Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Broncos vs. Browns Open Thread/Live Blog | Week 9
The Denver Broncos host a 2-5 Cleveland Browns team today thinking Week 9's tilt is a get-right game. Maybe it is.
Only the Broncos can disabuse the Browns of that notion, if one exists. This game will be replete with a multitude of obstacles for the Broncos, not the least of which is Brandon Allen making his first career start at quarterback.
It's going to be fun to watch and see how it all unfolds. Meanwhile, the last time the Browns were in Denver, Baker Mayfield emerged with a gritty win.
Even though the Browns have won the same sorry amount of games as the Broncos, they're not a team to overlook and they're reeling right now, which could result in this being a get-right game for Denver.
Join us as we live-blog and discuss CLEvsDEN here in our weekly GAMEDAY Open Thread. Dive into the conversation — it's easy — by simply going to the top of the site and in the bottom righthand corner of the Mile High Huddle logo, click the follow button.
You can log in with Facebook or Google and either way, it's free. From there, sound off in the comment section and share your reactions and observations with our staff, subscribers and fellow members of the MHH community as we react to the game in real-time.
Inactives
Demarcus Walker out with a shoulder injury means Adam Gotsis gets his first jersey since Week 4.
First Quarter
13:35: Brandon Allen off to a shaky start to begin his first career game. Can't find an open receiver and scrambles for a few, then overshoots a receiver. Broncos punt.
13:14: Nifty run by Chubb for 7 yards. Purcell had that play snuffed out, but Chubb makes a good cut to get north and south.
11:10: Broncos defense stiffens after a quick first-down. Malik Reed forces Mayfield to throw behind his man over the middle. Alexander Johnson nearly intercepts it. Punt coming.
10:56: Following a huge 20-yard punt return by Spencer, Denver's offense is set up with nice field position. Time for the offense to get something rolling.
9:35: Broncos convert 3rd-&-8 on the legs of Allen.
8:44: Allen hits Fumagalli on a quick play-action pass over the middle. Sets up Royce Freeman for a first-down conversion up the middle.
7:00: Allen's pass batted down by Browns Ogunjobi. 3rd-&-11
6:52: Allen with a STRIKE to Courtland Sutton on a slant route. First down Denver.
6:09: TOUCHDOWN BRONCOS! Allen throws his first career touchdown pass with a fade throw and a TREMENDOUS catch by Courtland Sutton over the top of Denzel Ward. McManus converts the extra-point. 7-0 Denver.
5:26: Alexander Johnson continues his strong play in the running game, stuffing Chubb for a short gain. 3rd-&-2 upcoming.
3:26: Mayfield getting Odell Beckham going on this drive. Converts his second first-down throw on the drive.
2:42: SACK! Mayfield holds the ball too long as the Broncos secondary smothers his receivers. Justin Hollins comes off the right edge and takes Mayfield down for a 7-yard loss.
1:54: Mayfield overthrows Beckham on 3rd-&-17. Spencer completes the fair-catch at the Broncos 12 yard-line. Long field ahead for Allen and the Broncos offense.
1:06: Screen pass on 2nd-&-11 is blown up. Broncos can't get the screen game going at all.
0:59: Olivier Vernon closes an ugly possession for the Broncos offense with a huge SACK of Brandon Allen. Denver lost 4 yards on the series.
0:08: 49-yard punt by Wadman gets shortened by a penalty on Juwann Winfree for running out of bounds. Cleveland starts at the DEN 40.
End of quarter: Broncos 7, Browns 0.
Second Quarter
13:30: Broncos defense blitzes on 3rd-&-3 to shut down Chubb at the 21 yard-line. Seibert's field goal attempt is GOOD. Denver's lead cut to 4.
Broncos 7, Browns 3
12:36: TOUCHDOWN BRONCOS! Brandon Allen hits Noah Fant on a crossing route that Fant takes 75 yards TO THE HOUSE! Poor Browns tackling and Fant's explosiveness leads to the longest play from scrimmage from the Broncos offense this season. McManus boots the extra-point through.
Broncos 14, Browns 3
11:36: Mayfield sets up a screen pass to Antonio Callaway, who rips off a huge 41-yard gain down the left sideline. Justin Simmons saved a touchdown.
9:15: Alexander Johnson sniffs out a screen pass to Nick Chubb and sets up the Browns offense with at 3rd-&-14. Mayfield scrambles for a first down with a 16-yard run.
7:17: Denver's spectacular red zone defense stands tall once again. Davontae Harris with a huge pass breakup to stall the Browns. Seibert's field goal attempt is GOOD.
Broncos 14, Browns 3
7:02: Disaster averted. Allen's pass on first down batted high in the air and Myles Garrett drops an easy interception.
6:11: Spencer fumbles and the Browns recover inside the red zone. Denver's defense has to make a stand here.
3:53: Denver's defense does, in fact, stand up, holding the Browns to another Seibert field goal attempt. The kick is GOOD.
Broncos 14, Browns 9
3:27: Phillip Lindsay rips off a 41 yard gain on the first play of the next Broncos possession. Lindsay broke a couple of tackles downfield on this explosive play
2:43: TIMEOUT Denver
1:47: Allen rips a pass behind Sutton on 2nd-&-7. Could have been a walk-in touchdown. Then overthrows Sutton down the right sideline on a very similar fade route. McManus 43-yard field goal attempt is GOOD.
Broncos 17, Browns 9
1:08: Browns running a two-minute drill. A Dawson penalty pushes the Browns across midfield.
0:51: Denver brings pressure on Mayfield, but Mayfield converts a huge first down to the Denver 34 yard-line. TIMEOUT Cleveland.
0:39: Von Miller comes off a stunt right into Mayfield's face, but can't secure the sack. Huge third down upcoming.
