Browns fall to Bengals 31-14, facing Texans in first round of playoffs

*Related video above: The Browns’ first playoff game is on the road but a home playoff game isn’t out of the question if they win the wild card game*

CLEVELAND (WJW) – The Cleveland Browns, resting most of their starters ahead of the NFL Playoffs, fell to the Cincinnati Bengals in the last game of the regular season Sunday afternoon, 31-14.

It was a damp and gray day along the mighty Ohio River as the “Battle of Ohio” kicked off in Cincinnati.

Back-to-back interceptions started the game as Cleveland quarterback Jeff Driskel threw an interception on the Browns’ first drive but the Browns then picked off a pass by Bengals QB Jake Browning. Driskell was recently signed by Cleveland to start Sunday so Cleveland QBs Joe Flacco and PJ Walker can rest for the upcoming Wild Card game next weekend.

Bengals took a 1st quarter lead of 7-0 on a 1-yard TD run by Joe Mixon.

Mixon scored another touchdown on a 6-yard TD pass from Browning to put Cincinnati up 14-0 after the 1st quarter.

It’s clear that with the Browns resting so many starters including a powerhouse player many say will win Defensive Player of the Year in Myles Garrett, Sunday’s version of the Browns are not the same team that has been dominating opponents recently.

Browning threw a 3-yard TD to Andrei Iosivas to give Cincinnati a 21-0 lead in the 2nd quarter.

Bengals tacked on a field goal to take a 24-0 lead at halftime.

Then, in the third quarter, Iosivas’ second touchdown of the game brought Cincinnati’s lead to 31-0.

The Browns finally made their way onto the board in the last quarter, with a pass from Driskel to David Bell turning into a 31-yard touchdown.

Less than 10 minutes later, Bell made his second touchdown of the game, but the Bengals still claimed a 31-14 win Sunday afternoon.

The Houston Texans will host the Browns for the first round of the playoffs at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.

The Browns ended their regular season with an 11-6 record.

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The Browns VS (8-8) Bengals game was meaningless as far as the playoff picture.

As Cleveland rested players for this last regular season game, combined with injuries at quarterback earlier this season, they signed a practice squad quarterback in Jeff Drsikel from Arizona to start Sunday against the Bengals. The Browns are Driskel’s sixth team in five years.

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The Browns did not play QB Joe Flacco who seemingly parachuted into Cleveland in December, gifting the team four wins during the holiday season while wrapping up a Wild Card playoff spot.

Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski said Friday that Myles Garrett would also not play, which meant the Brown’s defense had to contain Bengals versatile running back Joe Mixon without Garrett.

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After Bengals star QB Joe Burrow had a season-ending injury, backup Jake Browning has been attracting a lot of attention, leaving Stefanski impressed.

“Jake (Browning) has done a nice job. You know, I had Jake in Minnesota. He’s a person I think very highly of and he’s had a ton of success in his life. So not shocked by the success he’s having this season,” Stefanski said.

“I think he’s running their offense well. There are subtle differences between what they’re doing with Jake versus what they’re doing with (Joe) Burrow, just schematically. But he’s doing a nice job,” Stefanski added.

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