CLEVELAND, Ohio — Browns coach Kevin Stefanski had his players complimenting each other all week to inspire them to play complementary football.
It worked like a charm.
In the final 3:32 of the game, the Browns’ defense, offense and special teams all worked together to come from behind and beat the mighty Green Bay Packers 13-10 on Sunday at Huntington Bank Field.
They did it on a 35-yard Andre Szmyt field goal, a 1-yard Quinshon Judkins touchdown run after Grant Delpit’s interception, and then they blocked the Packers’ 43-yard field goal attempt.
For an encore, Szmyt boomed a 55-yard field goal as time expired to send the crowd into a frenzy.
It was the 40th anniversary of the Dawg Pound, and the fans went crazy — the ones who didn’t scurry for the exits when it started pouring. But the sun started to shine, and so did the Browns.
The Browns improved to 1-2, and the Packers fell to 2-1.
Down two starting offensive tackles, Flacco was unable to generate much offense against the mighty Packers defense, one ranked No. 3 in yards allowed heading in. Right tackle Jack Conklin was out with an elbow injury, and Dawand Jones, moving from the left to the right side to take Conklin’s place, left with a knee injury on the first series and did not return.
Finally, on a fourth-quarter drive, Browns rookie running back Judkins came alive against the second-best run defense in the NFL, ripping off back-to-back runs of 14 and 38 yards to the Packers 28. But after a series of penalties and bizarre plays, including an incomplete pass to backup center Luke Wypler in the end zone, the Browns had to settled for the 35-yard Szmyt field goal to pull the Browns to within 10-3.
Szmyt, who suffered a left calf in Friday’s practice and underwent an MRI, almost had the kick blocked. He was lucky to get it off and through the uprights.
The Browns defense, which dominated most of the game, then got the big turnover it was waiting for.
Safety Grant Delpit jumped a route and picked off Packers quarterback Jordan Love on third down, returning the ball 24 yards to the Packers’ 4. It snapped a streak of four straight games without a takeaway for the Browns, and seven straight games without an interception.
The Packers committed pass interference on the first play, a pass to Cedric Tillman in the end zone on which he tripped, but Judkins came through on first and goal from the 1 plowing in for the touchdown — the first of his career — to tie the game at 10 with 3:01 left.
The Packers, needing a field goal to win, took over at their 40 and drove to the Browns 21, where Devin Bush was confident that he forced Josh Jacobs to fumble with 1:56 left. After a review of the play, the officials ruled that Jacobs was down for a 1-yard loss.
The Browns responded with Shelby Harris blocking the field goal and Greg Newsome II recovering it.
The Browns held Love to 18 of 25 passing for 183 yards with one touchdown. They sacked Love five times. Cleveland allowed 81 rushing yards.
Flacco finished 21 of 36 passing for 142 yards, with one interception. Rookie running back Quinshon Judkins carried 18 times for 94 yards and his first NFL touchdown.
Packers make it 10-0
In a close, hard-fought game, the Packers increased their lead to 10-0 on a 3-yard TD pass from Love to John Fitzpatrick. The score capped a 14-play, 71 yard drive that kept the ball away from the Browns for 7:41. It featured a 31-yard catch and run by Josh Jacobs and a 16-yard pass to receiver Dontayvion Wicks.
First half highlights
Flacco was picked off by safety Xavier McKinney with 4 seconds left in the half when he heaved the ball down the left sideline to Jerry Jeudy. It sent the teams to the locker room with the Packers leading only 3-0.
The Packers, who scored 27 points in each of their first two games, both victories, were smothered by the Browns’ relentless defensive line in the first half.
Love went 10 of 13 for 65 yards in the first half and was sacked three times en route to a 87.0 rating.
On one long drive near the end of the half, the defensive line dropped him for two sacks — one by Alex Wright and one shared by Garrett and Adin Huntington — to force the Packers to punt from their own territory.
The two sacks, which sandwiched a Packers illegal-block-in-the-back penalty, bailed the Browns out of two setbacks on the drive. They were first flagged 5 yards for two many men on the field to wipe out Carson Schwesinger’s 7 yard sack, and then Garrett was caught jumping offsides on a third and 7 near midfield when the Browns would’ve gotten off the field on an incompletion.
Garrett, who rested on some 1st and 2nd downs in the first half, slapped himself on helmet for the mistake.
But he and the rest of the line came through to prevent points on the drive. The first sack was shared by Mason Graham and Maliek Collins on the opening drive, a three-and-out.
Dawand Jones suffers knee injury
Jones, who started the game at right tackle in place of Jack Conklin while Cornelius Lucas started at left tackle, suffered a right knee injury on the fourth play of the game when safety Javon Bullard dove at his legs.
Jones was helped to the medical tent by two members of the medical staff, and soon limped to the locker room. He did not return.
Jerry Jeudy’s first target
Jeudy’s first target didn’t come until about a minute remained in the first half, and he leaped to catch the big 17-yarder over the middle. Flacco was drilled after the throw, like he was several times in the first half.
Jeudy’s second target came on the pick at the end of the half.
Denzel Ward’s big breakup
Ward, who missed most of last week’s loss to the Ravens with cramps, broke up a huge third down pass to receiver Dontayvion Wicks on the first play of the second quarter. It forced the Packers to settle for a 39-yard Brandon McManus field goal for a 3-0 lead, which held up until the break.
1985 Browns honored before the game
23 members of the 1985 Browns were honored before the game to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Dawg Pound. The players turned and faced the Dawg Pound to a chorus of barks. On hand were founders of the Dawg Pound Hanford Dixon and Frank Minnifield, who also smashed the guitar as the Dawg Pound captains. Kevin Mack, Earnest Byner and Bernie Kosar were among those in attendance.
Charlie Kirk honored before the game
The Browns honored Charlie Kirk on the video board before the game, and had a moment of silence for the founder of Turning Point USA, who was assassinated on Sept. 10.
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