Cleveland Browns snap losing streak, hold on to beat Jacksonville Jaguars
CLEVELAND — All the Browns apparently needed was to get out of the California sunshine and into the cold and gray of Northeast Ohio.
A season-worst two-game losing streak was what the Browns brought home from their two-game western swing that included a week spent in Los Angeles. What awaited them was a game Sunday against the AFC South-leading Jacksonville Jaguars they needed to win in order to maintain their position in the playoffs race.
The Browns continued their home success by defeating the Jaguars 31-27 to maintain their grip on the top wild card spot in the AFC. They improved to 8-5, the only non-division leader in the AFC with that many wins, and a 6-3 record in AFC games.
The Jaguars cut a 10-point lead to four with 1:33 remaining. However, James Proche II recovered the onside kick to preserve the win.
Cleveland is 6-1 at home. It plays host to the Chicago Bears next Sunday afternoon.
Jacksonville fell to 8-5, but stayed a game in front of the Houston Texans in the AFC South standings.
Joe Flacco, after a week's worth of cloak-and-dagger out of the Browns on who would start at quarterback, started and played his second solid game for the Browns. He finished 26-of-45 passing for 311 yards, three touchdowns, one interception and a 92 passer rating.
Trevor Lawrence completed 28 of 50 passes for 257 yards, with three touchdowns, three interceptions and a 65.2 passer rating.
Trevor Lawrence to Evan Engram pulls Jaguars within three points
The Browns had to sweat things out a bit after the Jaguars turned Anthony Walker Jr.'s pass interference flag into a 2-yard touchdown pass from Trevor Lawrence to Evan Engram with 1:33 remaining. Myles Garrett sacked Lawrence on the 2-point conversion play, leaving it a 31-27 Browns lead.
The score was set up when Walker was called for interference at the Browns 2 on a third-down pass from the Cleveland 27. It took the Jaguars three tries to get the score, but the third time was the charm.
Dustin Hopkins gets Cleveland Browns a two-score lead late
The Browns netted nothing on three plays after getting the fourth-down stop on the Jaguars. That left them with a fourth-and-10 from the Jacksonville 37.
So why not try a 55-yard field goal by Dustin Hopkins? That's what the Browns did, and they were rewarded with a 31-21 lead with 3:10 remaining.
Browns defensive rookies rise up to make fourth-down stop
The Jaguars got the ball at their own 20 after a Browns punt went into the end zone with 4:24 remaining. Jacksonville picked up 11 yards on the first play, then had back-to-back incompletions before Trevor Lawrence scrambled for 7 yards to make it fourth-and-3 from the Jaguars 38.
That's when Ronnie Hickman and Cameron Mitchell combined to break up a fourth-down pass to Zay Jones with 3:30 remaining.
Jaguars penalty, Kareem Hunt run help Browns keep the drive alive
The Browns found themselves forced to punt when James Hudson III was called for a false start, followed by an incomplete pass, that left them in fourth-and-6 from their own 47.
Then Jacksonville's Adam Gotsis jumped offsides to make it a fourth-and-1. Kareem Hunt followed that up with a 3-yard run to pick up the first down.
The drive, though, stalled at the Jaguars 42, where the Browns punted it away with 4:24 remaining.
Trevor Lawrence throws TD pass after Jaguars appear to get away with false start
The Jaguars pulled within 28-21 with 8:52 remaining when Trevor Lawrence hit Parker Washington for a 19-yard touchdown pass. It was Lawrence's second touchdown pass of the game.
However, the Browns argued even before the pass was completed that right guard Brandon Scherff moved before the snap. There was no flag thrown.
Grant Delpit suffers groin injury before colliding with Myles Garrett
The good news was the Browns didn't lose two players to injuries on a first-down blitz attempt with 9:30 remaining. The bad news was the collision between safety Grant Delpit's head and defensive end Myles Garrett's knee resulted in Delpit having to go to the medical tent with an injury.
Garrett did not leave the game. Delpit was ruled as questionable to return for what was actually a groin injury that occurred before the collision.
