CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns scored in the final seconds of regulation and got a touchdown late in overtime to upset the Tampa Buccaneers, 23-17, Sunday afternoon at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.
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Quarterback Jacoby Brissett threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to David Njoku, who made a one handed catch, with 32 seconds left in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 17-17 and force overtime.
The Browns had the ball with 56 seconds left in overtime and faced a third and four from the Bucs 48-yard line. Brissett found a wide open Amari Cooper for a 45-yard catch to the Tampa three-yard line. Two plays later, Nick Chubb ran it in from three yards out to win the game.
This was expected to be Brissett’s final start as Cleveland’s quarterback. Deshaun Watson will be eligible to return from his 11 game suspension for sexual misconduct allegations.
Watson will start next week against his former team, Houston Texans, in Houston, Texas.
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Cleveland took a 7-0 lead on a 31-yard touchdown run by Anthony Schwartz but Tampa Bay responded as Tom Brady hit Chris Godwin from 10-yards out to tie it at 7-7. Cade York made a 51-yard field goal to put the Browns back up, 10-7, after one quarter.
Ryan Succop’s 42-yard field goal late in the second quarter tied the game at 10-10 at halftime. Brady found Ko Kieft for a five-yard touchdown pass to give the Buccaneers a 17-10 lead after three.
The Browns defense kept them close in the fourth quarter and their offense got the ball back with 2:10 left from the Bucs 40-yard line. After a pair of runs by Chubb, Cleveland was at Tampa’s 12-yard line. The Browns faced fourth and ten with 32 seconds left when Brissett found Njoku in the end zone for a touchdown to tie it at 17-17 and send the game into overtime.
The teams exchanged punts throughout overtime and the Browns took over at their 29-yard line with 2:45 remaining. Brissett hit Cooper for 17-yards to start the drive. Three plays later, the two connected for 45-yards to Tampa’s three-yard line. Chubb scored two plays later for the win.
Brissett went 23 of 37 for 210 yards and a touchdown. Nick Chubb ran 26 times for 116 yards and a score. Amari Cooper caught seven passes for 94 yards.
Brady was 29 of 43 for 246 yards and a pair of touchdowns . Chris Godwin had 12 catches for 110 yards and a score.
Cleveland improves to 4-7 overall and will play at Houston on December 4.
Kickoff is at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast on WHIO Radio and televised on Channel 7.
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