Cleveland Browns vs Cincinnati Bengals Game Thread
The Cleveland Browns (0-1) host AFC North division rival Cincinnati Bengals (0-1) at First Energy Stadium. Week two of the 2020 NFL season and the Battle of Ohio is nationally televised for Thursday Night Football.
First year head coach Kevin Stefanksi and QB Baker Mayfield are seeking redemption after getting dominated by the Baltimore Ravens in the season opener.
Conversely, second year head coach Zac Taylor and No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow search for their first win as a duo.
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Also stay tuned throughout the game for live updates!
First Quarter
Joe Burrow and the Bengals get the ball to start the game.
First play of the game a deep throw down the left sideline to A.J. Green is ruled a catch and Kevin Stefanski immediately throws the challenge flag.
Stefanksi wins the challenge and the drive finally begins after a long stale.
Burrow is commanding the offense well and moving the ball well. Throws a dart to Tyler Boyd on third down against Tavierre Thomas.
Joe Mixon finding limited success on the ground and the offense is now in Browns territory.
A HUGE sack by Adrian Clayborn ends the opening drive and Randy Bullocks knocks in the field goal.
Bengals 3 - Browns 0
Baker Mayfield trouts on the field and starts with two great play action passes to Jarvis Landry followed up by a dart to KhaDarel Hodge.
The first penalty against the Browns with a illegal Blindside block on Wyatt Teller. Very debatable call.
Some great zone runs by Nick Chubb and big run behind Andy Janovich to the endzone!
Browns 7 - Bengals 3
Second Quarter
Joe Mixon gets some positive runs on the Browns defense.
A quick pressure from Sheldon Richardson and Joe Burrow goes down!
It's third down and First Energy is rocking! Burrow goes to call a timeout but Trey Hopkins snaps the ball and its an enormous loss. Fourth down!
Jojo Natson has a short return after the Kevin Huber punt.
Baker Mayfield and company are back on the field. A couple good runs by Nick Chubb behind J.C. Tretter and Wyatt Teller.
A huge playaction 42-yard pass deep down the left sideline to Odell Beckham who beat William Jackson III. Touchdown Browns!
Baker Mayfield is 5-for-5 completing five passes to five different receivers.
Browns 14 - Bengals 3
Baker Mayfield looks very decisive and making a smart throws. Baker got his swagger back!
The Browns kickoff return is struggling immensely versus KR Brandon Williams. Williams has two long returns of 42-yards and 46-yards.
Zac Taylor calls Joe Mixon number out of the backfield and two catches combined with poor Browns tackling and Burrow is moving the chains.
Burrow has his first passing TD and finds an open C.J. Uzomah on the left sideline. Looks like a miscommunication as Andrew Sendejo comes over late in coverage.
Bengals are back in that and have some fight. Browns 14 - Bengals 10
Browns third offensive drive ends with quickly with a three and out. Mayfield is called for intentional grounding causing 2nd & 21, and Jarvis catches the ball short of the first down on 3rd & 17.
So far some weird penalties by the Browns offense but definitely avoidable plays.
The Browns defense held strong against the Bengals for a quick three and out.
Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt are proving to be a formidable duo on the ground. Chubb is running strong and showcasing his excellent vision and patience.
Hunt converted a 3rd & 4 with a strong run and quickly followed it up with a toe tap sideline catch off playaction. Then Chubb churned his leg stretching for a first.
KhaDarel Hodge wins a 1-on-1 route on a quick out and Baker throws a great ball to bring Browns into the redzone.
Kareem Hunt runs a flat out of the backfield and wheels it up and he's wide open in the endzone.
Stefanski's offense is clicking and moving down the field at will. Browns get the ball again at the half.
Browns 21 - Bengals 10
Joe Burrow is working the Bengals into field goal territory. Tavierre Thomas has been picked on early in each drive.
Tyler Boyd makes some big catches to move the chains. Consistently finding the soft spot in the defense or beating man coverage.
A.J. Green has been matched up with Denzel Ward and limited to two receptions for 15 yards.
After a first down catch on 3rd & 10 by Mike Thomas, and a shot at the end zone with :15 seconds left which is almost intercepted by Terrance Mitchell is incomplete.
