Browns nearly score miraculous victory over Raiders

CLEVELAND — Browns running back Nick Chubb would have rather lost by 40 points Monday night instead of two. Woudn’t have hurt quite as bad considering the extreme adversity Cleveland was forced to battle.

The kind caused by COVID-19 that prevented eight starters — including quarterback Baker Mayfield — from playing and head coach Kevin Stefanski from coaching while his team is mired in a battle for the AFC North crown.

“To lose by three seconds and a field goal is tough,” Chubb said moments after a 16-14 loss. “End of the day, it is over with now, so we have to keep moving forward. We still have a chance. Everything is ahead of us. We have to learn from this and keep going.”

The Browns nearly pieced together a victory Monday at FirstEnergy Stadium behind Chubb, third-string quarterback Nick Mullens, a makeshift offensive line and a defense determined to give them as many opportunities as possible.

The fourth-year Pro Bowl running back rushed for 91 yards and a score. Mullens managed the game while throwing for 147 yards and a touchdown without committing a turnover. The defense forced two turnovers, including one with 2:59 to play.

All for naught.

“That locker room right now is hurting. That is the most I have seen it in that kind of pain,” said special teams coordinator Mike Priefer, who served as the acting head coach against the Raiders. “We will have our job cut out for us this week in terms of coaches and getting them back up again and getting their spirits back up.”

The Browns would have been tied atop the AFC North with a victory. Instead, they fall to last place with games against the Green Bay Packers, rivals Steelers and Bengals still to play. That’s why a victory Monday was so crucial — even amid the absences.

They battled back from a 10-0 deficit, thanks to a strip sack in the third quarter that ignited a lethargic offense. Chubb ran for 34 yards on the ensuing drive, eclipsing his first-half total and scoring on a 4-yard run. The Raiders responded with a field goal and the Browns would go three-and-out once again.

But they, too, forced a three-and-out and Mullens expertly led a 14-play, 80-yard, fourth-quarter drive that he finished with a 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end Harrison Bryant on fourth down.

“The stadium was rocking. The fans were freaking awesome here,” Mullens said. “You are like, ‘We are going to finish this out. This is our thing. This is what we are going to do.’

“I really believed that, but unfortunately it just did not happen.”

Browns cornerback Greedy Williams intercepted Raiders quarterback Derek Carr on Cleveland’s next defensive series, leaving the offense to secure one first down to seal a crucial victory.

Run. Run. Run. Punt. Lose.

“The guys who were next men up, they were ready to go and get out there, ready to make some big plays and they did,” Browns defensive end Myles Garrett said. “We just needed a couple more.”

Contact reporter Sam Gordon at sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon on Twitter.