With 12 minutes remaining, the Browns had forced two turnovers, limited Bills rookie star Sammy Watkins to 11 yards receiving and not yielded a third-down conversion.
And they trailed by 17 points.
“That’s crazy, right,” Browns safety Donte Whitner said following a 26-10 loss to the Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. “. . . We fought but we just can’t turn the ball over, especially when one goes back for a touchdown. When we get into the red zone we’ve got to get into the end zone. But it’s a team loss, all of us fight together. We’re not going to overreact to this, but I wish we could have a few of those plays back.”
The Browns wasted a terrific defensive effort in a frustrating setback. They held the Bills to 287 yards, intercepted Kyle Orton twice and surrendered just 15 first downs.
But it wasn’t enough to overcome an inept Browns offensive performance that lost three turnovers and failed to capitalize on the two created by their defense. In a game that ended with Brian Hoyer benched and Johnny Manziel directing a late TD drive, Browns defenders were careful not to take out frustrations on the offense or choose sides.
“We’re a team, bro,” said defensive lineman Desmond Bryant, who recorded a sack and seven tackles. “We do the best to try and put them in a position to win and they’re going to do the same for us . . . There were times we let the offense down this season and they carried the team and it’s been vice versa, too.”
The Browns have caused 17 turnovers in the last seven games, but the offense has struggled to convert many into touchdowns. Cornerback Joe Haden, who’s intercepted a pass in three straight games, picked off Orton early in the third quarter at the Bills 30.
The big play gave the Browns an opportunity to extend a 3-0 lead. Instead, they went backwards eight yards with a Hoyer sack taking them out of field-goal range.
“I’m not going to go against our ‘O'” Haden said. “It is what it is, they’re out there trying their best, putting in work. I’m going to stick what I know and that’s the defensive side of the ball.
The veteran corner was excellent on a day he blocked a field goal and blanketed Watkins, holding him to three catches for 11 yards. He was part of a defense that allowed the Bills to convert just two third downs on 15 attempts.
Of course, the Browns were just 3-of-12 on the possession down and committed three turnovers, including a Terrance West fumbled returned for an 18-yard touchdown. In the fourth quarter, Buffalo started drives on the Browns’ 48, 21 and 23.
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