0:34: Mayfield converts a monster third down to Jarvis Landry to set up the Browns inside the red zone once again. Gain of 14.
0:15: Kareem Jackson with a huge hit on 3rd-&-10. Seals-Jones injured on the play. 4th-&-4 upcoming. Browns send the field goal unit on to put points on the board to close the first half. Seibert's kick is GOOD.
Broncos 17, Browns 12
0:11: After a 12 men on the field penalty, Rich Scangarello calls an actual play rather than kneeling on the football to close the half. Nothing doing, as Allen slides down in the pocket.
End of quarter: Broncos 17, Browns 12
Third Quarter
15:00: Browns receive the football to open the half. McManus booms the kickoff out of the back of the endzone. Mayfield starts at the 25.
14:15: Broncos bring a ton of pressure on the blitz, blowing up a screen pass on 2nd-&-7.
14:06: Sticking with the pressure schemes, Alexander Johnson comes on a blitz right up the gut, forcing Mayfield to scramble. Sensabaugh lays a lick on Mayfield to force 4th down. Cleveland punts to open the second half.
To start the second half, the Broncos offense is averaging 7.8 yards per play. Explosive plays from young players have really helped this offense take a leap forward.
13:25: Brandon Allen BARELY missed Spencer on a deep shot down the field. He then draws the Browns offside on 2nd down.
12:20: On 3rd-&-3, Brandon Allen takes a sack on a very long developing play design. Broncos are forced to punt it away. Wadman's short punt sets up the Browns offense in plus field position.
11:24: Derek Wolfe with a big SACK of Mayfield to open the next series. Wolfe has really turned his game around over the past couple of weeks.
10:37: Mike Purcell flagged for unnecessary roughness to bail the Browns out of a 3rd-and-long situation. Costly mistake.
10:07: Demetrius Harris breaks several Broncos tackles en route to a 9-yard gain on second down. Chubb converts the first right up the middle.
8:07: On a nifty play design, Mayfield hits Landry over the middle for a big gain to set up the Browns in the red zone once again. Denver is 4-for-4 in holding the Browns to field goal attempts inside the red area to this point.
5:16: Denver's defense stuffs Chubb on 3rd-&-3, leading to a key 4th down conversion attempt. Mayfield dives forward and is close to first down yardage.
5:16: The ruling on the field is that Mayfield was about one foot shy of the line to gain. Cleveland is challenging the result of the play. The ruling on the field STANDS. Denver takes over at their 4 yard-line.
4:30: Brandon Allen rolls to his right and hits Fant for another 16-yard gain.
2:28: Allen to Sutton once again for a first down conversion. Nice play design from Scangarello.
1:42: Allen with a strike to Fant down the seam for 24 yards. Fant really rolling today.
1:06: TOUCHDOWN BRONCOS! Phillip Lindsay follows Dalton Risner and Andy Janovich for a 30-yard score. McManus drills the extra-point.
Broncos 24, Browns 12
End of quarter: Broncos 24, Browns 12
Fourth Quarter
14:45: Chubb breaks a couple of tackles in the backfield to convert a 3rd-&-1.
13:00: Mayfield throws to Beckham, who makes a ridiculous catch and run for 33 yards to put the Browns in scoring position. Chubb then rips a 10-yard to get the Browns on the doorstep of the red zone for the sixth time today.
10:57: Jarvis Landry calls a timeout on 3rd-&-7 at the 19 yard-line. Big play coming for the Broncos defense.
10:53: Chris Harris flagged for obvious pass interference. Mayfield and the Browns are set up inside the 10 yard-line.
10:47: TOUCHDOWN BROWNS! Mayfield hits Landry in the left flat and Davontae Harris whiffs on an open-field tackle. Landry scampers in easily. Seibert's extra-point attempt hits the up-right, but bounces across the crossbar and is GOOD.
Broncos 24, Browns 19
9:11: Allen showing his inexperience on third down. However, he gets bailed out by a roughing the passer penalty on Sheldon Richardson. Ugly series gets a second wind.
9:05: Troy Fumagalli's holding penalty erases a 14-yard sprint by Lindsay. Costly error after the Broncos offense catches a break.
8:32: Devontae Booker with a 14-yard gain on 1st-&-20. Booker finally getting a chance and makes a big play.
7:56: Bolles jumps offsides to set up a 2nd-&-11. First bonehead from no. 72 today.
7:30: Allen throws way over the head of Spencer, but Bolles draws yet another holding call on the season. Denver has to punt.
6:31: On a critical drive for the Broncos defense, Mayfield hits Chubb down the left sideline for a first down.
5:12: Odell Beckham makes a nice catch and explodes for a 38-yard gain. Cleveland is threatening again.
4:31: Chubb with a patient run on a draw-play that goes for nine yards. Mayfield and the Browns are set up on the Denver 25 yard-line with a 3rd-&-1 situation.
3:23: Justin Simmons makes a HUGE play to stop Chubb in the backfield, setting up 4th-&-4. Mayfield has to burn his last TIMEOUT.
3:19: Davontae Harris and Kareem Jackson team up to bat away a Mayfield pass intended for Landry for another huge defensive stand for the Broncos. Turnover on downs.
2:36: TIMEOUT Denver. 2nd-&-9 upcoming.
2:25: Denver goes with the "Wildcat" formation and sprints Phillip Lindsay off of left tackle for a big first down conversion. Lindsay wisely slides down in-bounds to keep the clock rolling. Creative play call from Scangarello that fully pays off and sends us to the two-minute warning.
2:00: With the Browns out of timeouts, Brandon Allen knees a few times to close out the third victory of the year for the Denver Broncos.
Final: Broncos 24, Browns 19
