Browns vs. Buccaneers score, takeaways: Cleveland scores late to force OT; Amari Cooper's huge play keys win

Cleveland ended its two-game losing streak in dramatic fashion

Coop, there it is. After dropping a fourth-down pass earlier in the game, Amari Cooper's 46-yard catch in overtime set up Nick Chubb's game-winning touchdown in the Browns' 23-17 win over the Buccaneers. 

Trailing 17-10, the Browns forced overtime after Jacoby Brissett hit David Njoku for a 15-yard touchdown on a fourth-and-10 with 32 seconds left. The Browns defense then forced two punts in overtime before Brissett's big completion to Cooper set up Chubb's game-winning score. 

The win moved the Browns to 4-7 while ending Cleveland's two-game losing streak. Conversely, the loss dropped the Buccaneers to 5-6 while snapping Tampa Bay's two-game winning streak. 

Tied at halftime, the Buccaneers took the lead on Tom Brady's 5-yard touchdown pass to Ko Kieft on Tampa Bay's second drive of the second half. Neither team would score again until Brissett hit Njoku to force overtime. Tampa Bay was unable to extend its lead despite not allowing a Browns second-half first down until the game's final 11 minutes. 

Cleveland drew first blood when Anthony Schwartz scored on a reverse from 31 yards out. Tampa Bay countered with Brady's 10-yard pass to Chris Godwin, who led both teams with 110 yards on 12 receptions. Down 10-7 late in the half, four completions from Brady to Godwin set up Ryan Succop's 42-yard, game-tying field goal with 39 seconds left in the half. 

Here's a closer look at what went down in Cleveland. 

Why the Browns won 

Cleveland's defense kept the home team in the game when its offense went in a lull for most of the second half. Led by Myles Garrett (who had 1.5 sacks and several other hits/pressures), the Browns sacked Brady three times after halftime after not getting to him in the first half. The pass rush contributed to the Buccaneers going just 4 of 15 on third down. It also led to the Buccaneers punting on their second drive in overtime, thus setting up the Browns' game-winning drive. 

The Browns got just enough clutch plays from their offensive quartet of Brissett, Chubb, Cooper and Njoku. Brissett withstood heavy pressure (particularly in the second half) to go 23 of 27 for 210 yards. Chubb rumbled for 116 yards that included his 28-yard run to set up Njoku's touchdown. Cooper caught seven passes, none bigger than his 46-yard grab in overtime. 

Why the Buccaneers lost 

Tampa Bay was unable to put Cleveland away when it had the chance. Despite dominating the third quarter (Cleveland had just 11 total yards during the quarter), the Buccaneers found themselves in a one-possession game late in regulation. 

Leaky pass protection and a lack of run support (Rachaad White ran for 64 yards but 35 of that was on one run on Tampa Bay's opening drive) contributed to the Buccaneers' offensive plight. Those issues undoubtedly impacted Brady, who finished the game with a good but not great stat line of 246 yards and two touchdowns on 29 of 43 passing. Brady surely would like to have several throws back, including a few deep shots to Mike Evans that just missed the mark. 

They were stellar for most of the game, but the Buccaneers defense was unable to seal the deal at the end of both regulation and overtime. It allowed plays of 12, 15, 17 and 46 yards on the Browns' last two scoring drives. 

Along with losing the game, Tampa Bay suffered another loss when offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs was carted off the field during overtime. 

Turning point

Tampa Bay was one fourth-down stop from winning the game and moving to 6-5. Instead, they became a footnote on the Browns' biggest play of the season to date, when Brissett hit Njoku for the game-tying score to force overtime. Credit to Njoku for making an impressive, one-handed snag to secure his first touchdown since Week 3. 

Play of the game 

For a while, it looked like Cooper would be the center of postgame criticism after he dropped a fourth-down pass with the Browns trailing with 8:26 left. But he more than made up for it by making several big catches after that, including his catch and run that set up Chubb's game-winning touchdown run. 

Quotable I

"I told him I was coming back to him, and I did." -- Brissett on his reaction following Cooper's fourth-down drop 

Quotable II 

"Yeah, that was super special. I wasn't expecting it, but like I've said, this has never been about me. It's always been about the team. This is our team's opportunity to step up in the big moment, and I think we did that." -- Brissett on receiving a game ball after the win 

What's next 

The Browns will travel to Houston in what will likely be Deshaun Watson's season debut. Houston fell to 1-9-1 on after losing on the road in Miami on Sunday. Tampa Bay will host the Saints on "Monday Night Football" in a game between division rivals. The Buccaneers defeated the Saints in their first matchup back in Week 2 behind a defense that forced five turnovers in a 20-10 win. 