Fourth-down gamble turns into David Bell TD pass
The Browns looked like they were going to get nothing out of Greg Newsome II's interception. They had a fourth-and-3 from the Jacksonville 41 and elected to go for it.
David Bell was lined up in the middle of three receivers on the formation when he ran a little curl off the line of scrimmage. Jacksonville's Darious Williams, who had picked off Flacco earlier, fell down as he lingered between Bell and David Njoku.
That was all the space Bell needed to run untouched 41 yards for his first career touchdown. It also gave the Browns a 28-14 lead with 12:34 remaining.
Greg Newsome II gets into the takeaway act to Browns defense
The Browns have intercepted Trevor Lawrence three times through just over three quarters. The third time came when Greg Newsome II pulled in a deep pass at the Cleveland 48 that was intended for Calvin Ridley.
It was the fourth turnover of the game for Jacksonville. The teams have combined for seven turnovers.
End 3rd quarter: Cleveland Browns 21, Jacksonville Jaguars 14
The Browns are taking a 21-14 lead into the fourth quarter.
Cleveland defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo left the game after recording a sack of Trevor Lawrence on the final play of the third quarter. Okoronkwo had sustained a groin injury earlier in the game.
Jaguars turn Joe Flacco's fumble into a TD run by Travis Etienne Jr.
The Jaguars cashed in on a fumble by Joe Flacco when Travis Etienne Jr. scored from a yard out with 4:37 remaining in the third quarter. Etienne was initially ruled to have been down short of the goal line, but it was overturned on a challenge by Jacksonville.
The score cut the deficit to 21-14 in favor of the Browns. Both Jacksonville scores came after Browns fumbles inside the Cleveland 30.
Antonio Johnson's safety blitz forces Joe Flacco fumble
Jacksonville rookie safety Antonio Johnson came off the right side of the Browns offensive line free on a blitz and drilled Joe Flacco before he could get rid of the ball. That caused Flacco to fumble the ball, which the Jaguars' Jeremiah Ledbetter recovered at the Browns 25.
It was the third turnover of the day for the Browns. It's the sixth of the day for both teams combined in the game.
Turnovers turns into Kareem Hunt TD run for Cleveland Browns
The Browns cashed in on Anthony Walker Jr.'s fumble recovery. It took seven plays and a fourth-down quarterback sneak by Joe Flacco to help do so, but the Browns made it 21-7 after getting the third Jaguars turnover of the game.
Kareem Hunt capped the drive by taking a direct snap on third-and-3 from the Jacksonville 4 and running it into the end zone with 9:39 remaining in the third quarter.
Anthony Walker Jr. forces Jacksonville turnover deep in Jaguars territory
The Jaguars got backed up in their own territory on their first possession of the third quarter after a big loss on a run and a penalty. On a third-and-21 play from their own 14, Trevor Lawrence hit Parker Washington for an 8-yard gain.
However, Browns linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. stripped Washington of the football. In the same motion, Walker recovered the football at the Jacksonville
Ethan Pocic ruled out with stinger for Cleveland Browns
The Browns ruled out center Ethan Pocic with a stinger. Pocic left the game on the second play of the second Browns possession.
Nick Harris has played in Pocic's place.
Halftime: Cleveland Browns 14, Jacksonville Jaguars 7
The Browns, despite doubling up the Jaguars in total yards, have taken a 14-7 lead into the locker room at halftime. They have a 266-129 edge in total yards.
Joe Flacco was 17-of-28 passing for 212 yards and two touchdowns, an interception and a 93.2 passer rating for the Browns. Trevor Lawrence is 11-of-22 passing for 100 yards with a touchdown, two picks and a 40.0 passer rating.
Jacksonville gets the ball to start the second half.
Browns CB Martin Emerson Jr. with his second interception to turn Jaguars away
Martin Emerson Jr. doubled up his season interception total in the first half. He came up with his second pick with 1:47 remaining in the first half at the Browns 8.
Yet again, Emerson seemed to be the main target on the Trevor Lawrence throw, which he snared as he went to the ground. He got up and returned it to the Browns 19.
