Browns' offense is punchless once again in the second half as an early lead is wasted for the second consecutive week.
Josh Cribbs pulls away from the Chiefs' Brandon Carr for a touchdown reception in the second quarter of Sunday's game at Cleveland Browns Stadium. But Cribbs' score was one of the few bright moments for the Browns' offense in a 16-14 loss to Kansas City.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- If this is what the "favorable'' part of the schedule looks like, Browns fans would be wise to hide their eyes for weeks to come.
The Browns slipped to 0-2 after a 16-14 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday afternoon at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
The Browns lost at Tampa Bay in Week 1. The Buccaneers and Chiefs were awful last year. Of course, so were the Browns.
The next seven games for the Browns are against the Ravens, Bengals, Falcons, Steelers, Saints, Patriots and Jets.
The Chiefs are 2-0.
The Chiefs took a 16-14 lead on Ryan Succop's 23-yard field goal with 7:41 left in the fourth quarter. It capped a 14-play, 68-yard drive that lasted 6 minutes, 31 seconds.
Among those making plays for the Chiefs was Northeast Ohio native Chris Chambers.
The Browns did nothing on the ensuing possession and punted. The Chiefs moved into Cleveland territory, then punted. Dustin Colquitt pinned the Browns at their 7 with 3:41 left. A three-and-out and punt gave Kansas City the ball at the Cleveland 45.
The Chiefs faced a fourth and a foot from the Cleveland 35 with two minutes left. Thomas Jones leapt over the pile for what was ruled on the field as a first down. Replay confirmed the call. The Chiefs killed the clock.
Third quarter: The Browns led the Chiefs, 14-13, through three quarters.
The Browns faced a third-and-13 in their own territory when the quarter ended.
The Chiefs received the ball to begin the third and sustained a drive that produced a field goal. They used 11 plays to cover 63 yards in 6:15, Ryan Succop's 26-yard field goal cutting the deficit to 14-13.
On the Browns' first possession of the second half, Seneca Wallace missed connections with Evan Moore on third down. But defensive back Kendrick Lewis was flagged for unnecessary roughness when he went high to hit Moore, giving the Browns a first-and-10 at the Kansas City 46. The Browns soon punted.
Moore exited because of a head injury and will not return.
Second quarter: The Browns led the Chiefs, 14-10, at halftime. At halftime of Week 1 at Tampa Bay, the Browns led the Buccaneers, 14-10, before losing, 17-14.
The Browns began the quarter with a first-and-goal at the 8. On the final play of the first quarter, Seneca Wallace had connected with Ben Watson for 44 yards.
The Browns seemingly were stopped on third-and-goal, but Chiefs linebacker Mike Vrabel was flagged for illegal contact. Vrabel bumped into Brian Robiskie in the end zone, giving the Browns a first down.
Peyton Hillis plowed in from one yard out on the right side to give the Browns a 7-3 lead with 12:31 left. The drive covered 98 yards in 10 plays and lasted 5 minutes, 6 seconds.
The Browns gave back the points less than three minutes later. Wallace pumped, reloaded and threw off his back foot intended for Chansi Stuckey. Brandon Flowers stepped in front of Stuckey near the right sideline, intercepted and raced 33 yards for the touchdown at 10:02.
On the ensuing possession, Wallace threw a 65-yard TD pass to Joshua Cribbs as the Browns pulled ahead, 14-10. It came on third-and-1 with 8:43 remaining. Cribbs sprinted past Brandon Carr and into open space.
Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel was intercepted by a leaping Sheldon Brown at 7:52. Brown outdueled Chris Chambers. The Browns failed to capitalize.
Inside the final minute of the half, Phil Dawson missed a field-goal attempt. The Browns' possession had come after a pick.
First quarter: The Chiefs led the Browns, 3-0, although the Browns were driving at the end of the period. They had a first-and-goal after a long pass play from Seneca Wallace to Ben Watson.
The Browns received the opening kickoff and went three-and-out. On third down, Chansi Stuckey dropped a catchable pass that would have resulted in a first down.
Jerome Harrison appeared to have tweaked something while returning the opening kickoff, which was deliberately short to avoid Josh Cribbs.
On the second play of Cleveland's second drive, Harrison was ruled to have fumbled. The Browns were convinced they would win a replay challenge, maintaining the ground had caused the fumble. The officials disagreed, giving Kansas City the ball at the Cleveland 22.
The Chiefs converted the turnover into three points. After quarterback Matt Cassel scrambled for six yards, he threw two incompletions. Ryan Succop kicked a 35-yard yard field goal with 8:43 left.
During the Browns' third possession, Wallace twice completed third-down passes for first downs. The drive stalled near midfield. Punter Reggie Hodges pinned the Chiefs at their 5.
A backside sack by Marcus Benard ended Kansas City's possession at its 36 with three minutes left.
Wallace started at quarterback for the Browns in place of Jake Delhomme, who injured his right ankle in a Week 1 loss in Tampa Bay. Delhomme was among the inactives for Cleveland.