The Browns fell 24-6 to the Bengals in their Week 16 matchup.
QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson made his first start of the 2024 season, finishing with 157 passing yards and two interceptions. He was sacked five times in the loss.
One highlight for the Browns came in the second quarter as DE Myles Garrett brought down Bengals QB Joe Burrow for a sack. With the sack, Garrett became he youngest player in NFL history since 1982 to reach 100 career sacks.
While Burrow and the Bengals offense got off to a hot start in the first half, scoring 17 points, they slowed down in the second before Burrow connected on his third touchdown pass of the day to seal the win for the Bengals.
The Browns fall to 3-12 on the season and will next face the Dolphins in their final home game of the season in Week 17.
Key Moments
Dorian Thompson-Robinson struggles in first start of the 2024 season
After a slow first half, Thompson-Robinson had promising moments in the second half, but tossed two interceptions as the Browns never caught up to the Bengals' halftime lead.
Thompson-Robinson completed just three of his six passing attempts for 15 yards in the first half before heating up in the second half.
After failing to score in the first half, Thompson-Robinson and the Browns offense came alive on their opening possession in the second half. Thompson-Robinson completed five of his six passing attempts for 57 yards as he led the Browns down the field. On third-and-4, Thompson-Robinson showed his speed, taking off for a 5-yard gain to keep the Browns' drive alive. He later connected with TE David Njoku on a screen pass that Njoku took for a 29-yard gain. Ford finished the job for the Browns, plowing his way through the Bengals defense for a 4-yard touchdown.
On the Browns' following drive, it looked like Thompson-Robinson might lead his team to the end zone once more before the Browns stalled in the red zone. Thompson-Robinson brought the Browns within striking distance with a 14-yard scramble to the Bengals 22-yard line. Two plays later, he took off for an 11-yard touchdown run, which was negated due to a penalty on Akins. Instead of ending the drive with points, Thompson-Robinson's pass to the end zone was intercepted as the Browns' failed to take advantage of the 12-play, 56-yard drive.
On the next drive, Thompson-Robinson threw an interception on the following drive on a deep ball intended for Njoku.
Despite the interceptions, Thompson-Robinson showed his ability to scramble and create big plays. On the Browns' second-to-last drive of the game, Thomspon-Robinson escaped the pocket on fourth-and-8 and ran towards the sideline, somehow completing a pass to Njoku to pick up a first down. However, Thompson-Robinson and the Browns were unable to take advantage of their final two possessions, turning the ball over on downs on each of their last two drives.
Turnovers and penalties prove costly in loss
After RB Jerome Ford took off for a 66-yard gain on the opening play of the game, the Browns offense was in position to take an early touchdown lead over the Bengals.
However, four plays later, RB D'Onta Foreman lost the football at the goal line and the Bengals recovered the fumble, keeping the Browns out of the end zone.
The Bengals were backed up in their own end zone on their first offensive play, but Browns LB Mohamoud Diabate was flagged for a neutral zone infraction before the snap, giving the Bengals more breathing room to start their drive. After the penalty, Burrow picked apart the Browns defense, completing all four of his passing attempts as the Bengals drove 99 yards to the end zone. RB Chase Brown broke through tacklers, taking off for over 20 yards twice as the Bengals marched downfield. At the Cleveland 2-yard line, Burrow was nearly tripped up for a sack but released a pass just before hitting the ground to WR Tee Higgins for a touchdown.
On the Browns' next possession following the touchdown, Thompson-Robinson led another drive to the red zone, but was unable to get the Browns in the end zone after penalties negated positive plays.
After Thompson-Robinson ran 11 yards for a touchdown, it was nullified by a holding penalty called against TE Jordan Akins. Two plays later, WR Jamari Thrash was flagged for offensive holding, pushing the Browns out of the red zone. On the next play, Thompson-Robinson aired a pass to the end zone intended for Njoku, but it fell into the arms of Bengals S Jordan Battle for an interception.
On the Bengals' second-to-last possession, Garrett jumped offsides, giving Burrow and the Bengals offense a free shot to the end zone. Burrow found Chase deep for a 32-yard touchdown to put the game out of reach with 1:44 remaining.
Browns defense holds strong in the second half before allowing late touchdown
After allowing 17 points in the first half, the Browns defense held strong in the second before Chase's late touchdown sealed the win for the Bengals.
The Browns allowed three plays of 20 or more yards on the Bengals' first drive of the game, which ended in a touchdown from Higgins. In the final seven-and-a-half minutes of the half, the Browns gave up 10 points, as Burrow led another touchdown drive and K Cade York set a new career-high with a 59-yard field goal to end the half.
In the second half, the Browns forced three straight punts as the Bengals offense struggled to move the ball as effectively as they had in the first half.
Late in the fourth quarter, after Burrow completed a deep ball to WR Andrei Iosivas, the Bengals had another opportunity to find the end zone for the first time since the second quarter. However, on third-and-goal from the Cleveland 1-yard line, DE Isaiah McGuire chased down Burrow for a sack, knocking the ball out of his hands. DT Jowon Briggs dove on the loose ball for the Browns' only takeaway of the day.
The Bengals answered the fumble with a touchdown drive on their next offensive drive with under two minutes remaining. CB Cameron Mitchell was in coverage of Chase, who beat him over the top for the score.
Key Stats and Facts
- Garrett became the youngest player in NFL history to reach 100 career sacks after bringing down Joe Burrow in the second quarter. Garrett now has 100.5 career sacks.
- Rookie DT Mike Hall Jr.'s sack of Burrow in the fourth quarter was the first of his career.
- Njoku finished with eight receptions for 66 yards, cementing his third consecutive season with 500 or more receiving yards.
Game Highlights
Jerome Ford's 66-yard run on the opening play of the game marked his second straight game with a run of 60 or more yards.
Myles Garrett became the first player in NFL history to eclipse 100 career sacks before turning 29. Garrett's 29th birthday is next Sunday, Dec. 29.
Jerome Ford powered through for a third quarter touchdown for the Browns' first points of the game.
Scoring Plays
7:14 1Q | CLE 0 CIN 7 | Joe Burrow pass short middle to Tee Higgins for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7:32 2Q | CLE 0 CIN 14 | Joe Burrow pass short middle to Andrei Iosivas for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
0:00 2Q | CLE 0 CIN 17 | Cade York 59-yard field goal is GOOD.
5:50 3Q | CLE 6 CIN 17 | Jerome Ford run short right for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Dustin Hopkins extra point attempt is NO GOOD.
1:44 4Q | CLE 6 CIN 24 | Joe Burrow pass deep left to Ja'Marr Chase for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
What it means
The Browns now have a 3-12 record and have lost four straight games. Their last win came in Week 12 against the Steelers.
What's next?
The Browns will host the Dolphins in Week 17 for their final home game of the 2024 season. The game will kick off at 4:05 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29.
