1. After forcing the Bills to a quick 3-and-out to start the game, the Browns quickly corrected the running game woes that plagued them last week.
Duke Johnson had 22 yards on the ground, and Carlos Hyde had five carries for 41 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown run to cap off the drive. His vicious stiff-arm of Buffalo defensive back Jordan Poyer was the highlight of the drive, and the Browns took an early lead thanks to their ground game. Tyrod Taylor was 1-for-2 on the opening drive, completing a pass to Darren Fells to set up the Hyde touchdown.
All in all, the Browns looked sharp, traveling 70 yards over nine plays for the score.
2. The Browns first-team defense was stout, to say the least. The unit gave up just 22 yards on 12 plays and forced four straight 3-and-outs. Buffalo didn't gain a first down on the Browns starters.
But when the Browns second defensive unit faced rookie quarterback Josh Allen, those first-team numbers were quickly forgotten. Allen was sacked on back-to-back plays by Derrick Kindred and Carl Nassib. But on Nassib's play, Genard Avery was flagged for illegal hands to the face, giving Buffalo a fresh set of downs. The Bills made the Browns pay.
Allen led the Bills on a march down the field in 15 plays, covering 80 yards over nearly eight minutes. He capped it off with an athletic touchdown pass to Rod Streater, escaping pressure from Nate Orchard to fire a dart.
Buffalo also scored in the closing moments of the half on a Steven Hauschka field goal, which was set up by a big punt return. Allen and the Bills second-team offense also scored another field goal on their opening possession of the second half, giving the Bills 13 unanswered points.
Cleveland plays Buffalo Friday at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Cleveland Browns running back Carlos Hyde (34) rushes for a 4-yard touchdown during the first half of an NFL football preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Tyrod Taylor throws during the first quarter of the team's NFL football preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Cleveland Browns running back Carlos Hyde, left, rushes for a 4-yard touchdown during the first half of an NFL football preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Cleveland Browns linebacker Joe Schobert keeps watch during the first half of an NFL football preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi celebrates a sack in the first half of an NFL football preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Tyrod Taylor gives instructions during the first half of an NFL football preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Tyrod Taylor looks to pass during the first half of an NFL football preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Cleveland Browns running back Duke Johnson runs for a first down in the first half of an NFL football preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Cleveland Browns running back Carlos Hyde (34) rushes during the first half of the team's NFL football preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Cleveland Browns running back Carlos Hyde rushes in the first half of an NFL football preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Cleveland Browns defensive back Denzel Ward (21) watches in the first half of an NFL football preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy (25) rushes against Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during the first half of an NFL football preseason game, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) avoids a sack by Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Star Lotulelei (98) during the first half of an NFL football preseason game Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield throws during the second half of the team's NFL football preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Rashard Higgins (81) is tackled by Buffalo Bills defensive back Jordan Poyer (21) during the first half of an NFL football preseason game Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Harrison Phillips (99) tackles Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during the second half of an NFL football preseason game, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Rashard Higgins (81) avoids Buffalo Bills defensive back Phillip Gaines (28) during the first half of an NFL football preseason game Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (31) rushes against Buffalo Bills linebacker Keenan Robinson (48) during the second half of an NFL football preseason game Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Buffalo Bills linebacker Deon Lacey (44) and a teammate tackle Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (31) during the second half of an NFL football preseason game Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) stiff-arms Buffalo Bills defensive back Levi Wallace (47) during the second half of an NFL football preseason game Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb, center, rushes for a 1-yard touchdown during the second half of an NFL football preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield celebrates a touchdown during the second half of the team's NFL football preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
3. Da'Mari Scott's night was made late in the third quarter. He caught a 13-yard pass to begin the Browns drive, then hauled in an 18-yard catch. The latter included an unnecessary roughness penalty on Kelcie McCray, who hit Scott with the crown of his helmet.
Scott's two catches and 31 yards put the Browns in good position. Then, Nick Chubb toted the ball 17 yards down to the Bills 1-yard line. Mayfield threw a goal-line fade to Derrick Willies for a touchdown but the play was reversed by review, and the Browns still needed a score. Chubb finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown to give the Browns a 17-13 lead. Mayfield's final drive went for nine plays, 65 yards and took just 2:59 off the clock.
4. The Bills wasted no time regaining the lead, marching 75 yards on seven plays, capped off by a Nathan Peterman 35-yard touchdown pass to tight end Nick O'Leary.
After a Browns punt, the Bills threatened again, but rookie kicker Tyler Davis' field goal went wide left. The Browns had another chance to find field-goal range and win the game.
The Drew Stanton-led offense faltered and went 3-and-out, though. Buffalo ran out the clock with running back Keith Ford.
