CLEVELAND — 10:50 p.m./ET-Browns close out preseason with win over Lions
The Cleveland Browns started slow offensively in the preseason finale against the Detroit Lions at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland Thursday night, but they found their rhythm in the second quarter and never looked back on the way to victory.
On the strength of quarterback Garrett Gilbert’s solid play in the second quarter and David Blough engineering a nine-play touchdown drive in the fourth period, the Browns earned a 20-16 victory over the Lions in front of the home fans.
The Browns finished the preseason with a 3-1 record, while the Lions fell to 0-4 in their exhibition games.
After reducing the roster from 90 to 53 players by 4 p.m./ET Saturday, the Browns will turn their focus to the regular season, which gets underway against the Tennessee Titans at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday, September 8.
10:11 p.m./ET-Trayone Gray rushes for Cleveland Browns TD
The Cleveland Browns were clinging to a one-point lead over the Detroit Lions early in the fourth quarter of the preseason finale at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland Thursday night, but rookie running back Trayone Gray gave them a bit of breathing room.
Gray capped off the Browns’ nine-play, 59-yard scoring drive, which took just over four minutes off the fourth-quarter clock, with a two-yard touchdown rush around left end, and the ensuing extra point from rookie kicker Austin Seibert gave Cleveland an eight-point cushion over the Lions, 17-9, with 9:20 to play in regulation.
Earlier in the drive, Gray caught a pass from backup quarterback David Blough for a 19-yard gain, and then, had a six-yard rush. After being stopped behind the line of scrimmage for a one-yard loss, Gray took a pitch out left and was untouched on his way into the end zone.
Along with the 19-yard throw to Gray, Blough completed passes of 15 and 16 yards respectively to wide receiver Ishmael Hyman to help the Browns move from their own 43-yard line to Detroit’s 26.
9:35 p.m./ET-Lions trim down Browns’ lead
The Detroit Lions leaned on their defense to force a turnover early in the second half, and then, the offense rewarded them with a touchdown drive against the Cleveland Browns in the third quarter of the preseason finale at FirstEnergy Stadium Thursday night.
After the defense got the ball to the Cleveland 31-yard line with an interception of the Browns’ David Blough, reserve quarterback Josh Johnson needed just four plays and one defensive penalty to move the ball across the goal line for the Lions.
On first-and-goal from the Cleveland one-yard line, Johnson took the shotgun snap and ran behind his right guard into the end zone for the touchdown.
The Lions added the extra point and cut the Browns’ lead down to a point, 10-9, with 8:32 to play in the third quarter.
On the play before the touchdown, Browns cornerback Robert Jackson was flagged for pass interference in the end zone, which moved the ball from the Cleveland 18-yard line to just shy of the goal line.
9:04 p.m./ET-Browns add onto lead with Gilbert TD pass
After struggling their way through much of the first half, the Cleveland Browns built a sustained drive and capped it off with a touchdown late in the second quarter of the preseason finale against the Detroit Lions at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland Thursday night.
On first-and-goal from the Detroit seven-yard line, Browns quarterback Garrett Gilbert took the snap in the shotgun formation and slipped a pass to running back Dontrell Hilliard in the left flat. After catching the pass, Hilliard turned his shoulders toward the line of scrimmage and hustled his way across the goal line for the touchdown.
Hillard’s touchdown reception, and the ensuing extra point from rookie kicker Austin Seibert, gave the Browns a 10-2 lead over the Lions with 21 seconds remaining in the first half.
The Browns took that eight-point edge into the locker room at halftime.
8:47 p.m./ET-Lions get on the board with safety
Well, if the offense is not going to score, the Detroit Lions’ defense figured they would take the lead in putting points on the board against the Cleveland Browns in the preseason finale at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland Thursday night.
On third-and-long from the inside the five-yard line, Browns quarterback Garrett Gilbert took the snap and swung a pass over to wide receiver Braxton Miller on the left side of the formation, but offensive lineman Travis Vornkahl was flagged for a hold in the end zone, which resulted in a safety.
The defensive score put the Lions on the board and cut the #Browns’ lead to 3-2 late in the second quarter.
It was not a good drive for Vornkahl, as he was flagged for a block in the back that negated a modest gain from Miller on a screen pass, then lost seven yards after catching a deflected pass, and finally, was flagged for the hold in the end zone.
