The Cleveland Browns left Buffalo with no clean answer at quarterback, and that was the whole point of the exercise. After a week that included a strong joint practice, the Bills rolled to a 31-7 win, and the Browns still don’t have much clarity after one preseason start and two preseason games.
The most encouraging stretch belonged to Shedeur Sanders, who handled the offense well enough to give Cleveland something to build on. He entered after Buffalo had already opened the scoring, and on his first meaningful drive he helped the Browns answer right back.
Facing a fourth-and-2 from the Bills’ 41, Cleveland stayed aggressive, Sanders took his time, and he found TE Blake Whiteheart for 16 yards and a first down. A few snaps later, on third-and-7 from the 8, Sanders waited again and zipped a touchdown to WR Luke Floriea in the back of the end zone to tie it at 7-7.
Sanders kept the offense moving on another possession, including a 23-yard completion to Floriea on third-and-15, but that drive died in the red zone. On second-and-9 from the Buffalo 19, his throw to TE Jermaine Terry was a little behind him on a quick slant, and Terry tipped it into the air for S Damar Hamlin to intercept. Still, Sanders finished 9-of-11 for 74 yards, with one touchdown and one interception, plus one carry for 2 yards.
Buffalo had struck first after the game was delayed for more than an hour because of lightning in the area. The Bills got a pass interference call on CB Tre Avery in the end zone on third-and-3, then converted from the 1 with Ray Davis punching it in for a 7-0 lead. From there, Cleveland’s defense mixed in reserves and saw DL Mike Hall come through with a sack to help slow one drive, but Buffalo still found ways to create separation.
The Browns’ offense with Deshaun Watson in the third quarter never found a rhythm. His first series ended with two incompletions and a three-and-out.
His second drive went the same way, including a throw in the dirt. Watson later connected with WR Malachi Corley for 20 yards and scrambled for 10, but once Cleveland reached Buffalo territory, the wheels came off again.
On third-and-5, he sailed a pass too high for WR Gage Larvadain, and DB Te’Cory Couch picked it off.
That turnover quickly turned into more damage. Two plays later, QB Shane Buechele hit WR Ja’Mori Maclin for a 71-yard touchdown after two Browns defenders collided downfield, pushing Buffalo to a 24-7 lead.
Watson stayed in to open the fourth quarter, but his next possession ended on fourth down when his pass to Floriea was tipped at the line of scrimmage. He finished 5-of-12 for 35 yards with one interception and added 13 yards on two carries.
By halftime, Buffalo had already reclaimed control. After Sanders’ second drive stalled and the Bills went three-and-out, Cleveland tried to put together a two-minute drill, but the opening screen to RB Davon Booth lost 6 yards. The Browns punted, and Allen responded by finding WR Ja’Mori Maclin for 37 yards before connecting with WR Mecole Hardman for a 9-yard touchdown to make it 14-7 at the break.
The Bills kept adding on after the half. Tyler Bass drilled a 52-yard field goal to extend the lead to 17-7, and Buechele later used his legs for a 5-yard touchdown run to make it 31-7 with under seven minutes left.
Dillon Gabriel got the final look at quarterback, but the drive around him unraveled immediately. Before he even took a snap, Cleveland had two false starts to create a first-and-20.
His first pass was tipped, then another false start by KT Leveston turned it into third-and-25. Gabriel ended up handing off to Booth for 12 yards before the Browns punted.
Luke Floriea finished with 2 catches for 31 yards and a touchdown. For Cleveland, though, the bigger story was still the same one heading into the game: Sanders showed enough to keep the conversation alive, while Watson’s outing did little for the optics around the quarterback race.
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