Browns rally past Colts with Deshaun Watson sidelined after questionable late penalties set up go-ahead TD
The Cleveland Browns forced four turnovers and blocked a kick Sunday.
Then they got a big break from some questionable penalties in a 39-38 win over the Indianapolis Colts. They did so with Deshaun Watson on the sideline after he hit his head on the turf in the first half and left the game.
Late flags set up winning score
The Colts appeared to have a win wrapped up when E. J. Speed strip-sacked Browns backup quarterback P.J. Walker with 15 seconds remaining while Indianapolis held a 38-33 lead. But an illegal contact penalty on a play downfield negated the turnover.
Brutal finish for the Colts against the Browns.
E.J. Speed strip sacks P.J. Walker. DeForest Buckner recovers, apparently clinching the game.
But Darrell Baker is penalized for illegal contact, negating the turnover and giving the Browns a first down. pic.twitter.com/hoYe7b1Tea— The Comeback (@thecomeback) October 22, 2023
Cornerback Darrell Baker was flagged for contact with Browns receiver Amari Cooper near the goal line. The contact was marginal and didn't make an impact on the turnover in the backfield. But officials deemed it worthy of a flag that gave the Browns a first down.
Then a questionable pass interference penalty on a ball thrown through the back of the end zone set Cleveland up with first-and-goal from the 1-yard line.
𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗘 𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗟𝗦𝗘: This shouldn’t have been ruled pass interference due to the pass being uncatchable. pic.twitter.com/pq441VDiPE
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) October 22, 2023
Baker again drew the flag, this time for contact with Donovan Peoples-Jones in the back of the end zone. There was certainly contact, but the ball was uncatchable. Peoples-Jones didn't have a reasonable chance to make a play on the ball in bounds.
The Browns failed to convert on their first three tries, but broke through with a Kareem Hunt touchdown to take a one-point lead. The ensuing Colts drive ended with turnover over on a Gardner Minshew fumble, securing the Cleveland win.
After the game, Baker protested both penalty flags.
“I don’t agree with the penalties at all,” Baker told reporters. “When those balls are uncatchable, usually they don’t throw those flags out, especially when they’re initiating the contact with the corner.
"You can put your hands on them, too, as long as you’re looking for the ball. I’m not impeding their force or anything. I don’t know what else I can do better on that.”
The win capped a wild day for Cleveland's defense which saw Myles Garrett force two fumbles on strip sacks of Gardner Minshew and block a Colts field-goal attempt — all before halftime. The plays ultimately led to 17 points for the Browns, allowing them to take a 27-21 lead into halftime despite the injury to Watson, who played poorly before leaving the game in the first quarter after hitting the back of his head on the turf.
While the Browns made big plays on defense, they also surrendered 456 yards of offense to the Colts, who mounted two 75-yard touchdown drives in the second half. The second needed just two plays as Minshew found Michael Pittman Jr. for a 75-yard touchdown strike on second down that gave the Colts a 38-33 lead with 5:38 remaining.
Multiple would-be Browns tacklers failed to take down Pittman on his catch-and-run to the end zone. The miscues almost cost the Browns the game before they secured the win with the 80-yard go-ahead drive aided by the late penalties.
Watson injured again
Watson left the game after the back of his head bounced off the turf late in the first quarter. The Browns never officially ruled him out, but he remained sidelined for the rest of the game
The injury took place on a third-down play. Watson was under pressure from the Colts' pass rush and threw an incomplete pass downfield. Defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo hit Watson as he released the ball. Watson landed on his back, and the back of his helmet hit the turf. He remained on the ground on his back for several moments before walking off the field.
WOW: Here is the play where Deshaun Watson got injured, he gets shoved to the ground really hard by the defender and his head slams extremely hard
😳pic.twitter.com/KIIsLYQrPL— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) October 22, 2023
The Browns punted on their next snap, and Watson went into the sideline medical tent. After the Browns forced a turnover on the next Colts possession, Walker led Cleveland's offense back on the field.
Watson watched on the sideline as Walker led a short touchdown drive to tie the game at 14-14. He then entered the sideline medical tent for a second time for further evaluation. CBS reported that Watson cleared a concussion test, but he remained on the sideline through the first half. Watson sat in the second half amid reports that head coach Kevin Stefanski didn't want to risk further injury to his starting quarterback.
Stefanski reiterated after the game that Watson's "our starter moving forward" including next week's game against the Seattle Seahawks.
"It's always going to be my decision to protect our players," he said.
Watson said afterward he understood the decision.
"The decision was what's best for the team, and they felt that was best, and P.J. did a great job of finishing the game," Watson said.
Sunday was Watson's first game back after he missed two games with a rotator cuff injury on his throwing shoulder. He was 1-of-5 for 5 passing yards with an interception before leaving the game.
