And his 144 receiving yards were the most by a Browns player since Josh Gordon totaled 151 at New England on December 18, 2013.
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“We come out here in our first game at home to showcase to our own fans what we’re all about, and offensively we’re out there flopping around”, said Gase, who called the plays. All Browns losses hurt.
Cleveland trimmed Miami’s lead to 24-21 with 10:12 left when wildcat quarterback Terrelle Pryor skirted around the left side from 3 yards out.
It was a bit of absolution for Ajayi, who had gained just 14 yards on five rushing attempts in the first two games and had a crucial first-half fumble in the loss at New England last week. In the first quarter, Hue Jackson tried a little too hard to use smoke and mirrors in his play calling, putting Pryor in at quarterback in numerous plays, even allowing him to throw the ball in a regular playset. Cody Kessler found Gary Barnidge for the two-point conversion. He is the first National Football League player with 20-plus passing, rushing and receiving yards in the same game since receiver Cecil Shorts did it for Houston in November 2015.
Other than that it was all field goals with Kessler at quarterback, which is a problem that has dated back to the start of last season. Kessler completed a 9-yard pass to Pryor to start the team’s second series, but Pryor took the next snap. Still, the Browns led at halftime 13-10 on the strength of a Briean Boddy-Calhoun interception return for a touchdown. He had been playing at “Z” but moved to “X” after Coleman’s injury.
Browns coach Hue Jackson was quick to defend his young kicker after the game. Dolphins kicker Andrew Franks made a 37-yard field goal to tie the score 10-10 with 1:57 left in the first half. The Browns led at the half 13-10. Kessler led the offense all the way into the red zone at the 15-yard line.
The two penalties turned a promising drive into a third-and-25 from Miami’s 35-yard line and ended in a Parkey field goal.
The Dolphins’ last overtime victory came on October 31, 2013. And if the Dolphins play against the Bengals the way they played against the Browns, they’ll likely get pummeled. Tannehill promptly hit Landry for 32 yards beating Jamar Taylor to the Browns 11.
The Browns actually were able to get things done in the running game against the Dolphins.
The Browns vs Dolphins Week 3 game is being broadcast on CBS Sports.
Like any young wideout, though, Landry knows the mantle of NFL’s Catch King belongs to one man alone: Antonio Doesn’t Have a Middle Name Brown. Terrelle Pryor had a huge day for the Browns, contributing in every facet of the offense and almost spurring the team to victory. Parker earlier had missed from 41- and 42-yards out.
Fortunately, it didn’t come to that, but the Browns were defeated 30-24 by the Dolphins on Sunday.
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After two big defensive stops, the Browns had another big drive.