Jordan Elliott goes to locker room with concussion for Browns
The Browns lost a defensive lineman right before the half ended when tackle Jordan Elliott went to the locker room. Elliott had a towel on his head as he left the tent.
Elliott was diagnosed with a concussion. He will not return.
Amari Cooper's fumble sets up Jaguars for TD pass
The first play after the Jaguars punt, the Browns gave the ball right back to set up a Jacksonville touchdown. It started when Amari Cooper was stripped by the Jaguars' Andrew Wingard, and the fumble was recovered by Devin Lloyd and returned to the Browns 12.
Two plays later, Trevor Lawrence found Evan Engram for a 10-yard touchdown. That cut the Browns lead to 14-7 with 6:14 remaining in the first half.
Browns safety Grant Delpit's sack turns the Jacksonville Jaguars away after interception
The Jaguars looked like they may turn the Joe Flacco pick into points. They had it third-and-4 at the Browns 32.
That's when safety Grant Delpit, who agreed to a contract extension over the weekend, made one of the biggest plays of the first half. He swooped in and tripped up Trevor Lawrence for a 13-yard sack at midfield.
Joe Flacco's interception ends promising Browns offensive drive
The Browns were eyeing the jugular after Martin Emerson Jr.'s interception. With Jerome Ford's 28-yard run setting the tone, they were down to the Jaguars 37.
That's when Joe Flacco threw an ill-advised pass to rookie cornerback Darious Williams for an interception. Part of the reason why Williams was able to intercept the pass was because receiver Cedric Tillman had collided with a Jaguars defender.
Martin Emerson Jr. turns into receiver for interception of Trevor Lawrence
Martin Emerson Jr. wasn't the intended receiver on Trevor Lawrence's deep pass on first down after the Browns took a 14-0 lead. He may as well have been, though, as he turned into one to make a diving interception at the Browns 25.
It's Emerson's third pick of the season.
Joe Flacco to David Njoku for second Cleveland Browns TD
Joe Flacco has found a rapport with David Njoku. At least, he's found the tight end enough for a 14-0 lead with 13:40 left in the first half.
On second-and-5 from the Jacksonville 30, Flacco ran a play-fake to Jerome Ford and found a wide-open Njoku on a crossing pattern. Njoku stiff-armed Jaguars free safety Andre Cisco at about the 12 and then ran into the end zone.
The two have hooked up for both Browns touchdowns. Njoku has three catches for 63 yards on four targets and two touchdowns.
End 1st quarter: Cleveland Browns 7, Jacksonville Jaguars 0
The Browns own a 7-0 lead on the Jacksonville Jaguars after one quarter. They hold a 95-68 edge in total yards.
Joe Flacco is 6 of 11 for 82 yards and a touchdown, with a 108.9 passer rating. Trevor Lawrence is 6 of 12 for 46 yards and a 59.7 passer rating.
Joe Flacco cools off after opening possession for Browns
Joe Flacco was perfect on the Browns opening drive, which ended in a touchdown pass to David Njoku. He was 4 of 4 for 66 yards on the drive.
Flacco completed just 1 of his next 6 passes for minus-1 yard through the next three quarters. He's 5 of 10 for 65 yards with a 104.2 passer rating.
Ethan Pocic ruled to have stinger, return questionable
The Browns announced center Ethan Pocic had a stinger when he left on the second offensive possession. He was listed as questionable.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo had a groin injury when he left the game. However, he returned on the subsequent series.
Browns punter Corey Bojorquez uncorks a 75-yard boot to flip field
Corey Bojorquez has been an undervalued weapon for the Browns as a punter. He showed it again with just under 4:30 remaining in the first quarter when he punted from his own end zone.
However, the punt forced Jaguars return man Parker Washington to run and catch it at his own 23, with his momentum carrying him backwards. He eventually pulled it in and was tackled at the Jacksonville 18.
The punt traveled 75 yards, with a net of 72 yards.
Ogbo Okoronkwo injured on Travis Etienne run in 1st quarter
At the same time Browns center Ethan Pocic was walking to the locker room with trainers, defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo was injured when Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. took a direct snap for 16 yards. Okoronkwo was down for a moment before walking into the medical tent.
