55 to play in the fourth quarter of The Battle of Ohio.
2:49 p.m.-MAYFIELD THROWS 17-YARD TD PASS TO HIGGINS
Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield is having a game to remember against the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2018 home finale at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.
After throwing two first-half touchdowns, Mayfield capped off a nine-play, 87-yard drive with a 17-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Rashard “Hollywood” Higgins, which gave the Browns a 23-0 lead over the Bengals with 4:53 to play in the third quarter.
Facing a third-and-four from the Cincinnati 17-yard line, Mayfield stood strong in the pocket despite having to pump fake several times before throwing the ball, and then, side-armed a pass over the middle of the field to Higgins.
After securing the catch, Higgins utilized his speed to turn the corner on Cincinnati’s defense and raced toward the end zone. Higgins dove the final few yards and hit the goal line pylon, which gave him his fourth touchdown reception of the season.
With his latest catch, Higgins tied fellow wide receiver Antonio Callaway and tight end David Njoku for the most touchdown catches on the team this season.
1:58 p.m.-BROWNS ADD ONTO LEAD WITH MAYFIELD TD PASS TO DARREN FELLS
After a sluggish start to the game from both offenses, the Cleveland Browns found a rhythm during the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.
Rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield gave the Browns a two-score lead over the Bengals when he found tight end Darren Fells for a one-yard touchdown pass as the veteran pass catcher was heading toward the right sideline with a step on a defender.
Although the extra point hit off the right upright, the Browns maintained a 13-0 lead over the Bengals with 7:12 remaining in the first half.
While Mayfield got the credit for the touchdown pass, the drive covered 70 yards in just three plays in large part to wide receiver Jarvis Landry. On first-and-10 from the Cleveland 30-yard line, Landry took a double-reverse pitch from wide receiver Antonio Callaway and fired a 63-yard throw to Breshad Perriman.
Landry’s throw moved the Browns from their own 30-yard line to the Cincinnati seven.
1:44 p.m.-BROWNS TAKE LEAD ON NJOKU TD CATCH
Neither the Cleveland Browns nor the Cincinnati Bengals scored over the first 15 minutes of play at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, but the home team changed the look of the scoreboard early in the second period.
Rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield threw a three-yard touchdown pass to second-year tight end David Njoku, and the point-after from kicker Greg Joseph gave the Browns a 7-0 lead over the Bengals with 10:20 to play in the first half.
Mayfield’s 22nd touchdown pass of the season capped off a 13-play, 74-yard drive that took more than seven minutes off the clock.
On third-and-goal from the Cincinnati three-yard line, Mayfield took the shotgun snap and immediately looked left, where he found Njoku working against single coverage from Bengals safety Shawn Williams. Njoku used his 6-foot-4 frame to high-point the ball and haul in his fourth touchdown reception of the season.
Njoku is tied with rookie wide receiver Antonio Callaway for the most touchdown catches on the team this season.
Following the touchdown, Mayfield and wide receiver Rashard “Hollywood” Higgins joined Njoku in his “Chief Slam” celebration.
1:30 p.m.-Browns WR Jarvis Landry wore Grinch-themed cleats in pre-game warmups
The Cleveland Browns may have been eliminated from postseason contention with the Tennessee Titans’ win over Washington Saturday night, but that sure did not dampen the holiday spirits of the players in warm-ups.
Just two days before the Christmas holiday, Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry broke out Grinch-themed cleats during warmups prior to Sunday’s Battle of Ohio matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.
The base-white Nike cleats had green panels on the inside and outside of the shoe. The outside panels featured a portrait of The Grinch dressed in a Santa Claus suit with a wry, evil-like smile on his face.
In addition to the Grinch panels, the cleats have candy-cane coloring over the “NIKE” lettering on the heels of the shoes. Also, the laces had candy-cane coloring, and also, there were Christmas lights above the quarter panels.
The rim of the shoes and inside seam of the laces were lined with faux-fur trim, similar to that of what is on The Grinch’s Santa suit.
In just one hour, the Browns’ Instagram post received more than 17,000 likes.
Landry has been a Grinch to opposing defenses throughout the 2018 season, as he came into Sunday’s game with a team-leading 72 catches and 827 yards receiving and is among the Browns’ leaders with three receiving touchdowns and an 11.5 yards-per-reception average.
Additionally, Landry has rushed for 54 yards on just two carries with a 51-yard sprint and three-yard touchdown run coming in a 26-20 win over the Carolina Panthers at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 9.
In that same game against the Panthers, Landry caught a 51-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Baker Mayfield despite double coverage just inside the goal line.
11:45 a.m.-BROWNS EXPECT STERN TEST FROM BENGALS
If the Cleveland Browns want to finish with a 5-2-1 record at FirstEnergy Stadium this season, they must be ready to play a full 60-minute game against a Cincinnati Bengals team ready to respond after the first installment of “The Battle of Ohio” last month.
With the Bengals still smarting from the 35-20 loss on their home field at Paul Brown Stadium and Browns rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield essentially refusing to speak with his former coach, Cincinnati special assistant Hue Jackson, and later, calling him “fake” in a social-media response, there are no shortage of storylines between the in-state rivals heading into today’s game at FirstEnergy Stadium.
“It is alright,” Mayfield said earlier this week. “Football is an angry, violent game. If you play anything but pissed off, I do not think that you are doing it right.”
Offensive lineman Joel Bitonio added, “I know they are ready to play. I would be if I was in their position, too. It is going to be a new battle. It is going to be a new day. They are going to come in and try and do what we did to them. We are bringing our A game. We know they have some players that are ready to go.”
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