Third preseason games don’t matter, but it’s still fun to watch the Cleveland Browns dominate a game and pile on some stats for guys trying to get plays on tape. It was all Cleveland against the Patriots in a 37-13 victory. Let’s get to the full game recap.
1st Quarter – Browns vs. Patriots
The Browns received the opening kickoff, as QB Dillon Gabriel came on to the field. He orchestrated an opening-drive touchdown, finishing it with a playaction pass to WR Luke Floriea, who stayed in bounds along the boundary for the 6-yard touchdown to put
Cleveland up 7-0.
The Patriots gave the start to QB Tommy DeVito, and he found WR Kyle Williams open down the left sideline for a 45-yard touchdown, as CB D’Angelo Ross appeared to lose track of the ball. That tied the game up at 7-7.
The action continued on the next drive. Gabriel hit WR Gage Larvadain over the middle for 21 yards, and later WR Ben Patterson for 19 yards. On 2nd-and-6 from the 14 yard line, Gabriel found Floriea again in stride for 14 yards and another touchdown to make it a 14-7 game.
The Patriots went three-and-out on their next drive, and then Gabriel started the next drive by rolling to his left and finding Patterson, who caught the defensive back flat-footed for a catch-and-run of 52 yards. That helped set up a 35-yard field goal by K Andre Szmyt to put the Browns up 17-7.
QB Behren Morton came on for the Patriots. On his first pass, he tried to hit a tight end who was busy blocking, so it hit the back of his leg and bounced in the air. LB Easton Mascarenas-Arnold tipped it in the air and came down with the interception to wrap up the opening quarter.
2nd Quarter – Browns vs. Patriots
Gabriel went three-and-out for the first time on the day, but the Browns were still in field goal range. Szmyt hit from 47 yards out to put the Browns up 20-7.
After Morton’s first series lasted one play, his second one lasted 14 plays and 7:13 of clock. DE Khordae Sydnor registered his third sack of the preseason in the red zone, though, which helped force New England into a 26-yard field goal to cut the Browns’ lead to 20-10.
On Gabriel’s next drive, he moved the ball again, and nearly gave Floriea the hat trick for what was initially ruled a 16-yard touchdown pass. However, replay review showed that the throw was low and just barely touched the ground for an incomplete pass. A few plays later, Gabriel still found RB Ahmani Marshall for a 7-yard touchdown for a 27-10 lead.
S Donovan McMillian came up with an interception after the two-minute warning, but the official threw a flag for pass interference on him. Replays showed that it was a bad call and the interception should have counted. The defense still held tight to close out the half, holding New England to a 33-yard field goal to make it a 27-13 game.
3rd Quarter – Browns vs. Patriots
The Patriots began the half, but could only get to midfield before having to punt. That punt was run backward by Larvadain, back to the 2 yard line, for QB Taylen Green’s first drive. Green’s only chance to do anything was on 3rd-and-long, and his scramble fell just short of a first down.
The Browns punted, and then New England punted right back to Cleveland, with the drive starting at the 2 yard line again. Green really got to show off his legs on the drive, including running around in his own end zone and then taking off for 30 yards. Between that, and a mix of short passes, Cleveland finished the third quarter near a goal-to-go situation.
4th Quarter – Browns vs. Patriots
A few plays into the quarter, RB Davon Booth got the handoff and executed a spin move to dodge a defender and walk into the end zone for the 8 yard touchdown and a 34-13 lead.
On Green’s next drive, he got into New England territory again, but had his first incompletion on a third down pass that sailed over the receiver, leading to a punt.
The Patriots went for it on 4th-and-2 in their own territory, and Morton was picked off by LB Justin Jefferson, returned to the 12 yard line.
It only led to a field goal for Cleveland, making it 37-13. The Patriots ran out the clock from there.
Quick Hitters
- QB Dillon Gabriel: 12-of 15 for 186 yards, 3 TD.
- QB Taylen Green: 5-of-7 for 27 yards. 8 carries, 66 yards.
- WR Luke Floriea: 3 catches, 29 yards, 2 TD.
Next up, the Browns will trim their roster to 53 players and get ready for the regular season.
