3:58 p.m.-CLEVELAND BROWNS SUFFER HEARTBREAKING LOSS TO NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
The long wait for a victory continues for the Cleveland Browns.
After leading for much of the day, the Browns surrendered back-to-back touchdown drives to quarterback Drew Brees and a late 44-yard field goal too kicker Wil Lutz, all of which led to a 21-18 loss to the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome Sunday.
The Browns trotted out kicker Zane Gonzalez for a potential game-tying field goal attempt with eight seconds left in regulation, but after three missed kicks wide left earlier in the game, the second-year specialist pushed the try wide right.
PHOTOS | Cleveland Browns face New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome
3:45 p.m.-TYROD TAYLOR THROWS GAME-TYING TOUCHDOWN
Needing a touchdown to tie the game late in the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Saints, the Cleveland Browns faced a fourth-and-five from their opponent’s 47-yard line and quarterback Tyrod Taylor trusted both his arm strength and the speed of rookie wide receiver Antonio Callaway.
Taylor aired out a throw over the middle of the field and found Callaway behind the coverage of a New Orleans defensive back in stride in the middle of the end zone for the touchdown.
The celebration was muted when kicker Zane Gonzalez missed his second extra point try and third kick of the day, which left the game tied at 18 with 1:16 to play in regulation.
3:35 p.m.-DREW BREES THROWS GO-AHEAD TOUCHDOWN AGAINST BROWNS
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has plenty of faith in wide receiver Michael Thomas, and he went to the talented pass catcher in the final minutes of the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
On first-and-goal from Cleveland’s five-yard line, Brees took the snap and lofted a fade pass to Thomas in the right back corner of the end zone. With enough space from rookie cornerback Denzel Ward, Thomas secured the catch, got both feet down in bounds and scored the go-ahead touchdown.
A two-point conversion run from Alvin Kamara gave the Saints an 18-12 lead over the Browns with just over two minutes remaining in overtime.
After not being able to reach the end zone in the first three quarters, the Saints got back-to-back touchdown drives in less than seven minutes to surge ahead of the Browns.
3:15 p.m.-BREES THROWS TD PASS TO THOMAS
The New Orleans Saints could not find their way into the end zone over the first 45 minutes of the game, but veteran quarterback Drew Brees took care of that early in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
On second-and-goal from the Cleveland two-yard line, Brees took the snap from center and fired a short pass to the left side of the formation for wide receiver Michael Thomas, who broke through a tackle attempt and got the ball across the goal line for the touchdown.
Kicker Wil Lutz added the point-after touchdown and helped draw the Saints to within two points of the Browns, 12-10, with more than eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
Earlier in the drive, the Browns looked as though they had done enough to get off of the field when defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi registered his third sack of the game on third down, but defensive back Derrick Kindred was flagged for illegal contact.
The penalty gave the Saints an automatic first down, and six plays later, New Orleans got into the end zone.
2:47 p.m.-BROWNS EXTEND LEAD ON HYDE’S RUSHING TOUCHDOWN
The Cleveland Browns were unable to finish off a scoring drive in the end zone in the first half against the New Orleans Saints, but they solved that problem on their first possession of the third quarter at Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
On third-and-goal from the New Orleans one-yard line, Hyde rushed around left end, dove for the end zone and extended the ball enough to hit the pylon and break the plane of the goal line for his second touchdown of the season.
Hyde’s rushing touchdown gave the Browns a 12-3 lead over the Saints, where the score stayed put after kicker Zane Gonzalez missed the ensuing extra point try.
On third-and-goal from the one, quarterback Tyrod Taylor took the snap from under center JC Tretter, faked a reverse handoff to wide receiver Antonio Callaway and fired out a pitch to Hyde, who was running to the left side of the field.
Hyde caught the ball near the 10-yard line and turned the corner on New Orleans’ defense despite heavy pursuit from linebacker Manti Te’o. Then, Hyde threw a stiff-arm to shove away Te’o and outhustled the Saints’ defenders to the end zone.
Hyde capped off a 12-play, 79-yard scoring drive that took nearly six-and-a-half minutes off of the third-quarter clock.
2:09 p.m.-BROWNS TAKE 6-3 LEAD OVER SAINTS
The Cleveland Browns got a second 39-yard field goal from kicker Zane Gonzalez, and that gave them a 6-3 lead over the New Orleans Saints with 1:55 remaining in the first half at Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
Gonzalez’s kick capped off a seven-play, 45-yard drive that started at the Browns’ 34-yard line and stalled at the New Orleans 21.
Quarterback Tyrod Taylor completed all five of his passes on the drive, starting with a nine-yard completion to tight end Darren Fells, and then, back-to-back throws of 14 and 22 yards, respectively, to wide receiver Jarvis Landry.
After a three-yard loss on a swing pass to wide receiver Rashard Higgins, the Browns got back the lost yardage on a run from Carlos Hyde. Taylor’s pass to tight end David Njoku on third-and-10 went for no gain and brought on the field goal attempt.
1:27 p.m.-SAINTS DRAW EVEN WITH BROWNS
The New Orleans Saints had a response drive and drew even with the Cleveland Browns on a 30-yard field goal from kicker Wil Lutz with 2:47 to play in the first quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
Quarterback Drew Brees engineered an 11-play, 63-yard drive that moved all the way to Cleveland’s two-yard line, but a holding penalty on third-and-goal took a touchdown run from Alvin Kamara off of the scoreboard.
Earlier in the drive, Brees had Benjamin Watson open over the middle of the field, but the pass tipped off of the veteran tight end’s right hand and fell incomplete.
1:14 p.m.-BROWNS TAKE 3-0 LEAD OVER SAINTS
The Cleveland Browns generated their seventh turnover of the season and turned a fumble recovery into a 39-yard field goal from Zane Gonzalez and 3-0 lead over the New Orleans Saints with 8:29 to play in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
After taking possession of the ball in Saints territory, the Browns utilized the running game to move the ball down the field, as wide receiver Antonio Callaway scampered down the field for a gain of 15 yards that took the offense from the New Orleans 39-yard line down to the 24.
Three plays later, Gonzalez buried the field goal attempt.
The Browns’ opportunistic defense forced a Saints turnover on a third-and-two play.
After catching a pass from quarterback Drew Brees on the left side of the field, wide receiver Michael Thomas attempted to turn upfield, but cornerback Terrance Mitchell knocked loose the football and safety Damarious Randall recovered right before sliding out of bounds.
12:00 p.m.-BROWNS LOOK FOR FIRST WIN OF SEASON IN NEW ORLEANS
CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Browns have taken the show on the road and will look for their first victory of the 2018 regular season, but it will take a consistent, four-quarter effort, as they are set to face the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome this afternoon.
Both teams are looking for their first victories of the regular season, as the Browns tied the Pittsburgh Steelers, 21-21, at FirstEnergy Stadium while the Saints suffered a 48-40 setback at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Sunday.
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