8:31 p.m./ET-Browns take lead on Austin Seibert FG
After struggling to move the ball during the first quarter-plus against the Detroit Lions in the preseason finale at FirstEnergy Stadium Thursday night, the Cleveland Browns sustained a drive and set up a scoring play.
When the Browns’ drive stalled deep in Detroit territory, rookie kicker Austin Seibert answered the bell by converting a 36-yard field goal attempt to give Cleveland a 3-0 lead over the Lions with 8:59 to play in the first half.
Seibert made the kick with rookie punter Jamie Gillan holding the snap from Charley Hughlett.
The Browns’ drive covered 36 yards in eight plays, most of which came on the strength of runs from Dontrell Hilliard, who sprung a 22-yard gain to take the ball down to Detroit’s 18-yard line.
8:19 p.m./ET-Browns, Lions play scoreless first quarter
Neither the Cleveland Browns nor the Detroit Lions had much in the way of offensive success during the first quarter of the preseason finale at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland Thursday night.
With the defenses being stingy in allowing yards and down-the-field completions, the Browns and Lions were scoreless after the first quarter of play in the fourth preseason game.
Quarterback Garrett Gilbert got the start for the Browns, and over the first quarter, he completed seven of his 15 throws for 59 yards, good for a 57.4 quarterback rating. Wide receivers Rashard “Hollywood” Higgins and Braxton Miller led the receivers with 19 and 18 yards respectively on two catches each.
7:50 p.m./ET-Browns struggle on first two drives
It was slow going early for the Cleveland Browns’ offense against the Detroit Lions in the preseason finale at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland Thursday night.
The Browns (2-1) twice had to punt the ball away to the Lions (0-3), and the “Scottish Hammer,” Jamie Gillan, averaged 40.0 yards per kick in the early part of the first quarter.
As a team, the Browns gained just 30 yards on their first 10 plays and were one of three on third-down conversion attempts. However, the Browns’ defense has answered the bell while the offense continued to work on moving the ball down the field.
Defensive tackle Devaroe Lawrence started the game with a sack of Lions backup quarterback Tom Savage, seemingly getting into the backfield before the signal-caller could complete his drop-back, and then, on third down, drew a facemask penalty that helped spell the end of Detroit’s first drive.
6:30 p.m./ET-Browns play preseason finale against Lions
And then, there was one.
One final chance to impress as players and one more game to evaluate for the coaches and decision-makers around the National Football League.
After six weeks of practice and three exhibition games, the Cleveland Browns’ preseason has just one more act in it, and that is the preseason finale against the Detroit Lions at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland tonight.
The Great Lakes Classic or “The Battle for the Barge,” as it has become known because of the ship trophy awarded to the winners, will mark the final game before things count for real, as the 2019 regular-season opener against the Tennessee Titans at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday, September 8 is just 10 days away.
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Here are two storylines to watch for in tonight’s game.
Braxton Miller’s reps
Veteran wide receiver Braxton Miller was signed by the Browns on the eve of the final practice of training camp last week, but despite the late start, he is very much in the mix for a spot on the team.
Miller has one more chance to show what he can do for the team after getting a limited amount of repetitions in practice and the Browns’ third exhibition game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida last Friday night.
In two years with the Houston Texans, Miller caught 34 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns while playing in just 21 games. Additionally, there is the matter of Miller’s running abilities, as he registered 3,315 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns on 600 carries at Ohio State and twice rushed for more than 1,000 yards in a single season in college.
“I think he is picking up the offense,” Kitchens said. “That tells you a little bit about his learning ability. We will see if we can put him in some positions to make some plays Thursday night. He is doing well, though.”
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Greg Joseph’s chance
Rookie kicker Austin Seibert got his full-game audition against the Buccaneers, and now, it could be Joseph’s turn to make his case.
Joseph was signed in the early part of the 2018 season after Zane Gonzalez missed four kicks in a one-score loss at the New Orleans Saints in Week 2.
In 14 games with the Browns last season, Joseph converted 17 of his 20 field goal attempts (85 percent), with all three of his misses coming at distances over 40 yards. Also, Joseph made 25 of his 29 point-after tries (86.2 percent).
But Joseph may have to do better than that, as Seibert converted all four of his field goal attempts, including a 54-yarder, in Tampa Bay last week.