Browns nearly score miraculous victory over Raiders

CLEVELAND — Browns moving backmost Nick Chubb would person alternatively mislaid by 40 points Monday nighttime alternatively of two. Woudn’t person wounded rather arsenic atrocious considering the uncanny adversity Cleveland was forced to battle.

The benignant caused by COVID-19 that prevented 8 starters — including backmost Baker Mayfield — from playing and caput manager Kevin Stefanski from coaching portion his squad is mired successful a conflict for the AFC North crown.

“To suffer by 3 seconds and a tract extremity it is tough,” Chubb said moments aft a 16-14 loss. “End of the day, it is implicit with present truthful we person to support moving forward. We inactive person a chance. Everything is up of us, and we person to larn from this and support going.”

The Browns astir pieced unneurotic a triumph Monday astatine FirstEnergy Stadium down Chubb, third-string backmost Nick Mullens, a makeshift violative enactment and a antiaircraft determined to springiness them arsenic galore opportunities arsenic possible.

The fourth-year Pro Bowl moving backmost rushed for 91 yards and a score. Mullens managed the crippled portion throwing for 147 yards and a touchdown without committing a turnover. The defence forced 2 turnovers, including 1 with 2:59 to play.

All for naught.

“That locker country close present is hurting. That is the astir I person seen it successful that benignant of pain,” said peculiar teams coordinator Mike Priefer, who served arsenic the acting caput manager against the Raiders. “When you suffer that benignant of game, that 1 is tough. They are beauteous down close now.

“We volition person our occupation chopped retired for america this week successful presumption of coaches and getting them backmost up again and getting their spirits backmost up due to the fact that they are young people.”

The Browns would person been tied atop the AFC North with a victory. Instead, they autumn to past spot with games against the Green Bay Packers, rivals Steelers and Bengals inactive to play. Hence wherefore a triumph Monday was truthful important — adjacent amid the absences.

They battled backmost from a 10-0 deficit, acknowledgment to a portion sack successful the 3rd 4th that ignited a lethargic offense. Chubb ran for 34 yards connected the ensuing drive, eclipsing his first-half full and scoring connected a 4-yard run. The Raiders responded with a tract extremity and the Browns would spell three-and-out erstwhile again.

But they, too, forced a three-and-out and Mullens expertly led a 14-play, 80-yard, fourth-quarter thrust that helium finished with a 6-yard touchdown walk to choky extremity Harrison Bryant connected 4th down.

“The stadium was rocking. The fans were freaking awesome here,” Mullens said. “You are like, ‘We are going to decorativeness this out. This is our thing. This is what we are going to do.’

“I truly believed that, but unluckily it conscionable did not happen.”

Browns cornerback Greedy Williams intercepted Raiders backmost Derek Carr connected Cleveland’s adjacent antiaircraft series, leaving the discourtesy to unafraid 1 archetypal down to seal a important victory.

Run. Run. Run. Punt. Lose.

Almost.

“The guys who were adjacent men up, they were acceptable to spell and get retired there, acceptable to marque immoderate large plays and they did,” Browns antiaircraft extremity Myles Garrett said. “We conscionable needed a mates more.”

Contact newsman Sam Gordon astatine sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon connected Twitter.