Replay: Browns blow lead and are eliminated from playoff contention with loss to Saints

CLEVELAND — Two sub-.500 teams met Saturday in sub-zero windchill temperatures, as the Browns looked to continue their late-season surge.

However, the Browns blew a 10-point lead against the New Orleans Saints and were mathematically eliminated from qualifying for the playoffs with a 17-10 loss at FirstEnergy Stadium.

With the defeat, the Browns fell to 6-9, meaning they will finish the 2022 season with a losing record because they have just two games left.

On third-and-13 from the Cleveland 40-yard line, quarterback Deshaun Watson threw incomplete for wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones, but cornerback Paulson Adebo was flagged for defensive holding. The penalty gave the Browns a first down and kept their drive alive with 2:08 remaining.

The Browns advanced to the New Orleans 15, where they faced fourth-and-10. Watson had plenty of time, but he couldn't find anyone open and took a sack by defensive end Carl Granderson with 19 seconds left to play, sealing the Saints' victory on Christmas Eve.

Cleveland Browns quick hits:Browns eliminated from playoff contention with frigid loss to New Orleans Saints

The Browns had an opportunity to rally in earlier the fourth quarter, but they squandered it.

On fourth-and-2 at the Cleveland 39, Watson threw high and incomplete on a pass intended for Peoples-Jones, resulting in a turnover on downs with 6:55 left.

The Browns are 2-2 since Watson became eligible to play. Watson missed the first 11 games of the season because of an NFL suspension stemming from more than two dozen women accusing the quarterback of sexual misconduct or sexual assault during massage appointments.

With their first win outdoors this season, the Saints improved to 6-9.

The Browns announced the game-time temperature was 6 degrees with a real feel of minus-16. It was the second-coldest game the Browns have ever played in Cleveland, according to the team. The only colder one was a 1-degree playoff contest on Jan. 4, 1981, a 14-12 loss to the Oakland Raiders best known as the "Red Right 88" game.

The Saints entered the weekend 0-6 outdoors and 0-4 on natural grass this season. They were also 1-5 on the road, with the lone victory coming Week 1 in Atlanta while the roof of Mercedes-Benz Stadium was closed.

Here is the Beacon Journal's scoring updates and analysis from the game.

Saints take 17-10 lead with the help of Daniel Sorensen's takeaway

In the first half, the Browns built a touchdown drive off an interception.

In the second half, the Saints returned the favor.

On second-and-11 at the Cleveland 42, Watson's pass deflected off wide receiver David Bell as the rookie dived for the ball. Then it went into the hands of safety Daniel Sorensen. Sorensen returned the interception 36 yards to the Cleveland 15.

Four plays later, running back Alvin Kamara rushed for a 4-yard touchdown on first-and-goal. Wil Lutz's successful extra-point kick gave the Saints a 17-10 lead with 55 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Saints tie score 10-10 with Taysom Hill rushing for touchdown on first possession of second half

The Arctic-like conditions at FirstEnergy Stadium suggested a double dip would be unlikely, but the Saints pulled it off, scoring to end the first half and again to begin the second half.

On the opening series of the third quarter, the Saints produced a nine-play, 67-yard touchdown drive, capped by Taysom Hill's 8-yard run with 9:40 remaining in the third quarter. Rookie defensive end Alex Wright was among the Browns players who had a chance to tackle Hill, only to fail to bring him down short of the end zone.

Lutz's successful extra-point kick tied the score 10-10.

Browns lead Saints 10-3 at halftime after New Orleans ends second quarter with field goal

Facing fourth-and-2 at the Cleveland 5, the Saints called timeout with three seconds left in the second quarter and summoned Lutz. The kicker made a 23-yard field goal with no time left in the first half, and the Saints cut their deficit to 10-3 at halftime.

Earlier during the same possession, Hill rushed for 16 yards on first-and-10 from the New Orleans 45, and Browns rookie linebacker Tony Fields II drew a 15-yard penalty for doling out a helmet-to-helmet hit on Hill.

The personal foul aided the Saints' first scoring drive, a 10-play, 68-yard march.

Browns extend lead to 10-0 with Cade York's 30-yard field goal

Wide receiver Amari Cooper played a prominent role in the Browns' 17-play, 60-yard scoring drive in the second quarter.

On fourth-and-5 from the New Orleans 33, Watson passed the ball, and Cooper gained 21 yards on the catch-and-run play.

On third-and-10 from the 12, Watson targeted Cooper again, yet the connection didn't materialize. Cooper was wide open in the back of the end zone, but he slipped and fell while trying make the catch.

The Browns summoned kicker Cade York, and the rookie made a 30-yard field goal to give them a 10-0 lead with 4:07 left in the second quarter.

