The Browns’ defense dominated Andrew Luck all afternoon, but in the end, he got the best of a unit that forced four turnovers, scored more points than the offense and tried to bail out a struggling Brian Hoyer.
Luck completed a 1-yard TD pass to T.Y. Hilton with 32 seconds left to beat the Browns, 25-24, at FirstEnergy Stadium, coming back from a 21-7 deficit.
The loss dropped the Browns to 7-6 and last place in the AFC North. The 8-4-1 Bengals — who come to town next week — are in first by a half a game and the 8-5 Ravens and Steelers are tied for second.
“It’s a kick in the gut,” said coach Mike Pettine. “It’s an opportunity that we let go. We know our margin for error is now zero, that we’ve got to win our last three or we’re done.”
Hoyer, who managed three first downs in the second half and threw two more interceptions for eight in his last four games, had one last-ditch chance, but was picked off on his final play for the second time of the game. Josh Gordon opened the potential gamewinning drive by dropping a deep ball down the left sideline that would’ve put the Browns in field goal range.
Pettine must now what decide to do at quarterback. Does he turn the team over to Johnny Manziel?
“I haven’t even thought about it, so it’s something we’ll get together and discuss at some point,” he said. “It’s too fresh after this one to think forward.”
How did Hoyer play?
“He did not play well enough for us to win,” said Pettine. “We’re in a bottom line business.”
Hoyer said he expects to start Sunday when the Bengals comes to town.
“I’ll prepare that way,” he said. “Nothing’s been said.”
The Browns’ relentless defense tried to save the day with four turnovers, but it wasn’t enough. They scored twice — on an fumble recovery in the end zone by Craig Robertson and a pick-six by Justin Gilbert — but couldn’t stop Luck in the end.
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