[Nov 27, 2022 at 4:26 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Chubb scores, and the Browns pull out a 23-17 win. 

[Nov 27, 2022 at 4:24 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Coop, there it is. Browns run a creative formation with their wideouts and it clears out Cooper. His 46-yard gain puts the ball at the Bucs' 3-yard-line. 

[Nov 27, 2022 at 4:20 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

2-minute warning. Browns are facing first-and-10 on their own 46. 

[Nov 27, 2022 at 4:18 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Cooper catches a pass in traffic as the Browns are close to midfield. 

[Nov 27, 2022 at 4:17 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Brady sacked by Garrett on third down, forcing another Buccaneers punt. Just blew past Smith and grabbed Brady's leg. 

[Nov 27, 2022 at 4:16 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Tristian Wirfts carted off the field with 3:29 left in OT. Tough loss for the Bucs if this is a longterm injury. 

[Nov 27, 2022 at 4:13 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Brady just missed Evans again on a deep sideline route. They've been just off on a few of those today. 

[Nov 27, 2022 at 4:12 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Of course, Brady goes to Godwin -- who catches the ball -- on a gotta have it third down. 

[Nov 27, 2022 at 4:09 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Browns call a running back on third-and-21. They seem content to punt the ball and leaning on their defense again. 

[Nov 27, 2022 at 4:07 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Holding call on the Browns going to make it a 2nd-and-22. 

[Nov 27, 2022 at 4:06 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Penalty costs the Buccaneers. Brady throws incomplete on third down after getting hit by Garrett. Browns to start near their own 30 with 7:26 left. 

[Nov 27, 2022 at 4:04 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Vintage Brady on a third down completion to White but a flag is down. It's coming back, illegal hands to the face on Donovan Smith. 

[Nov 27, 2022 at 4:03 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Brady goes back to Godwin to get the first down on third down. Godwin has been Tampa's best offensive player today. 

[Nov 27, 2022 at 4:00 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Brady hits Godwin to kick off overtime. He just missed Evans on a deep pass on the next play. 

[Nov 27, 2022 at 3:57 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Buccaneers wins the toss and will receive the kickoff. A FG gives the Browns a chance to extend OT or win the game. A TD either way here ends the game. 

[Nov 27, 2022 at 3:56 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Here's a look at the game-tying score. 

[Nov 27, 2022 at 3:55 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

We're going to OT in Cleveland. The score was tied at halftime and it remains tied after 60 minutes. 

[Nov 27, 2022 at 3:50 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Browns tie it up on Jacoby Brissett's TD pass to David Njoku on fourth-and-10. Incredible throw from Brissett. Brady has 32 seconds to work with. 

[Nov 27, 2022 at 3:47 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Chubb rips off a 28-yard-run, as Cleveland is in the red zone. 

[Nov 27, 2022 at 3:44 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Nick Chubb racks up his fourth straight 1,000-yard season at the two-minute mark. Browns with the ball on the Buccaneers' 40-yard-line. 

[Nov 27, 2022 at 3:42 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Myles Garrett comes up with a big sack of Brady, forcing a Buccaneers punt. Looks like White missed the protection and Garrett took advantage of it. Browns getting one last chance with 2:21 left. Still have one timeout left. 

[Nov 27, 2022 at 3:39 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Brissett sacked yet again as the Browns forced to punt with just over three minutes left. He's been sacked four times this half after not being taken down in the first half. 

[Nov 27, 2022 at 3:34 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Cooper comes back with a big third-down catch to extend the Browns' drive. 

[Nov 27, 2022 at 3:30 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Here's a look at Cooper's drop that thwarted the Browns' best drive of the half so far. 

[Nov 27, 2022 at 3:29 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Buccaneers once again have to punt. They just haven't gotten enough from their running game today. Fortunately for them, they're able to down the Browns inside the 5-yard-line. 

[Nov 27, 2022 at 3:27 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Amari Cooper drops what would have been a first down catch on fourth down. Drop hurts, but Devin White and Carl Nassib's sack of Brissett two plays earlier put Cleveland in a rough spot. 

[Nov 27, 2022 at 3:23 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Schwartz just picked up the Browns first first down of the half with 11:13 left, and Chubb rips off a 15-yard run, matching his longest run of the day. 

[Nov 27, 2022 at 3:19 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Big stop by Browns defense forces Buccaneers to put in Cleveland territory. False start penalty (that turned a third-and-6 into a third-and-11) really hurt the Buccaneers. 

[Nov 27, 2022 at 3:13 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Here's a look at Brady's go-ahead TD pass: Kieft is the 98th different player who has caught a touchdown pass from Brady. 

[Nov 27, 2022 at 3:12 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Ronnie Harrison injured on the play. He's being looked at by the Browns medical staff.