Rescheduled COVID Game In Cleveland Monday: Raiders Pull Out Dramatic 16-14 Win Over Browns On Carlson 48-Yard FG
By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
The first 59 minutes of the Monday afternoon game was not exactly a stellar NFL game.
But in the end, Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson drilled a game-winning 48-yard field goal to give the beleaguered Raiders a dramatic 16-14 win on the game’s final play over a Cleveland Browns team that was missing 18 players on the COVID-19 list.
“We’re going to play to the bitter end and see what happens,” Raiders interim coach Rich Bisaccia said after the game.
“Awesome finish to the game for us,” Carlson added. “I hit the ball better the second time. It was fun to do my job and get the win for us.”
“I don’t watch the ball, I watch his reaction,” Raiders quarterback Derek Carr said of Carlson’s reactions to his late-game field goal kicks.
The Raiders-Browns game in Cleveland, played Monday at 2 PM Las Vegas time, had a preseason feel to it with so many Browns players MIA because of COVID-19.
The Browns were without their coach and top two quarterbacks, starting third-string QB Nick Mullens. The 18 Browns players on the COVID list included nine starters. Browns starting quarterback Baker Mayfield, out with COVID-19, could only offer a tweet of encouragement:
With Cleveland mustering only 84 yards of offense in the first half, the Raiders led the Browns, 10-0, at the half. Cleveland ran the ball seven times for 12 yards.
The game was originally scheduled for Saturday, but the NFL moved the game to today because of so many Browns players with COVID-19 issues.
ADVERTISEMENTS
ADVERTISEMENTS
Carr led Las Vegas on an 11-play drive on its first drive, with Carr completing a touchdown pass to receiver Bryan Edwards.
The Raiders moved the ball well on another drive in the second quarter. But the team’s red zones struggles continued as the drive stalled and placekicker Daniel Carlson booted a 24-yard field goal.
*
In the third quarter, Carr was hit and he fumbled. He also grabbed his left leg. Carr was OK.
But the sack fumble gave the Browns some hope and the team moved 13 yards on the first play. And two plays later, Browns running back Nick Chubb broke loose for 24 yards for a goal to go.
Chubb then scored on a five-yard run after a TD pass from Mullens to tight end David Njoku was ruled out of bounds.
End of three quarters: Raiders 10 Browns 7
*
The Raiders moved ahead by six points when Carlson kicked a 40-yard FG.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Raiders led, 13-7.
But Mullens put the Browns ahead, 14-13, with a short touchdown pass.
After Carr threw an interception late in the fourth quarter, the Las Vegas defense held Cleveland to a three-and-out, giving Carr one final shot at pulling out this game.
Carr did the job, moving the Raiders into field goal position with several timely pass completions.
After Cleveland called a timeout a moment before Carlson booted a successful 48-yard field goal, Carlson was as cool as the weather in Cleveland and calmly booted another 48-yarder.
Final: Raiders 16 Browns 14.
Las Vegas improved to 7-7 and is still in the hunt for one of three wild card playoff positions. The Browns fell to 7-7.
The Raiders host Denver Sunday.