Okoronkwo was only in the tent for a moment before returning to the sideline.
Ethan Pocic injured on second Cleveland Browns possession
The Browns sustained another offensive line injury on the second play of the second offensive possession. Center Ethan Pocic remained down for a minute after Kareem Hunt's 3-yard run.
Pocic would eventually get up and walk to the medical tent. Nick Harris replaced him at center.
No word yet on Pocic's injury.
Cleveland Browns make Jaguars, Trevor Lawrence go 3 and out
The Browns defense showed up on the first Jaguars offensive possession. They forced a three and out, with, Za'Darius Smith capping it with a sack of Trevor Lawrence for the first defensive line sack since Nov. 19 for the Browns.
The Browns opened with this defensive lineup:
DE: Myles Garrett
DT: Jordan Elliott
DT: Dalvin Tomlinson
DE: Za'Darius Smith
LB: Anthony Walker Jr.
S: Grant Delpit
Nickel: Cameron Mitchell
CB: Greg Newsome II
CB: Martin Emerson Jr.
S: Ronnie Hickman
Joe Flacco perfect in guiding Cleveland Browns to first-possession TD
Joe Flacco is now 2 for 2 on guiding the Browns to opening-drive touchdowns. This time, it was because he was 4 for 4 for 66 yards on the Browns' first possession against the Jaguars.
The last of those throws was a 34-yard play-action touchdown pass to a wide-open David Njoku with 11:39 remaining in the first quarter. The score gave the Browns a 7-0 lead.
Cleveland Browns and Joe Flacco start with the football
Jacksonville won the toss and deferred to the second half. That gave the Browns, and Joe Flacco, the ball to start.
Here's the lineup they ran with on the first play:
QB: Joe Flacco
RB: Jerome Ford
TE: David Njoku
WR: Amari Cooper
WR: Elijah Moore
TE: Harrison Bryant
LT: Geron Christian
LG: Joel Bitonio
C: Ethan Pocic
RG: Wyatt Teller
RT: James Hudson III
Juan Thornhill ruled out with calf injury for Cleveland Browns
Right before kickoff, the Browns announced safety Juan Thornhill would not play due to a calf injury. Thornhill has battled the injury throughout the season.
Rookie Ronnie Hickman started in his place.
Joe Flacco will start at QB for Cleveland Browns
The decision everyone expected came to pass on Sunday that Joe Flacco is going to be the Browns' starting quarterback for the home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
It was the move that seemed destined to happen after the 16-year pro had a solid debut in the Browns' loss last Sunday at the Los Angeles Rams. When rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson cleared concussion protocol during the week, it gave head coach Kevin Stefanski an opportunity for a little gamesmanship with Jacksonville.
The Jaguars did not announce Trevor Lawrence was going to start Sunday until gameday. Lawrence spent all week recovering from an ankle injury he suffered last Monday's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Flacco was still on the practice squad this week, where he has been since the Browns signed him on Nov. 20. For the second game in a row, they made him a gameday elevation.
The former Super Bowl Most Valuable Player with the Baltimore Ravens was not with a team between the end of the last season and when the Browns signed him the week of Thanksgiving. Two weeks after that, he threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns, along with an interception, last Sunday against the Rams.
Denzel Ward ruled out for Cleveland Browns
Cornerback Denzel Ward was ruled out against the Jaguars as he continues to recover from a shoulder injury. It's the third consecutive game the two-time Pro Bowler has missed with the injury, which he suffered against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Martin Emerson Jr. will once again start in Ward's place. Greg Newsome II remains the No. 2 cornerback, while Cameron Mitchell and Mike Ford Jr. are the likely candidates to fill in as the No. 3 corner.
Ward was one of two Browns starters who were initially listed as questionable Friday, only to be ruled out due to injury. Right tackle Dawand Jones was ruled out Saturday with a knee injury he sustained at practice Thursday.
James Hudson III will start in place of Jones. Hudson started in Week 10 at the Baltimore Ravens for Jones, and also was out first the following week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, although Jones did play in that game.
