For the first time since the 2002 season, the Cleveland Browns have swept the ‘Battle of Ohio’ over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Baker Mayfield throws for 284 yards and three touchdowns. Nick Chubb rushes for 112 yards on 19 carries in the Browns 26-18 victory.
The win also guarantees the Browns won’t finish last in the AFC North for the first time since 2010. Cleveland also goes undefeated at FirstEnergy Stadium in the division in 2018, 2-0-1.
The Browns and the sold out crowd gave a rude welcome back to former head coach Hue Jackson. Mayfield gave his old coach a huge stare down following a 66-yard completion to tight end David Njoku to seal the victory.
After a scoreless first quarter. The Browns score 16 points in the second quarter. Njoku catches the first of Mayfield’s three touchdown passes from three yards out. Browns up 7-0.
Fellow tight end Darren Fells caught Baker’s second touchdown pass on the next offensive possession. It covered 1-yard after Mayfield rolled out to the right and bought time for the score. Greg Joseph’s extra point doinked off the upright. Browns lead 13-0.
The Fells touchdown catch took place two plays after a huge trick play drawn up by offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens. Mayfield handed the football off the Antonio Callaway who then pitches the football to Jarvis Landry on the reverse. Landry would then throw the football deep to Breshad Perriman down to the Bengals seven yard line. The play covered 66-yards.
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Joseph connected on the first of two field goals on the day to give the Browns a 16-0 lead at halftime.
Mayfield’s final touchdown pass of the game came on the Browns opening possession of the third quarter. Baker hooked up with Rashard ‘Hollywood’ Higgins on a 17-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 23-0. Higgins lived up to his nickname following the score. Higgins’ touchdown celebration was a walk down the red carpet.
The Browns defense pitched a shut out through the first three quarters and were dominating the Bengals offense. Cleveland recorded three sacks of Jeff Driskell.
The shut out came to end on the first play of the 4th quarter. Randy Bullock got the Bengals on the scoreboard with a 51-yard field goal. Browns lead is cut to 23-3.
After Joseph finished the Browns scoring on the day with a 31-yard field goal, the Browns nearly blew the game.
Cincinnati would score a pair of touchdowns. Driskell would connect with C.J. Uzomah from 14-yards to make the score 26-10. Two minutes later Driskell found John Ross on a 3-yard score. Add in the two-point conversion and the Bengals are within one score at 26-18.
Fortunately, Mayfield and the offense were able to make enough plays to preserve the victory.
Chubb’s 112-yards rushing sets a new franchise record for rushing yards by a rookie. It’s also the fourth 100-yard rushing game of Chubb’s rookie season.
Cleveland improves to 7-7-1 on the season. Cincinnati falls to 6-9. The Browns travel to Baltimore to face the Ravens to wrap up the season. The game is scheduled for 1 p.m. as of now. It could be flexed to Sunday night.
Scott Piker is the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Indians Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage.com. So follow him on twitter @ScottPikerSport.
