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The Browns traveled to Cincinnati today and dropped a tough one to the Bengals 23-10 as Cleveland simply couldn’t score. Deshaun Watson was much improved as he went 26 of 42 for 276 yards with a touchdown and interception in the loss. Meanwhile, Joe Burrow, despite lacking several weapons down to injury, lit up the Browns secondary once again. Burrow finished with 239 passing yards and 2 touchdowns in the win.
The returning Joe Mixon went for 96 yards on 14 carries for the Bengals. Meanwhile the Browns top weapon Nick Chubb was held to just 34 yards on 14 carries. Watson had one less rushing yard at 33 on just 6 carries. For the Bengal’s, the difference maker today was Ja’Marr Chase as the Browns simply didn’t have an answer as Chase went for 119 yards on 10 catches with a touchdown.
The Browns had an impressive drive to start to the game, but once again Kevin Stefanski passed up the points on a chip shot field goal from Cade York, instead going for it on fourth and 1. The play call didn’t work out as he decided to sub Jacoby Brissett in the game who opted to then try to throw deep and 4 feet over the head of his intended receiver Donovan Peoples Jones. DPJ did have a nice day however, catching 10 balls for 114 yards in the loss.
From there, no one scored in the entire first quarter score before Cincy got it going in the second. Joe Burrow found Chase from 15 yards out to get the scoring going with 9:46 to go in the opening half. The Bengals drive was aided by three ridiculous penalties against the Browns. A roughing the punter, followed by a roughing the kicker followed by a Denzel Ward pass interference. In three plays they went from getting the ball back, to having their backs against the endzone.
The Bengals would score again by using a sharp two minute drive to end the half on a Samaje Perrine touchdown run to take a 13-3 lead into the break.
Halfway through the third quarter, the Bengals put it away for good with a 45 yard touchdown pass from Burrow to Trenton Irwin wide open down the middle of the field. The Browns secondary bit big time on the flea flicker, and Burrow burned them.
Cleveland had countless chances with the ball in the second half in Bengals territory, but could only mount 7 points as the second half continues to be a struggle for them this season. The touchdown coming on a David Njoku catch and run from 13 yards out.
The Browns fell to 5-8 while the Bengals improved to 9-4. Cleveland will return home next Saturday to host Baltimore.