Bullock and his strained calf looks healthy as he hits his second field goal of the game. Bengals fighting and still in it.
Browns 21 - Bengals 13
Halftime
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Third Quarter
Kevin Stefanski starts the half with another playaction call for no gain. Nick Chubb follows up with another good run.
A false start by Wyatt Teller pushes the Browns back on third down. Hooper makes up for it with a strong catch at the sticks on 3rd & long.
Nick Chubb again showcasing his vision and power on a good run. On 3rd & 8 Odell catches one underneath and tackled short of the first.
Browns go for it on fourth down and Landry is wide open in the left flat on 4th & 2 for a 20+ yard gain.
Nick Chubb continues to have his way on the ground with a 21 yard run to the one yard line. Austin Hooper continues setting blocks along the edge.
The Browns get stuffed on the one yard on two runs up the middle. Throw is incomplete to Odell in the back corner of the endzone.
Another handoff on fourth and goal and the Bengals defense holds. Turnover of downs.
Burrow uses hard count for an offsides to move off of the one yard line.
Browns defense finally gets in the backfield. Porter Gustin stops Joe Mixon on a run for no gain. Myles Garrett shifts inside and gets a strip sack.
Browns recover and back on offense with goal to go.
After four attempts Nick Chubb is back in the inside the endzone with a jump cut and a lunge. Browns offense showing great efficiency.
Browns 28 - Bengals 13
Parkey who has made a his XP's kicks the ball out of bounds of the kickoff and the Bengals start their drive with great field position.
Joe Mixon continues to have a tough time running against the Browns defensive line.
After a five yard catch by Tyler Boyd, the Browns defense is penalized and Andrew Sendejo draws the flag for leading with the helmet.
On 4th & 4, Joe Burrow scrambles and picks up the first down. The rookie has used his leg well and keeps the drive alive.
Giovanni Bernard almost gets into the endzone on a short yard scamper. The Browns defense continues to be feast or famine after the offense scores.
Browns goal line defense knocks Mixon back on a tackle for loss with push coming from Sheldon Richardson.
The TFL is negated with a holding call on Karl Joseph on the goalline and Burrow has a fresh set of downs.
Porter Gustin takles Burrow on a read option for a big loss back to the ten yard line. Followed up by a offensive pass interference by C.J. Uzomah.
Bullock knocks in his third field goal and it's still a two possession game.
Browns 28 - Bengals 16
Fourth Quarter
Kareem Hunt rips off two solid runs on the ground for back-to-back first downs.
Baker Mayfield throws his first interception and it is picked off by William Jackson near the endzone targeting Stephen Carlson.
Mixon starts the Bengals drive with a 8 yard run. Burrow follows by evading the blitzing Tavierre Thomas for a first down to Tee Higgins.
Burrow converts another fourth down with a 14 yard strike to Tyler Boyd.
Uzomah catches a pass for another first down and he is badly shaken up after the play.
The sack is reversed for a facemask against Porter Gustin. First down for Burrow on the Browns 15.
Burrow finds Drew Sample at the 5-yd line and Mike Thomas finds the endzone on a four yard pass.
Bengals scratching and clawing as the Browns defense struggles.
Browns 28 - Bengals 23
Six minutes of strong running and clock control can put the game away. Chubb starts off with a 4 yard run.
Nick Chubb finds a gap on a wham run for 26 yards and the clock continues to run.
Kareem Hunt breaks off another big run for 33 yards.
Hunt showcases more why he was given a contract extension ripping off a nine yard run to the two yard line.
Hunt finishes off a punishing drive running it into the endzone.
Browns 35 - Bengals 23
Burrow has thrown the ball over fifty times with no interceptions. Also, the Bengals are 5-for-5 on fourth down.
Denzel Ward has shown great cover ability in single coverage. Showcasing that talent we saw so often in his rookie season.
Burrow bring the Bengals into the redzone and has topped the 300 passing yard mark.
Tyler Boyd makes a toe tap catch on the back sideline of the endzone. Burrow throws for his third touchdown. Onside kick incoming...
Browns 35 - Bengals 30
Andy Janovich catches the onside kick and Baker Mayfield kneels it in victory formation.
BROWNS WIN!
Browns 1-1 (1-1 Division)
