CLEVELAND — It was not pretty, but the Browns found a way.
Deshaun Watson connected with Harold Fannin Jr. for a 14-yard touchdown with 1:48 remaining, then found Denzel Boston for the two-point conversion as Cleveland rallied to defeat Carolina 21-18 Sunday at Huntington Bank Field.
The victory moves the Browns to 2-1 after consecutive wins over Tampa Bay and Carolina, but Cleveland made the afternoon far more difficult than necessary. The Browns committed 12 penalties for 85 yards, lost a fumble on the opening kickoff of the second half and managed only 259 total yards.
Fortunately, the defense was good enough to keep Cleveland in the game until the offense finally delivered.
Neither team scored in the first quarter before Andre Szmyt put the Browns ahead with a 48-yard field goal midway through the second. Cleveland's defense then created another short field by stopping Carolina on fourth down, and Watson eventually found Fannin for a 2-yard touchdown on fourth-and-goal to make it 10-0.
Carolina managed a 35-yard Ryan Fitzgerald field goal just before halftime, then took advantage of a Cleveland turnover immediately after the break. Michael Corley fumbled the second-half kickoff, giving the Panthers possession at the Browns' 30. The defense held Carolina to another field goal, limiting the damage and preserving a 10-6 lead.
That became a theme.
Fitzgerald added a 53-yard field goal late in the third quarter and another from 37 yards early in the fourth, giving Carolina its first lead at 12-10. Cleveland responded with a 45-yard Szmyt field goal to move back ahead 13-12, but Bryce Young finally found the end zone when he connected with John Metchie III for an 8-yard touchdown with 4:25 remaining. Carolina's two-point attempt failed, leaving the Browns behind 18-13.
Watson then produced Cleveland's best drive when it mattered most.
The Browns went 65 yards in eight plays, with Watson scrambling for 21 yards on one of the biggest plays of the possession. A roughing-the-passer penalty erased what initially appeared to be a Carolina interception, and after briefly leaving the game, Watson returned and found Fannin for the go-ahead touchdown. Boston then caught the two-point conversion to give Cleveland a 21-18 lead.
Carolina had one final opportunity, but the Browns defense finished the job. Mason Graham sacked Young with 1:34 remaining, and Ronnie Hickman intercepted him with 16 seconds left to seal the victory.
Watson finished 16-of-30 for 145 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. He also added 44 rushing yards as Cleveland leaned more heavily on the ground game than it had during the first two weeks.
Quinshon Judkins rushed 18 times for 70 yards, helping the Browns finish with 132 rushing yards after entering the game near the bottom of the league. Fannin led Cleveland with seven receptions for 52 yards and both touchdowns, while Boston caught two passes for 41 yards and the decisive two-point conversion.
The defense held Carolina to one touchdown despite surrendering 359 total yards. Graham led the pass rush with two sacks, while Young finished 26-of-48 for 290 yards, one touchdown and the late interception.
Cleveland still has plenty to clean up, particularly the penalties and special-teams mistakes, but a week after showing it could win an ugly game in Tampa Bay, the Browns did it again at home.
What’s Next
The Browns remain home for a short week and host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night at Huntington Bank Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET.
