DENVER — The Browns started hot and finished hot Saturday, and that's all they needed to take down the Broncos at Mile High.
The Browns kept their playoff hopes alive with a hard-fought, 17-16 victory over the Broncos. The win was Cleveland's second straight and fourth in its last five.
The Browns moved to 6-7-1 while the Broncos fell to 6-8 and effectively saw their playoff hopes dashed.
Baker Mayfield overcame a rocky first half to give the Browns offense just enough against a stout Denver defense. He finished 18-of-31 for 188 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
Cleveland, trailing 13-10 at the time, took the lead back for good early in the fourth quarter. A T.J. Carrie interception sparked the Browns to their first touchdown since early in the first quarter, as Mayfield finished off the 48-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Callaway.
The Broncos tightened the score with a short field goal with 4:35 to play. They got the ball back after stuffing the Browns on fourth down with less than 2 minutes and no timeouts, needing just the field goal to win. The Browns defense sealed it when Jabrill Peppers sacked Case Keenum on a fourth-and-10 at midfield.
The Broncos broke a 10-10 tie with 1:41 to play in the third quarter on a 42-yard Brandon McManus field goal. It came shortly after a 9-minute Browns possession to open the half came to an abrupt halt when Mayfield was strip-sacked by Adam Gotsis.
Cleveland came out hot and promptly took a 7-0 lead, as Mayfield and the Browns offense took advantage of a short field created by a dominant start of the game by the defense. On a third-and-9, Mayfield found Breshad Perriman in the end zone for a 31-yard touchdown — Perriman's first in more than two years.
Denver responded with a lengthy scoring drive of its own to even the score with 3:18 in the first quarter. Case Keenum capped the 13-play drive with a 1-yard scramble on third-and-goal.
With a chance to take a lead into the half, Mayfield threw a costly interception to end a Cleveland scoring threat. Looking deep down the middle for Jarvis Landry, Mayfield sailed his throw into the arms of Dymonte Thomas.
Player of the Game: Peppers made the defense's two biggest plays of the game. On top of his game-ending sack, Peppers picked off a deep Keenum heave by crossing the field and snatching the ball away from Courtland Sutton to prevent a second-quarter touchdown.
Best from the Broncos: Tim Patrick led a banged-up Broncos receiving corps with five catches for 65 yards.
Key Moment: Emmanuel Ogbah brought the pressure, and Keenum was forced into a terrible pass early in the fourth quarter. The result was a Carrie interception that set up Cleveland's go-ahead touchdown drive.
Stat of the Game: The Browns entered the red zone for the first time early in the fourth quarter and capitalized with Callaway's 2-yard touchdown catch. The Browns scored touchdowns in 12 straight red zone appearances before a drive later in quarter ended in a turnover on downs.
Who's Next?: The Browns are back home for the final time in 2019 when they host the Bengals on Dec. 23.
The Cleveland Browns play the Denver Broncos in Week 15.
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Breshad Perriman pulls in a touchdown catch as Denver Broncos defensive back Tramaine Brock, right, defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Breshad Perriman pulls in a touchdown catch as Denver Broncos defensive back Tramaine Brock, right, defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Breshad Perriman pulls in a touchdown catch as Denver Broncos defensive back Tramaine Brock, right, defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Breshad Perriman make a touchdown catch as Denver Broncos defensive back Tramaine Brock (22) and defensive back Dymonte Thomas (35) defend during the first half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield stands on the sidelines during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Broncos quarterback Case Keenum (4) gets the throw away as he is hit by Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Jamie Collins (51) during the first half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Broncos tight end Matt LaCosse (83) is hit by Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Genard Avery (55) during the first half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Cleveland Browns cornerback Terrance Mitchell (39) breaks up a pass intended for Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton during the first half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay (30) tries to elude Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Genard Avery (55) during the first half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Tim Patrick (81) tries to avoid a hit by Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Genard Avery (55) during the first half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Broncos tight end Matt LaCosse (83) is hit by Cleveland Browns free safety Jabrill Peppers (22) during the first half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Cleveland Browns free safety Jabrill Peppers (22) intercepts a pass in the end zone intended for Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton (14) during the first half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Antonio Callaway (11) makes a catch as Denver Broncos cornerback Bradley Roby defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Antonio Callaway (11) makes a catch as Denver Broncos cornerback Bradley Roby (29) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws as Denver Broncos outside linebacker Bradley Chubb (55) pursues during the second half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (85) signals first down as Denver Broncos strong safety Will Parks (34) walks away after the play during the second half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Antonio Callaway (11) celebrates his touchdown with teammate David Njoku (85) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Cleveland Browns defensive back T.J. Carrie (38) intercepts a pass intended for Denver Broncos wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton (17) during the second half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Cleveland Browns defensive back T.J. Carrie (38) celebrates his interception intended for Denver Broncos wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton (17) during the second half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (24) breaks free for a first down run as Denver Broncos outside linebacker Bradley Chubb (55) pursues during the second half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
