ATLANTA – The Cleveland Browns defeated the Atlanta Falcons 19-10 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The Browns’ offense pushed the run game early, yet the Falcons’ defense would stand strong. Baker Mayfield would find success in passing as the Browns moved the chains downfield. However, their drive would be put to a halt in the red zone by the Falcons defense.
Atlanta started Feleipe Franks under center for their opening drive. The Falcons would get to midfield on the opening drive, then go 4 and out. Mayfield would produce another solid drive down the field and this time would yield a return on their investment with the first score of the game. Mayfield connected with KhaDarel Hodge on a 22-yard touchdown pass at 4:38 in the first quarter. Cleveland led 7-3 at the end of the first.
The Atlanta offense would fight their way through the tough Browns defense and eventually get on the board with a field goal. Case Keenum would enter the game for Cleveland’s offense in the second quarter. Keenum would lead the Browns offense deep in the red zone, yet they came up empty and would turn the ball over on downs. The Falcons would have yet another 3-and-out as they found it difficult to generate a scoring drive. The Browns offense would move the change in the red zone and cap it off with a 32-yard field goal. Both teams struggled offensively towards the end of the half. The second quarter would end with a failed 56-yard field goal attempt by Chase McLaughlin.
The Falcons put Josh Rosen under center at the start of the second half. Atlanta’s offense would begin the second half with a fast 4 and out. Cleveland would also make another quarterback change with Kyle Lauletta under center. Lauletta would lead the offense deep into Falcon territory and the drive ended with a 28-yard field goal by McLaughlin. Rosen and the Falcon offense found success through the air. After a setback from a sack, the Atlanta offense could not recover in this series as a result they went 4 and out deep in Cleveland territory. Lauletta’s pass was intercepted by Kobe Jones. Jones would fumble on the return and Cleveland recovered. At the end of the third quarter, the score was Cleveland 13 and Falcons 3.
At the start of the 4th quarter, the Falcons secondary would wake up as Dwayne Johnson picks off Lauletta and fumbling on the return. Atlanta recovered to change possession. With Rosen under center, the Falcons’ offense gained traction as they moved the chains and capped off the drive with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Rosen to Juwan Green cutting the deficit to 3. Cleveland offense with another solid drive that resulted in a 10-yard touchdown pass from Lauletta to Dameon Davis. The Falcons offense could not find an answer with an immediate 3 and out. Lauletta and the Cleveland offense would end the game with two kneel-downs.
The Browns offense generated 443 yards of total offense with 372 from passing and only 71 from rushing. The Falcons offense had 241 in total offense 161 from passing yards and 80 yards of rushing. The Falcons fall to 0-3 on the preseason, they will move forward to take on the Philadelphia Eagles in their season opener two weeks from today.
