CLEVELAND (AP) — Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill each had touchdowns and the New Orleans Saints came out and managed Cleveland’s arctic cold in a 17-10 victory on Saturday against Brownswho were officially eliminated from the playoffs.
The Saints (6-9) were 0-6 in away games this season before rallying to beat the Browns (6-9) in the coldest game in New Orleans history.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson led Cleveland to 15 for the Saints in the final minute, but was seeded fourth with 19 seconds left by Carl Granderson, ending the Browns’ playoff hopes.
Kamara scored on a 4-yard run late in the third quarter – set up by Daniel Sorensen’s interception of Watson and a 36-yard return – as the Saints, still in action in the playoff hunt for the NFC, overcame a 10-0 deficit.
New Orleans came in behind Tampa Bay by one game in the weak, wide-open NFC South.
Cleveland is guaranteed a losing season in coach Kevin Stefanski’s third year, having played most of it without Watson.
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Football fans watch pregame warmups before an NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints on Saturday, Dec. 21. 24, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane) -
Cleveland Browns defensive end Chase Winovich is seen during pregame play of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, in Cleveland . (AP Photo/Ron Schwane) -
Cleveland Browns fans watch from the Dawg Pound during the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints on Saturday, Dec. 21. 24, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard) -
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson reacts after his 12-yard touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints on Saturday, Dec. 11. 24, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard) -
New Orleans Saints fans carry paper bags during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns on Saturday, Dec. 21. 24, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
“Very disappointing,” Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett said after the game. “It’s not where we want to be. It’s not where we expected him to be at the start of the season.
Watson also expressed his disappointment with how the game ended and what it meant for the season.
It’s hard. It’s very difficult,” Watson told reporters. “You just have to, like I said, end those two weeks strong and then look back and review the season and what we could have done better and try to improve. Come back next season and try to do that. what we have to do.
Watson had a 12-yard TD rush but struggled to pass in windy conditions (15 of 31 for 135 yards) and fell to 2-2 as a starter since returning from his 11-game suspension for allegations of sexual misconduct.
The Browns’ porous rush defense was again a problem as the Saints, rotating Andy Dalton and Hill at quarterback and sending him straight to Kamara, rushed for 152 yards.
The temperature was 6 degrees at kickoff, making it the coldest regular season game in Cleveland history. Only the Browns’ 1981 playoff game (1 score) against the Oakland Raiders was worse.
It was the coldest at FirstEnergy Stadium, which opened in 1999. During the first quarter, the Browns invited all fans seated on the upper deck to move to the lower bowl and hundreds of fans accepted the ‘offer.
The Saints had never been so cold. Their previous coldest game was 24 degrees on December 21. He was born on December 26, 1993 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.
Watson’s TD scamper gave the Browns a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter.
With Cleveland’s offense unable to do anything productive, the defense was successful as safety Grant Delpit intercepted a pass from Dalton that hit the hands of tight end Juwan Johnson and sent it back to 40 meters on the 30 of the Saints.
Five plays later, Watson swept left on third down and scored intact for his first ground TD with Cleveland.
The Browns then ate 8:44 on the clock with a drive capped by rookie Cade York’s 30-yard field goal to take a 10-0 lead.
FOLLOWING
Browns: Visit Washington on Jan. 1.
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