The Browns’ defense put together an imperfect but promising performance against the Steelers last week. They built on those bright spots Sunday against the Giants, but it wasn’t enough to lift Hue Jackson and Co. to their first win of the season.
Instead, New York powered past Cleveland, 27-13, at FirstEnergy Stadium for their sixth-straight victory.
The Browns, who fell to 0-12 this season, held the Giants to 298 total yards, forced nine punts and trailed by a touchdown in the fourth quarter. But they committed three turnovers — including a All Pro defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul’s momentum-swinging fumble recovery for a touchdown — and were unable to shut down down receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who caught two touchdown passes including a late score that dashed Cleveland’s comeback aspirations.
Browns quarterback Josh McCown, who started in place of an injured Cody Kessler, threw for 322 yards and a 20-yard touchdown pass to rookie receiver Corey Coleman that cut the lead to 20-13 midway through the final period.
But on the previous series, Pierre-Paul returned the first McCown’s two fumbles 43 yards to put the Giants up two scores. That moment was something of a turning point in a game that watched Cleveland outgain New York in total yards.
The Browns and Giants exchanged seven punts before New York scored on a 13-yard pass from Eli Manning to Dwayne Harris, capitalizing on an Isaiah Crowell fumble midway through the second quarter.
Manning finished with just 194 yards on 15-of-27 attempts, but he tossed three touchdown passes to pace the Giants offense.
Terrelle Pryor caught six passes for 131 yards, but the rest of Cleveland’s receivers struggled to consistently produce against a tough secondary.
The Browns are on a bye next week and host Cincinnati the following weekend.
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