The Los Angeles Rams faced the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 22 in Week 3 of the 2019 NFL season. Here are highlights from the game.
The Los Angeles Rams traveled to FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland to play the Cleveland Browns in the third Sunday Night Football game of the season. This was the 21st meeting between the two teams; the Rams were leading the all-time series going into the game, and as expected, the Rams added to their win column in the series when they defeated the Browns, 20-13.
Cleveland received the ball first, and quickly ended their first possession after four plays, two yards gained, and just over three minutes of play due to three penalty calls. The Browns were called for ineligible players downfield, false start, and illegal shift penalties in their first possession of the game.
The Rams didn’t return for any points in their first possession as they went three-and-out, and Cleveland answered with a three-and-out possession, as well. The first timeout of the game was called by the Rams with just under seven minutes left in the quarter. Los Angeles returned to the field after the timeout for five and settled for a 53-yard field goal kick by Greg Zuerlein for the 3-0 lead over the Browns with 4:10 left in the first quarter. The following Cleveland possession extended into the second quarter which allowed the Rams to keep the three-point lead at the end of the first.
The second quarter started with the Browns having possession, and Austin Seibert hit a 23-yard field goal. Neither team was able to convert their next two possessions into any point production. The Rams tried to close out their second possession of the second quarter with another field goal, but this time Zuerlein missed the 48-yard kick. In the following Rams’ possession on third down, Jared Goff was sacked for a loss of seven yards. Goff lost the football and it was recovered by Joe Schobert who ran it back for 21 yards with 28 seconds left in the half. Cleveland called for two timeouts in their final possession of the quarter, and Seibert kicked another field goal for 35 yards with four seconds on the clock to lead the Rams into halftime, 6-3.
Jared Goff finished the first half 16 of 23 for 147 yards. Todd Gurley posted five carries for 110 yards, while Cooper Kupp recorded seven receptions for 51 yards.
On the other side of the field, Baker Mayfield completed nine of 18 passes for 88 yards in the first half, and teammate Nick Chubb recorded 11 carries for 38 yards while Jarvis Landry caught two passes for 35 yards.
The third quarter of the game started with Los Angeles receiving the ball and the Rams scoring the first touchdown of the game with 10:40 left in the third quarter after 10 plays and just over four minutes. Gurley rushed for the first two plays and Goff completed two passes to Brandin Cooks for 19 and 16 yards with a Gurley rush in between. The Rams called a time-out with 12:09 on the clock and came back for a third-and-goal touchdown pass from Goff to Cupp for 11 yards. The Rams led 10-6 with 10:40 left in the quarter.
Cleveland answered the Rams’ first possession of the half with an opening drive of 11 plays that lasted just over six minutes before their first touchdown of the game with 4:37 on the clock.
The Rams started their next possession with a rush for two yards by Malcolm Brown followed by a pass from Goff to Cooks for 13 yards. The next pass between Goff and Cooks was intercepted by T.J. Carrie for no return. Mayfield fumbled on first down but recovered for a loss of one yard. Then, Chubb rushed for three yards and Mayfield threw an incomplete pass to Landry, ending the possession without producing any points. Los Angeles finished out the quarter with ball possession and Goff connected with Cooks for 23 yards and the first down. Then, Gurley rushed for eight yards combined in the next two plays, and Goff again connected with Cooks for 21 yards before the quarter ended. The Rams kept the four-point lead heading into the final quarter of the game.
Los Angeles started the fourth quarter at the Cleveland 20-yard line and Robert Woods rushed for 17 yards, placing the ball at the three-yard line in a first-and-goal situation. Gurley rushed for two yards and Goff took it up the middle for no gain, but then a false start penalty moved them back five yards. Goff then threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Kupp to take the lead back from the Browns with just under 13 minutes to play, securing a 17-13 lead.
Cleveland was unable to convert the following possession into any points, so the Rams got the ball back.
Cleveland safety Jermaine Whitehead was called on an unnecessary roughness penalty, giving the Rams 15 yards and the automatic first down. Browns safety Eric Murray was also called on a defensive holding penalty which was declined. This placed the ball at the Cleveland 28-yard line, and after two plays yielded nine rushing yards, Goff threw an incomplete pass on third down and Greg Zuerlein kicked a 37-yard field goal to give the Rams a seven-point lead over the Browns, 20-13. Cleveland went three-and-out on their following possession but got the ball back on a Juston Burris interception with 2:54 left in the game, giving Cleveland possession one last time.
On second down, Baker Mayfield was sacked for a loss of nine yards, but an illegal contact penalty was called on Rams safety Taylor Rapp for an enforced 5-yard gain. Cleveland saw an incomplete pass before the final two-minute warning of the game. Cleveland was called for a false start penalty on the next play, but Mayfield soon connected deep with Landry for a gain of 27 yards, then Chubb rushed for three yards, and Mayfield again threw a complete pass, this time to Damion Ratley for 18 yards. Los Angeles defensive tackle Aaron Donald was called for roughing the passer penalty, triggering another five-yard gain to the Los Angeles four-yard line. Baker Mayfield threw three incomplete passes before each team used a timeout with 33 seconds left in the game. On fourth and goal, Mayfield threw one more pass intended for Ratley, but John Johnson intercepted the ball in the end zone, ending the game.
Los Angeles won the game 20-13, giving them their third win a row. Jared Goff recorded an impressive 269 passing yards, completing 24 out of 38 passes for two touchdowns and two interceptions. Todd Gurley rushed 14 times for 43 yards and Brandin Cooks posted eight receptions for 112 yards.
Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield completed 19 of 36 passes for 195 yards and one touchdown, while Nick Chubb recorded 23 carries for 96 yards, and Jarvis Landry posted three receptions for 62 yards.
Cleveland will travel to Baltimore next week to meet the Ravens while Los Angeles heads back home to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"To be 3-0 is a good thing right now." 🙌 pic.twitter.com/be1T4wJwTK
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) September 23, 2019
Freddie Kitchens emphasizes ‘continual climb’ toward ultimate goal
📰 » https://t.co/2Bv7rMMwBm pic.twitter.com/JHSrmfNXUh
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 23, 2019