Grant Delpit's interception and Deshaun Watson's touchdown run help Browns earn 7-0 lead vs. Saints

The Browns were practically dead on offense to begin the game, going three-and-out on each of their first three possessions.

However, a takeaway by the Cleveland defense changed the complexion of the game.

On third-and-10 from the Cleveland 45, Saints quarterback Andy Dalton threw a pass intended for tight end Juwan Johnson. The ball deflected off Johnson as he made a diving attempt to catch it. Browns safety Grant Delpit intercepted the pass and returned it 40 yards to the New Orleans 30 with 2:44 left in the first quarter.

Then the Browns offense capitalized with a five-play, 30-yard scoring drive.

On third-and-3, Watson rushed off the left side for a 12-yard touchdown with 14:55 remaining in the second quarter. York's successful extra point gave the Browns a 7-0 advantage.

First quarter ends with no score between Browns and Saints

When the first quarter ended, the Browns and Saints were tied at no score.

The Saints outgained the Browns 55 to 28 yards, and New Orleans had three first downs compared with just one for Cleveland.

The big difference favoring the Browns, though, was Delpit's interception.

Here's some pregame information, including betting info, each team's roster and where the Browns ranked among AFC individual stat leaders entering the weekend:

What TV channel is the Saints at Browns game on?

The Browns and Saints will be on CBS. Kickoff Saturday is 1 p.m., in Cleveland. Here's what the rest of the schedule looks like around the NFL this weekend:

• TODAY

• Atlanta at Baltimore, 1 p.m.

• Buffalo at Chicago, 1 p.m.

• Cincinnati at New England, 1 p.m.

• Detroit at Carolina, 1 p.m.

• Houston at Tennessee, 1 p.m.

• N.Y. Giants at Minnesota, 1 p.m.

• Seattle at Kansas City, 1 p.m.

• Washington at San Francisco, 4:05 p.m.

• Philadelphia at Dallas, 4:25 p.m.

• Las Vegas at Pittsburgh, 8:15 p.m.

• SUNDAY

• Green Bay at Miami, 1 p.m.

• Denver at L.A. Rams, 4:30 p.m.

• Tampa Bay at Arizona, 8:20 p.m.

• MONDAY

• L.A. Chargers at Indianapolis, 8:15 p.m.

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Who are the announcers for the Saints-Browns game

On the call for CBS today are Spero Dedes and Jay Feely in the booth, and Aditi Kinkhabwala on the sidelines.

How to listen to Saints vs. Browns on the radio

Browns games air locally on the radio on 92.3 The Fan (WKRK-FM), ESPN 850 WKNR and WNCX (98.5 FM) with Jim Donovan (play-by-play), Nathan Zegura (color) and Jerod Cherry (sideline).

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New Orleans Saints at Cleveland Browns betting odds, moneyline

• Moneyline: Saints +130 (bet $100 to win $130) | Browns -155 (bet $155 to win $100)

• Against the spread: Saints +3 (-120) | Browns -3 (+100)

• Over/Under: 32 (O: -108 | U: -112)

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Browns vs. Saints all-time series

Cleveland leads the all-time regular-season series 13-5 vs. New Orleans. The Saints won the meeting 21-18 in Week 2 of the 2018 season on Sept. 16, 2018 at the Superdome.

Weather in Cleveland for Browns-Saints game

Expect pretty miserable conditions for the game. The temperature is expected to be around 12 degrees at kickoff and feature wind gusts up to 60 mph. The windchill could be around minus-20 degrees, and there is a 50% chance of snow, according to AccuWeather.

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Browns defense trending in the right direction

Since getting beat back 39-17 at Miami and 31-23 against Buffalo in back-to-back games, the Browns haven't allowed an opponent to score more than 23 points in their last four games, going 3-1 across that stretch. They have moved up to 18th in defensive efficiency, allowing an average of 342.4 yards per game. Dating back to their Halloween win over the Bengals on "Monday Night Football," the Browns have allowed a total of 33 points in their last three home games – wins against the Bengals, Buccaneers and Ravens.

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AFC North standings

• Cincinnati 10-4, .714, 369 points scored, 288 points allowed

• Baltimore 9-5, .643, 304 points scored, 263 points allowed

• Cleveland 6-8, .429, 313 points scored, 326 points allowed

• Pittsburgh 6-8, .429, 251 points scored, 309 points allowed

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Where Browns players rank among AFC individual leaders

AFC passing yards leaders

AFC rushing leaders

AFC receiving yards leaders

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AFC punting leaders

AFC punt return leaders

AFC kickoff return leaders

AFC touchdown leaders

AFC kicking leaders

2022 Cleveland Browns Roster

Head Coach: Kevin Stefanski

2022 New Orleans Saints Roster

Head Coach: Dennis Allen

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Browns score New Orleans Saints live game updates