The Cleveland Browns welcomed back Nick Chubb with open arms and closed out the visiting Detroit Lions 13-10 on Sunday afternoon.
Chubb returned for Cleveland (6-5) after missing last week’s blowout loss while on the reserve/COVID list. Chubb rushed for 130 yards on 22 carries and caught a short touchdown pass. Cleveland rushed for 184 yards and never trailed.
Baker Mayfield, playing through a slew of injuries, finished 15 of 29 for 176 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Cleveland’s defense held Detroit to just 245 yards of offense and forced two turnovers on interceptions from Malcolm Smith and Denzel Ward.
Detroit (0-9-1) hasn’t won a game since Dec. 6, 2020, and gets its next chance on Thanksgiving. The Lions saw a four-game winning streak against the Browns snapped.
Tim Boyle made his first career start in the NFL in lieu of injured Jared Goff (oblique) and struggled. Boyle finished 15 of 23 passing for just 77 yards and two interceptions. D’Andre Swift provided the bulk of the Lions’ offense with 136 yards and Detroit’s only touchdown on 14 carries.
Detroit got back into the game with Swift’s 57-yard run through the right side to cut a two-score deficit to 13-7 with 1:55 left in the third quarter.
Mayfield’s second interception, a tipped ball hauled in by A.J. Parker, set up Aldrick Rosas’ 43-yard field goal and a 13-10 Lions deficit with 9:10 remaining.
The Lions got the ball back once more, but elected to punt the ball from near midfield with 2:29 remaining. The Browns, leaning on Chubb, ran out the clock.
The Browns had the game well in hand at the half with a 13-0 lead and a defense that completely handcuffed the Lions. Detroit had just 80 yards of offense, on 24 plays, in the first half.
After Mayfield and Boyle traded poorly thrown interceptions, the Browns took control with an 84-yard scoring drive capped by Jarvis Landry’s 16-yard touchdown run out of a wildcat formation on the first play of the second quarter.
Cleveland made it 13-0 with 1:10 left in the half when Mayfield flipped a 5-yard touchdown to Chubb. The PAT was blocked, however. Browns kicker Chase McLaughlin also missed a 46-yard field goal.
–Field Level Media