The Browns' remaining inactive players are all rookies: linebacker Mohamoud Diabate, center Luke Wypler, defensive end Isaiah McGuire and defensive tackle Siaki Ika.
Trevor Lawrence will start at QB for Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars ended the mystery of who they will start at quarterback more than 90 minutes before kickoff by announcing Trevor Lawrence will be the starter. Lawrence had left Monday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals with an ankle injury.
Lawrence was listed as questionable coming into the game. However, he show no signs of a limp while going through warmups.
How to watch, stream and listen to the Cleveland Browns vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
TV channel: CBS WOIO-TV (Channel 19).
Stream: Paramount+, Fubo (free trial).
Announcers: Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Charles Davis (analyst) and Evan Washburn (sideline reporter).
How to listen to the Cleveland Browns vs. Jacksonville Jaguars on the radio
The Cleveland Browns Radio Network will carry the game, with Jim Donovan (play-by-play), Nathan Zegura (analyst) and Je'Rod Cherry (sideline reporter) on the call. Among the affiliates in the Akron-Canton area are WAKR-AM 1590, WONE-FM 97.5, WHBC-AM 1480, WQKT-FM 104.5, WKRK-FM 92.3, WKNR-AM 850 and WNCX-FM 98.5. It can also be heard on Sirius/XM, either on channel 138 or 381.
Compass Media Networks will be carrying the game on various affiliates. Bill Rosinski (play by play) and Steve Beuerlein (analyst) will be on the call.
The Browns have also started a Spanish-language broadcast, with Rafael “Rafa” Hernández-Brito (play-by-play) and Octavio Sequera (analyst) on the call. Games will be streamed on La Mega Cleveland, as well as heard on WNZN-FM 89.1 in Lorain and WVKO-FM 103.1 in Columbus.
Browns-Jaguars odds, money line, over/under
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10 a.m. ET, Saturday.
Moneyline (ML): Browns -125 (bet $125 to win $100) | Jaguars +105 (bet $100 to win $105)
Against the spread: Browns -1.5 (-110) | Jaguars +1.5 (-110)
Over/Under (O/U): 36 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars injury report
Browns: Cornerback Denzel Ward (shoulder), questionable; right tackle Dawand Jones (knee), out; receiver Amari Cooper (concussion), questionable; cornerback Cameron Mitchell (hamstring), questionable
Jaguars: Quarterback Trevor Lawrence (ankle), questionable; cornerback Christian Braswell (hamstring), out; cornerback Tyson Campbell (quad), out; running back Travis Etienne Jr. (ribs), questionable; nose tackle Folorunso Fatukasi (heel), questionable; cornerback Tre Herndon (concussion), out; running back D'Ernest Johnson (knee), questionable; offensive tackle Walker Little (hamstring), out; tight end Brenton Strange (foot), out
Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 13
The Browns fell to 7-5 this season with a 36-19 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. The game marked Joe Flacco's Browns debut, and he was solid with 253 passing yards and two touchdowns. The Browns were within 20-19 with less than nine minutes remaining, although Dustin Hopkins' missed point-after kick prevented them from tying the game. However, his mid-fourth quarter interception — by former Browns safety John Johnson III — opened the door to a game-ending 16-0 Rams run.
The Jaguars fell to 8-4 on the season with a 34-31 overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The game was marked by Trevor Lawrence's ankle injury, which knocked him out of the game with 5:27 remaining in regulation. Lawrence had thrown for 258 yards and two touchdowns up until that point. C.J. Beathard replaced Lawrence and threw for 63 yards, but couldn't guide the Jaguars to the win.
Cleveland Browns vs. Jacksonville Jaguars series
Sunday's game will be the 19th meeting between the Browns and the Jaguars. The series began in 1995, when Jacksonville debuted as an NFL franchise.
Overall: Jaguars 12-6
In regular season: Jaguars 12-6
In playoffs: N/A
In Cleveland: Jaguars 7-2
In Jacksonville: Jaguars 5-4
Streak: Browns won the last meeting
Last meeting: Browns won 27-25 in Jacksonville on Nov. 29. 2020
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on Twitter at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns snap losing streak, hold on to beat Jaguars
