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Final Score
Bills 0-3-0-8 — 11
Browns 0-3-0-7 — 10
Tyrod Taylor’s Methodical First Drive Ends in 0 Points
What do you do when @TyrodTaylor is 5/5 and scrambling through defenders like this?
You move the chains. #BUFvsCLE http://t.co/TOOkP7gXO1
It was a near perfect drive from Tyrod Taylor, who is looking to win the starting QB job. He completed all five of his passes for 39 yards, converted three third downs and ran for another 13. However, he took a sack on third down deep in Cleveland territory, and after Dan Carpenter missed the 46-yard field goal, Buffalo’s 16-play, 57-yard drive ended with a zero on the scoreboard.
Now, the Bills are missing their top five running backs and top three wide receivers, and the Browns are without their top eight defensive backs, so it’s important to not read too much into this. But Taylor looked calm in the pocket and made all the right decisions, which is exactly what he needs to do to win the starting job.
Josh McCown Throws 2 Early Interceptions…Both to Ronald Darby
McCown was perfect last week on his lone drive, but things didn’t go nearly as well against Rex Ryan’s swarming defense. He took an early sack from Jerry Hughes, and his second throw, which was thrown into extremely tight coverage, went off the hands of Gary Barnidge and was intercepted by second-round draft pick Ronald Darby.
In an early battle between elite O-line and elite D-line, it was the latter that won out:
On the second drive, McCown made another questionable decision, throwing a deep jump ball to 5’7″ Andrew Hawkins. The ball went over Hawkins’ head and into the hands of Darby, who returned the interception 21 yards.
Bills Strike First With 32-Yard Field Goal
After missing his first attempt of the game, Dan Carpenter easily knocked in a 32-yarder to give Buffalo a 3-0 lead early in the second quarter.
Once again, the star of the drive was Taylor, who made some nice throws and gashed Cleveland’s defense with 7-yard and 21-yard runs.
Browns Tie Game Before Halftime
#Browns scoring drive summary: Here’s how we got tied up.
#BUFvsCLE http://t.co/pUg2X1DPEH
Josh McCown finally got the Browns offense moving late in the second quarter, completing some throws and orchestrating a 15-play, 57-yard drive that was capped by a 41-yard field goal from Travis Coons. Both Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell, who are competing to be Cleveland’s bell-cow back, were involved during the drive.
Nate Ulrich provided a look at the final numbers for Cleveland’s starting QB:
That should do it for #Browns‘ Josh McCown tonight. 3 series, 7 of 10 passing for 57 yds, 2 INTs, 44.6 rating. Took 2 sacks. Led 1 FG drive.
Defenses Dominate in the 3rd Quarter
2014 @buffalobills: #3 against the pass
Johnny Manziel just learned why after losing 14 yards on this sack. http://t.co/FTctBCZ9Ah
With youngsters Johnny Manziel and EJ Manuel in the game under center, both defenses dialed up an array of blitzes, and neither offense was able to do much of anything.
The teams combined for 24 plays, 52 yards and zero points in the quarter, only once passing midfield. Barnburner.
Manziel Leads 96-Yard Touchdown Drive
Easy $$.
@JManziel2 carves up the Bills for a 21-yard score. #BUFvsCLE http://t.co/uWpXocZHDD
Well, well, well. After his first couple drives flamed out, Manziel finally settled into a groove early in the fourth quarter. The highlight play of the drive came on play action, as he rolled out of the pocket and delivered a 37-yard strike to Darius Jennings:
Play-action fake.
Huge rollout.
37-yard completion.
Johnny Football is in the building. #BUFvsCLE http://t.co/CjTKNVQNWS
Two plays later, he showed he can do it from the pocket, as well, as he kept his eyes downfield, stepped up and found Shane Wynn for the 21-yard score. On the impressive drive, Johnny Football went 5-for-6 for 82 yards.
Manuel Puts Together Game-Winning Drive
Others may have dropped their effort level in similar circumstances, but Manuel continued to fight late in this one. After what had been an otherwise forgettable night, he put together a nice 12-play, 86-yard drive and capped it off with a gorgeous touchdown throw to Andre Davis on 4th-and-goal from 14.
Rex Ryan understandably decided to go for two as to avoid overtime, and Manuel threw another dime to Davis to give Buffalo the 11-10 lead.
Game Preview
You know a play was money when it fakes out the entire defense.
Tyrod Taylor. 20 yards. #CARvsBUF http://t.co/ZOcqcvOJIF
All eyes will be on the quarterbacks in this one.
For the Bills, whose running back depth is waning dangerously thin after LeSean McCoy’s injury, Tyrod Taylor is set to draw the start after an impressive showing last week against the Carolina Panthers. He completed 4-of-8 for 77 yards, ran for another 47 and carries much more upside than Matt Cassel. If Taylor can take care of the ball, he may just run away–both literally and figuratively–with the starting job.
GM Doug Whaley on Tyrod Taylor: “He’s got everything you’re looking for. We just have to make sure he can produce when his time’s called.”
As for the Browns, Josh McCown is firmly entrenched as the starter, and he strengthened that position last week by leading an efficient touchdown drive on his only possession. However, Johnny Manziel continues to show flashes of the talent that made him a first-round pick last year, and if he exhibits further improvement over the next few weeks, head coach Mike Pettine may have no choice but to at least re-consider his depth chart.