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Cleveland Browns (12-5) at Buffalo Bills (14-3)
Temp: 27 degrees
Cleveland held Buffalo on their first drive to a three and out, deep in their own territory
The game's first turnover came when Cleveland’s Jakeem Grant fielded the punt at the 42, fumbled on the tackle by Eric Kendricks and recovered by Ben Powers. Buffalo quickly took advantage of the momentum switch in only three plays. Lamar Jackson to Albert Okwuegbunam picked up nine. Dalvin Cook breaks free on a trap left run for 33 down to the 25. With Cleveland on their heels, Jackson went deep on a long hitch pass to Christian Kirk for the 25 yard touchdown. BUF 7-0
After that first score the defense from both teams took over. There were six straight punts leading into the second quarter. Cleveland would inch their way to within field goal range from 37 yards. BUF 7-3
Buffalo would go three and out on their next possession. Punting to the man who was looking to amend for his early game mishap. Grant would return the punt 68 yards for the touchdown and a Cleveland lead. CLE 10-7
On Buffalo's next drive, Lamar Jackson called his own number with two runs of 5 and 12. He would then spread the ball around with passes to Antonio Brown (11), Christian Kirk (13), Robert Woods (6) and Mo Alie-Cox (12), moving the ball to CLE 8. Two plays later Michael Carter ran a trap right for the touchdown with 1:16 left in the half. The extra point was missed. Buffalo 13-10 at the half.
Cleveland Matthew Stafford has thrown five pick six throughout the regular season. The start of the 2nd half, he would throw his sixth, when Darius Slay intercepted his attempted pass to Adam Thielen, returning it 52 yards for the touchdown. BUF 20-10
Cleveland moved the ball to BUF 37 on their next drive, only to be ended by a big third down sack by Chris Jones. After a three and out, Buffalo was forced to punt. Arryn Siposs kick traveled 27 yards , giving Grant room to return it 17 down to the 22. After a ten yard pass to Stefon Diggs, Joe Mixon runs the remaining 12 yards on a dive play for the touchdown. BUF 20-17
Using a mixture of run and passing plays, Buffalo moved the ball 42 yards on nine plays, setting up Daniel Carlson 50 yard field goal as the 3rd quarter came to an end. BUF 23-17
The start of the 4th quarter had both teams following the same script. Move the ball with a couple of first downs before punting.
Cleveland would get the ball with 3:59 left near midfield. On 2nd down, Cleveland gave the ball back to Grant on a jet sweep for 36 yards down to the BUF 15. Two plays later on third and seven, Stafford connected with Robby Anderson for nine to the three. The next play Kareem Hunt runs off tackle left for the touchdown with 2:21 left. CLE 24-23.
On the next Buffalo drive, a holding penalty followed by a Aaron Donald sack pinned them back on 2nd and 25 from their own 14. A 4th down pass from Jackson was off the mark, which led to a Cleveland field goal. CLE 27-23
One last bomb, with 3 seconds left, was an incompletion as Cleveland held on for the victory 27-23.
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