Saints vs. Browns Game Recap

On Sunday, a Jameis Winston led Cleveland Browns team visited the New Orleans Saints. In what some considered a revenge game for Winston; he was unable to come away with the W.

FIRST QUARTER
Cleveland would receive the ball to begin the game. They would immediately give it off to Nick Chubb, who would carry for six yards. An incomplete pass and a one-yard run would come next. The Browns went for it on fourth and one but failed to convert.

Taysom Hill would be featured on the Saints first drive, and pretty much every drive afterwards. After two runs by Alvin Kamara – that totaled 18 yards – Hill would be featured in a trick play, that saw him complete an 18-yard pass to wide receiver Kevin Austin. He would then receive a pass from Derek Carr for three yards, and capped the drive off with a 10-yard rushing touchdown.

The Browns would go three-and-out on their next drive. It started out with an unnecessary roughness penalty against Safety Will Harris, but thankfully no other flags were thrown.

Unfortunately, the New Orleans offense would also punt on their next drive. Getting all the way into field goal range, they would go for it on fourth and one. Carr would complete a ball to tight end Foster Moreau, but it would be nullified due to a holding penalty.

Matthew Hayball executed a near perfect punt, pinning Cleveland within the 10-yard line. But, wide receiver Jerry Jeudy would burn cornerback Alontae Taylor, and get a 89-yard receiving touchdown on the drives first play. They would on a two-point conversion, making it 6-7 Saints over the Browns.

Taysom Hill would be back to receive the kickoff. Returning it for 42 yards, he would put the Saints in great field position. Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak would then dial up another passing play for Hill, but it didn’t go the way he wanted. On the first play of the drive, Hill would be intercepted on a deep ball.

That would be the last full drive of the first quarter.

Second Quarter
Cleveland would end the rise quarter and start the second. Starting out strong, tight end David Njoku would get a 17-yard reception. Two-time Super Bowl champion Kadarius Toney would then get the ball, but lose seven yards. Luckily for the Browns, Winston would get the lost yardage back on an eight yard scramble. On third and nine, he would complete a pass to Elijah Moore for one yard.

New Orleans would respond with the longest passing touchdown of the season. After two runs by Kamara, Carr would find Marquez Valdes-Scantling for a 71-yard touchdown.

Jameis Winston would start to catch fire his next time out. First, on a pass to Moore, then on a pass to tight end Jordan Akins. After the drive stalls for a bit, Winston would put them in field goal range with two more completions. Luckily for the Saints, Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins would miss the following 51-yard field goal attempt.

The New Orleans offense would reach the red zone on their next drive. Carr would be the feature on this drive, completing 4/4 passes for 50 yards. Once in the red zone, he would complete a fifth pass to Hill, but the tight end would fumble the ball. Cleveland would recover the ball.

The Browns would close out the first half. They would execute 14 plays for 84 yards, bringing them into field goal position. At 27-yards, it was considered a chip shot. However, Hopkins would miss his second field goal of the day wide left.

Third Quarter
The third quarter would be the slowest of the game, with only one touchdown scored.

New Orleans would open up the drive, but would send out punter Matthew Hayball after five plays. Cleveland, taking advantage of the missed opportunity, would go on to score afterwards on an eight play, 92-yard drive. The Saints would punt again on their next offensive possession.

Thankfully, so would the Browns. They would punt after just five plays on what would be the last full drive of the third quarter.

Fourth Quarter
For most of their next drive, it was looking like they would send out Hayball again. But, on fourth and one, Hill would save the drive on a 33-yard rushing touchdown.

Cleveland’s offense would earn a fresh set of downs their next time out, but only once. Following a short run by Chubb, Winston would be sacked on back-to-back plays, forcing the Browns to send out punter Corey Bojorquez.

Following an incomplete pass to start out the drive, the Browns would commit an encroachment penalty. After that, the Saints offense would pick up where they left off. Kamara would be the main man on this drive, earning 36 yards on two rushes. However, he would be stopped at the one yard line on his third rush. Carr would then pass it to tight end Juwan Johnson for the score.

The Browns would go 48 yards down the field in 10 plays. Wide receiver Cedric Tillman would earn them a fresh set of downs on a 22-yard catch, but that would be their biggest play. Their drive stalled afterwards, leading them to make another fourth down attempt. They would not be successful.

Taysom Hill would start and end the next drive very quickly. After a three-yard rush, Hill would take it 75-yards to he house.

The Saints defense would keep on keeping on, forcing another three and out. Their offense would then come out in victory formation with backup QB Jake Haener kneeling to finish the game.

This week, the Saints have a bye. Their next game is at 3:05 p.m. on December 1, at home against the Los Angeles Rams.